Chief Engineer

The Chief Engineer is a operational leader responsible for the day-to-day engineering, maintenance, and physical plant operations of the Los Angeles Athletic Club ("LAAC"), a historic 114-year-old landmark property with steam boiler systems and approximately 75 guest rooms. This role is critical to preserving the integrity, safety, and functionality of the building while delivering a seamless, high-quality experience for members, guests, and staff.

As the department head for Engineering, the Chief Engineer provides hands-on leadership and strategic oversight of facilities, personnel, and departmental financial performance. Working in close partnership with the Director of Facilities, the Chief Engineer ensures operational excellence, regulatory compliance, fiscal responsibility, and proactive asset management in a complex, historic environment.

Responsibilities:

Engineering & Facilities Operations

• Provide leadership and accountability for the daily operation, maintenance, and reliability of all building systems, including steam boilers, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, life safety, and mechanical infrastructure within a historic facility.
• Ensure the preservation and safe operation of a 114-year-old building, balancing modern operational standards with historic building constraints and requirements.
• Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive preventive and predictive maintenance programs to minimize downtime, extend asset life, and ensure uninterrupted club and guest room operations.
• Oversee the work order management process, including prioritization, assignment, follow-up, and quality assurance, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and to established standards.
• Serve as the primary liaison with approved external contractors and specialty vendors, including soliciting bids, coordinating work, and ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and in compliance with approvals.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all applicable codes, regulations, and safety standards, including those related to steam boiler operations, life safety systems, and historic properties.
• Actively participate in the LAAC Safety Committee, identifying risks, implementing corrective actions, and promoting a culture of safety and accountability.
• Maintain accurate documentation, inspections, and certifications related to building systems and regulatory requirements.

Financial & Budgetary Oversight

• Manage the Engineering department's operating budgets, including labor, maintenance, equipment, and infrastructure-related expenditures.
• Partner with the Director of Facilities and Finance to review and approve departmental expenses, purchase orders, vendor contracts, and equipment purchases.
• Monitor financial performance against budget, identify variances, and implement cost-control strategies while maintaining operational and service standards.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels of parts, tools, and supplies necessary to support steam, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems.

Leadership & Workforce Management

• Full oversight of labor management and payroll process including but not limited to: scheduling, time-off requests, departmental coverage, and on-call needs to ensure consistent support for a 24/7 operating environment.
• Review and approve employee timecards and oversee payroll administration, partnering with Finance and People & Culture to resolve discrepancies.
• Monitor labor utilization and staffing levels to ensure efficiency, fiscal responsibility, and uninterrupted operations.
• Provide direct leadership to the Engineering team, including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, and performance management.
• Partner with People & Culture and Finance to assess staffing needs, fill vacancies, and conduct skills assessments to address technical or operational gaps.

Strategic Partnership & Continuous Improvement

• Serve as a trusted operational partner to the Director of Facilities, providing insights, recommendations, and reporting on building performance, risks, and capital needs.
• Serve in supportive capacity for long-term capital planning and infrastructure improvements, particularly those related to aging systems and historic building preservation.
• Participate in leadership and management development programs to enhance departmental effectiveness and cross-functional collaboration.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, sustainability, and the member and guest experience.

AUTHORITY LEVEL

• Budgets: Assist in developing and managing all department budgets; profitability, operations, payroll, etc.
• Employment: Assist with hiring decisions, terminations and disciplinary actions.
• Payroll: Leads and approves payroll process for department.
• Expenses: Assists with approving department expenses up to approved amount set by Finance Department, vendor contracts, and equipment.

Be an efficient role model and monitor employees' daily activity to ensure staff productivity and alignment with company values, goals, and culture:

• Manage, model, set tone, and guide employees in the company's culture, values, policy, and service expectations; promote Company and department initiatives, policy, procedures in a positive and motivational manner.
• Ensure employees' appearance is neat and professional (proper uniform and nametag as required) and demeanor is respectful and professional at all times.
• Supervise department staff daily activity while at work; ensure all tasks and services are consistently performed efficiently, on a timely manner, and in accordance with company policy and guidelines; coach proactively to ensure proper performance; resolve conflict between employees and with customers on a timely basis; escalate employee/customer issues to management as necessary.
• Hold employees accountable for results and service quality; enforce job expectations, training, coaching, and make discipline recommendations to Department Manager in a timely manner for all staff policy violations and not meeting service expectations.
• Assist in maintaining adequate staffing level; report resignations and staffing needs in a timely basis to Department Manager; screen candidates and make hiring recommendations of individuals who are well qualified and embody the company values.
• Develop staff and encourage professional and personal growth through providing hands-on training, coaching, and mentoring towards meeting personal, department, and company business goals.
• Efficiently manage cost-containment; ensure efficient use and accurate inventory of supplies, minimize payroll cost by staffing based on business need, ensure staff take meal breaks on time, and plan ahead for planned vacations and leaves of absence.
• Safeguard confidential information properly; ensure work area is efficiently secured and confidential information related to employee, customers, business partners, and company are stored securely in a timely basis and only discussed with others as necessary for business purposes and allowed by law.

