Cushman & Wakefield
A global commercial real‑estate firm delivering services from leasing to asset and facilities management.
Chief Engineer
Leads engineering staff and manages building mechanical operations, maintenance and budgets.
Job Highlights
About the Role
The Chief Engineer leads the engineering department, ensuring high‑quality work and superior customer service while upholding C&W’s ethical standards and core values. This role oversees daily mechanical operations, maintenance, communications, energy management, and workforce development for assigned properties, and may perform limited hands‑on duties and watch activities. The Chief Engineer collaborates with Asset Services, Engineering Leadership, and EH&S to execute the C&W Safety Program, manage building budgets, utility usage, inspections, preventive maintenance, and maintain comprehensive documentation and training programs. • Supervise engineers and maintenance staff, including hiring, training, and development. • Manage performance, coaching, and disciplinary actions via HR processes. • Lead annual C&W Safety Program scheduling and execution, ensuring 100% site compliance. • Oversee building operational accounts, variance reporting, and assist with operating and capital budgets. • Manage utilities: track usage, cost, reporting, sub‑metering, budgeting, and variances. • Conduct regular inspections of systems/equipment and resolve issues. • Recommend and implement preventive maintenance improvements; develop predictive maintenance program. • Create and maintain building‑specific maintenance and safety manuals. • Maintain an Operations Document Library with plans, drawings, schematics, warranties, etc. • Provide building systems and equipment training. • Coordinate maintenance with contractors, tenant finish personnel, and engineers. • Oversee fire/life safety, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems; stay current on HVAC trends. • Communicate continuously with tenants, clients, property management, and vendors. • Develop specifications and manage solicitation, administration, execution, and performance of service contracts. • Assist in solicitation and acquisition of new management contracts as needed. • Respond rapidly to emergencies (fire, evacuation, equipment failure) and customer concerns. • Administer inventory control, purchasing parts and supplies. • Ensure compliance with codes, regulations, government agencies, and company directives. • Perform up to 50% operating engineer duties; may be sole maintenance staff on shift, on‑call or standby.
Key Responsibilities
- ▸preventive maintenance
- ▸predictive maintenance
- ▸utility management
- ▸system inspections
- ▸safety program
- ▸budget oversight
What You Bring
Candidates must have a high school diploma or GED, at least seven years of commercial property experience, relevant vocational or trade certifications, and possess strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, technical, and leadership skills. • Demonstrate communication, interpersonal, organization, technical, and leadership competencies. • Possess high school diploma/GED; 7+ years commercial property experience; vocational/technical certificate; relevant trade license; universal technician certification; financial and EMS knowledge; basic computing skills.
Requirements
- ▸high school
- ▸7+ years
- ▸trade license
- ▸technical cert
- ▸financial knowledge
- ▸communication
Benefits
The position offers a professional office environment, standard office equipment, physical demands typical of engineering roles, a competitive salary of $40.80‑$48.00, comprehensive benefits, and equal‑opportunity employment under C&W.
Work Environment
Onsite