Director of Engineering

Department: Engineering

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Kingdom of Bahrain - Manama

Description

Key Responsibilities

• Represent the operator in all site inspections, snagging processes, testing, and commissioning of physical plant, MEP equipment, vertical transportation (elevators), and life safety infrastructure.
• Review architectural and MEP drawings, operational operation & maintenance (O&M) manuals, warranty agreements, and as-built plans prior to property acceptance.
• Coordinate system performance evaluations alongside main contractors to verify compliance with local environmental.
• Establish asset registries and implement a computerised maintenance management system (CMMS) or Property Management Maintenance System (PMMS) from scratch.

• Build, recruit, and structure the engineering department, selecting qualified shift engineers, technicians, and specialized craftsmen.
• Develop Departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), emergency response workflows, and safety protocols in line with corporate standards.
• Establish preventive maintenance programs (PMP) for all major equipment, guest rooms, public spaces, back-of-house (BOH) zones, and exterior infrastructure.
• Conduct technical and life-safety training programs for engineering staff and cross-departmental teams.

• Prepare and manage the engineering operating budget, capital expenditure (CapEx) plan, pre-opening departmental launch budgets, and utility consumption models.
• Monitor energy, water, and fuel usage; design and implement energy-saving and carbon-reduction initiatives.
• Negotiate, execute, and monitor third-party service and maintenance contracts (e.g., chillers, fire suppression systems, elevators, pool maintenance, high-voltage systems).

• Serve as the hotel’s lead technical authority on Fire, Life, and Safety (FLS) systems, ensuring total readiness for internal audits and municipal certifications.
• Implement risk management policies to protect the physical asset against environmental degradation, water damage, electrical risks, and structural wear.
• Oversee sustainability compliance (e.g., EarthCheck or equivalent certification programs required by corporate standards).

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience: Minimum 5–8 years as a Director of Engineering / Chief Engineer in a 5-star luxury hotel or integrated resort environment.
• Demonstrated track record in a pre-opening capacity (taking a hotel property from construction phase/handover through to operational launch).
• Regional Experience: Middle East / GCC market experience highly preferred; familiarity with Bahrain Civil Defence, EWA regulations, and local vendor ecosystems is a strong advantage.
• Technical Mastery: Deep knowledge of central HVAC plant operations, BMS systems, desalination/water treatment, emergency generators, high-voltage networks, and advanced FLS protocols.
• Languages: Business fluency in English is mandatory; conversational Arabic is a plus.
• Competencies: Strong contractor management capabilities, commercial budget planning, Crisis Management Leadership, and cross-functional team management.

Why Join Kempinski