Area Director of Engineering- Select Service Division

Compensation Type: Yearly Highgate Hotels:

Highgate is a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in U.S. gateway markets including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a rapidly expanding presence in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Highgate’s portfolio of global properties represents an aggregate asset value exceeding $20B and generates over $5B in cumulative revenues. The company provides expert guidance through all stages of the hospitality property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate also has the creativity and bandwidth to develop bespoke hotel brands and utilizes industry-leading proprietary revenue management tools that identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive out performance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the industry’s most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in London, New York, Dallas, and Seattle.

Location:

La Quinta San Antonio - Riverwalk

Overview:

The Area Director of Engineering is responsible for being part of an engineering team that will focus on corporate wide engineering issues as well as local hotel issues that require support or collaboration from the corporate team. The goal of the team will be to leverage the skills and talent of the engineering organization to maximize value to the guest, associates, and the hotel assets.

Responsibilities:

• The Area Director of Engineering is equally responsible for the operational maintenance of hotels within direct oversight.
• Establish relationships with all the properties in the area as well as with the Corporate office team.
• Work to develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOP) and policies.
• Monitor and control all out of order rooms, responsible for getting them back in service quickly to avoid occupancy disruptions.
• Develop energy conservation initiatives and promote their use.
• Assure and assist properties in ongoing mandatory preventative maintenance activities throughout the organization.
• Assist with deployment of preventative maintenance programs and platform within the Area.
• Promote operational safety throughout the organization.
• Further the advancement of the engineering discipline throughout the organization.
• Participate in conference calls and meetings on a regular basis.
• Participate in training and mentoring programs to support the Directors of Engineering and Engineering departments in the Area, in partnership with General Managers and Area Managing Directors as applicable in the Area.
• Conduct a minimum of 2 property audits for all hotels in the Area utilizing the standardized Engineering audit format.
• Conduct engineering analysis of products and processes (i.e. capital equipment, new technology) and make recommendations for the area and the corporation.
• In some instances, may be required to marginally assist with capital projects in conjunction with VP of Facilities and under advisement of VP of Operations.
• Assist in the budgeting and planning process at all hotels in the assigned area as needed.
• Stay up to date with industry trends.

Qualifications:

• Flexible and long hours sometimes required.
• Heavy work – Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and /or 50 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Travel related to company business sometimes required.
• Ability to stand during entire shift.
• Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.
• Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.
• Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
• Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
• Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service-oriented manner.
• Attend all hotel required meetings and trainings.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, which include wearing nametags.
• Comply with Highgate Hotel Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.
• Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas and assist in implementing solutions.
• Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying and solving problems as necessary.
• Must be able to understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Perform other duties as requested by management.