Director, Engineering

Cushman & Wakefield - Director, Engineering - Chicago, Illinois

The Director is an extension of the Asset Services/GOS and Corporate Engineering Operations groups and is responsible for overseeing all market-wide engineering and operational requirements, including but not limited to the C&W national engineering platform, in-direct review and support of significant capital projects, and major R&M projects. This position will have close interaction with Senior Management, Regional Engineers, and Property Management.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide leadership for the engineering team in the local market; Setting up a “local engineering leadership team” from property-level engineers to assist with implementation of the overall national engineering platform.
2. Coordinate and plan at least quarterly engineering meetings in the local market, providing training materials/topics necessary to ensure industry and National Engineering process requirements compliance.
3. Assist with development, implementation and monitoring of technical programs, and policies and procedures as required by both National Operations and Engineering.
4. Work with Property Managers and Chief Engineers to help implement and coordinate requirements such as safety, quality assurance, sustainability, energy management, Energy Star, C&W engineering disciplines, and combined energy and water tracking tools as centrally located under Asset Services/GOS/Engineering on C&W Connect.
5. Assist in the development of property/system specific technical and administrative training of property on-site engineering personnel.
6. Work with building engineers and operations staff to establish and implement preventative maintenance programs in order to reduce equipment downtime, maintain property system integrity, maximize efficiency and minimize operating costs while protecting the properties assets.
7. Provide effective and prompt responses to requests from managers, tenants and clients.
8. Establish and maintain a network of consultants/pre-qualified service providers to provide assistance and expertise to the field in matters beyond the expertise of operations staff (i.e. MEP design Engineer of record, Environmental, Structural, and Architectural).
9. Assist in scope definition, contract negotiations and bid reviews for service, and capital replacement projects.
10. Provide direction and consultation to the operating staff for HVAC, MEP systems, Fire & Life Safety systems, Automation, Security, and OSHA compliance.
11. Ensure compliance with the web-based training platform.
12. Assist with responses to RFPs and RFIs, participates in new business presentations, account transitions and site assessments.
13. Provide leadership and direction for the implementation of other corporate initiatives.
14. Conduct physical property, mechanical, electrical and system assessments as needed or requested.
15. Conduct limited site inspections in accordance with the guidelines presented in the national Engineering platform.
16. Recruitment activities in the local market to identify candidates and top talent. Maintain a database of qualified candidates for possible opportunities.

KEY COMPETENCIES

1. Communication Proficiency (oral and written)
2. Technical Proficiency

IMPORTANT EDUCATION

College degree, or minimum of two-year technical degree, with equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.

IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE

1. Commercial property experience preferred.
2. Minimum of 5 years of management level experience in facilities/property maintenance, engineering, construction.
3. Knowledgeable in the installation and operation of Building Systems (HVAC, plumbing, Fire/Life Safety, etc.).
4. Experience in project management and supervising skilled trades and technical staff.
5. Experience in building operations.
6. Experience managing unionized and non-unionized employees.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS

1. Technical proficiency in the mechanical, electrical and control systems used in the Property Management industry.
2. Expertise in the operation, management and the cost controls of Property Operations.
3. Knowledge and interpretation and application of applicable commercial building codes and standards.
4. Experience reading and interpreting documents such as blueprints, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and BAS SOO.
5. Strong understanding of project management processes.
6. Basic Computing Skills in Outlook, Excel & Word.
7. A high level of functional/technical knowledge of building system operation is necessary and must have proficiency in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical distribution systems.
8. Must be able to prepare and present detailed reports on building operations and systems. Must be able to write professional business correspondence and procedural manuals. Must have the ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, and internal and external customers.
9. Ability to quickly define problems, gather and assess relevant data and information, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions in order to implement solutions and repairs and delegate to appropriate personnel. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.