Director of Engineering

Director ofEngineering

This is not a regular job, andJacumbaHot Springs Hotel is not a regular hotel.We'rethe desert outpost of We AreHuman Kind, a small independent hospitality group with zero interest in corporate polish and an obsession with gettingevery lastdetail right. Along a forgotten stretch of Old Highway 80, we've built something that doesn't really exist anywhere else: 20 artisan rooms, 5 off-site guest houses, mineral hot springs, a hot springs lake, a full bar and restaurant — and we own most of the surrounding town's commercial district, with a lot more coming.We'rea small, independent team, and every person we hire matters.

Recent recognitionincludes:San Diego Magazine's Best Boutique Hotel (2026), and a spot on Travel + Leisure's Best New Hotels in the World.

Position Summary

The Director ofEngineeringleads all maintenance, groundskeeping, and capital improvement work acrossJacumbaHot Springs Hotel and every property in our portfolio, including guesthouses, rental units, the lake, and on-site shops. This role manages a team responsible for the day-to-day upkeep of buildings, grounds, and mechanical systems, and personally oversees the hotel's hot springs water system — one of the most technically complex and operationally critical assets on property. The Director also leads renovation and construction projects from planning through completion, working closely with the General Manager and ownership on scope, budget, and timeline. This role provides strategic leadership for the department, ensuring all systems and servicesoperatesmoothly,meetcompany standards, andsupportboth guest satisfaction and financial performance. Given the hotel's active guest operations, this role also carries significant responsibility for emergency response and on-call management — acting quickly on time-sensitive issues, including overnight and after-hours situations, to protect guests, staff, and property.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership

• Hire, train, schedule, and supervise the maintenance and groundskeeping team across all owned properties.

• Set clear performance expectations, provide ongoing coaching, and build technicalskillwithin the team.

• Establish and enforce safety protocols, PPE requirements, and OSHA-compliant work practices.

• Build and manage the team's work schedule, balancing coverage needs across all properties with labor budget targets.

• Use Asana to track and prioritize incoming POM requests, and tobuild outclear daily task lists that keep the team focused and accountable.

• Own the department's on-call rotation, ensuring the team is properly staffed and reachable for after-hours, overnight, and weekend coverage.

• Serve as the primary point of escalation for urgent and time-sensitive facilities issues at the hotel, responding quickly to protect theguestexperience and property safety.

• Be available to respond personally to emergencies that arise overnight or outside business hours — including water, power, HVAC, or safety failures — and direct the team's response until the issue is resolved.

• Set clear protocols for how the team triages and escalates emergencies, so urgent issues are handled quickly and consistently even when the Directorisn'tthe first person notified.

• Coordinate the team's support for hotel events and activations, handling any setup, site prep, equipment checks, and breakdown needed to getspacesguest-ready — with the team potentiallyassistingduring theevent itselfas needed.

Property & Grounds Maintenance

• Oversee preventive maintenance programs for the hotel, guesthouses, rental units, and shops — HVAC, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting, and general repair.

• Maintain grounds, landscaping, and irrigation across the property, including the lake area.

• Manage the pool and spa systems.

• Maintainaccuratemaintenance logs, inspection records, and a repair/replace schedule for major equipment and systems.

Hot Springs Water System

• Serve as the primary technical owner of the property's hot springs water system, including monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

• Ensure the system operates safely and in compliance with applicable water quality and health regulations.

• Develop andmaintaindocumented procedures for system operation, so knowledgeisn'theld by one person alone.

• Coordinate with outside engineers, geothermal specialists, or regulatory agencies as needed.

Renovation & Capital Projects

• Plan and manage renovation projects fromscopedevelopment through completion, including budget tracking and vendor coordination.

• Source, negotiate with, and oversee contractors, vendors, and specialty trades.

• Partner with the General Manager and ownership on capital planning and prioritization of larger projects.

• Ensure all construction and renovation workmeetscode and permitting requirements.

Administration & Compliance

• Manage thedepartmentbudget, including labor, supplies, equipment, and contracted services.

• Maintain compliance with applicable building codes, fire/life safety requirements, and California labor law as it relates to the department.

• Track and manage inventory of tools, equipment, and maintenance supplies.

• Keepaccurate, up-to-date records of maintenance activity, repairs, and equipment inventories across all properties.

• Provide regular reports to the General Manager and ownership on engineering operations, project status, and departmental performance.

• Conduct routine property inspections to proactively identify and address potential hazards before they become guest- or safety-facing issues.

Qualifications

• Vocational training, military training, relevant certification, and/or 5+ years of progressive experience in facilities, maintenance, or engineering leadership, including at least one year in a Director of Engineering, Chief Engineer, or comparable role.

• Experience within a hotel or resort environment strongly preferred; multi-property or estate-scale experience is a plus.

• Strong working knowledge of building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, refrigeration, roofing, building finishes, and general mechanical operations.

• Experience managing water systems, wells, or similar utility infrastructurestronglypreferred.

• Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and developing a team in a high-volume, time-sensitive environment.

• Experience managing renovation or construction projects, including vendor and budget oversight.

• Ability to interpret data and apply analytical thinking to make sound, strategicmaintenanceand operational decisions.

• Working knowledge of current industry best practices in facilities and engineering management.

• Valid driver's license; ability to travel between properties as needed.

• Proven ability to stay calm and act decisively under pressure, including responding to on-site emergencies outside of standard business hours.

• Availability toworkAM, PM, weekend, and holiday shifts as operational needs require.

Physical Requirements

• Ability tolift upto 50lbs.,climb ladders, and work in varied outdoor conditions.

• Ability to stand, walk, kneel, and perform physical work for extended periods, as well as sit for extended periods for administrative work.

• Comfortable working around mechanical, electrical, and water systems, including confined or elevated spaces.

Working Conditions

• Role includes regular outdoor and semi-outdoor work (pool decks, mechanical yards, grounds) in a high-desert climate with significant seasonal extremes — summer heat often 100°F+, cold andwindin winter.

• Must be able to work safely in these conditions and follow heat illness prevention protocols;appropriate seasonalgearrequired.

• Schedule may include evening, weekend, or holiday exposure to weather based on property needs.

Salary Range

• $110,000.00 - $130,000.00

Benefits

• Health Insurance

• Paid time off

• Room and day passperks

• Complimentary meal on shift

• Monthly diningcreditto use with friends and family

• Calsaversretirement savings program

Equal Opportunity

We AreHuman Kindis an equal opportunity employer. We value diverse backgrounds and perspectives and re committed to treating all applicants and team members fairly – regardless of race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected classification.

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