Exemplify our Club values at work and during all offsite work-related events:

• Teamwork; Work collectively to realize goals that are greater than what you can achieve individually.
• Friendliness; create an authentic, welcoming environment for all patrons; be friendly, greet members with a smile, give a sincere farewell, and use member's name whenever possible.
• Health; promote health by demonstrating a long-term and all-encompassing approach to health, which integrates soundness of mind, body, and spirit.
• Heritage; embrace the values and traditions inherited from the club founders.
• Strive for Wonderment; create an ambiance of wonder for our members and guests by creating marvel and unexpected joy in every club experience.

Consistently adhere to the Los Angeles Athletic Club core service standards:

• Exemplify high-quality hospitality by making every member, guest, and business partner feel welcomed, valued, respected, and listened to; greet at every encounter, offer assistance to anyone who appears in need, escort individuals to correct destination.
• Take responsibility for maintaining an uncompromisingly clean Club; maintain your work area neat and clean, clean after yourself in employee and member areas, be proactive in maintaining member areas neat and clean by performing minor clean up as needed (i.e., cleaning minor food and liquid spills, storing forgotten exercise equipment, wiping equipment, etcetera); and promptly report needed repairs, potential safety issues, significant cleaning jobs to housekeeping, cleaning, and/or engineering department.
• Follow through with resolutions to problems from beginning to end; break away from your regular duties if needed to follow through on resolutions.
• Be knowledgeable of Club information; maintain sufficient and updated information to be able to easily answer questions from members and guest thoroughly from beginning to end.
• Practice personal hygiene: wear clean and pressed clothing, and proper uniform if required by your position.
• Use proper and welcoming telephone etiquette; do not screen calls, answer calls by the 3rd ring, smile while you speak.
• Reply to emails the same day you receive them.
• Anticipate and comply with member needs and record their preferences.
• Be an ambassador of the Los Angeles Athletic Club in and outside the workplace; always represent yourself and the club professionally and with respect.

Ensure A Safe Work Environment:

• Comply with the Company Health and Safety (H&S) processes while working on projects, initiatives, and other work-related duties; perform job duties in a way that will not cause danger to self or others, or violate local, state, federal, environmental regulations.
• Promptly correct or report any hazard, potential hazard, or unsafe work condition to the Director of Facilities, and/or People & Culture; wear protective equipment when required; ensure work location is kept safe, clean, and organized.

Initiate Professional Growth:

• Consistently evaluate work for efficiency, quality, alignment with the Company's service standards, and compliance with Company policies and procedures.
• Seek out opportunities to enhance personal skills set relevant to job tasks.
• Maintain current product knowledge, best practices, and skills needed to meet the demands of your position.

Education, licenses, & certifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in same or similar positions in the industry
• A valid steam engineer license issued by The City of Los Angeles for 500 horsepower or greater is preferred
• Current California Driver License with satisfactory Department of Motor Vehicle driving record is preferred
• High School Diploma or GED Equivalent required

Essential qualifications:

• Experience working in historic buildings, hotels, private clubs, or complex facilities with central plant or steam boiler systems is highly valued.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment, initiative, and decision-making with minimal supervision.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, particularly in diagnosing building systems, infrastructure issues, and operational risks.
• High level of attention to detail, accuracy, and thorough documentation, especially in regulated and safety-sensitive environments.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and cross-functional demands.
• Bilingual verbal and written communication skills in English and Spanish or another language are an asset.
• Exceptional interpersonal and customer service skills, with the ability to engage effectively with members, guests, vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders.
• Strong computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Excel, Word), with the ability to adapt to maintenance management and financial systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare professional correspondence, reports, and documentation with accuracy and clarity.
• Strong presentation and influencing skills, with the ability to communicate technical and operational information clearly and drive positive change.
• Ability to accept, provide, and act upon constructive feedback in support of continuous improvement and professional growth.
• Minimum twenty-one (21) years of age.
• Demonstrated reliability, punctuality, and professional accountability in a leadership role.
• Proven ability to manage time, prioritize competing operational demands, and execute responsibilities effectively in a fast-paced, 24/7 environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed for business operations, training, certifications, or professional development, including occasional overnight travel.

requirements, Demands, and working conditions:

• This position requires the ability to perform heavy physical work as necessary to support engineering and maintenance operations, including:
• Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 35 pounds of force frequently, and up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move, lift, or position objects such as ladders, tools, equipment, salt bags, and mechanical components.
• Ability to climb ladders, stairs, and access mechanical rooms, rooftops, and confined spaces as required.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, crouch, and reach for extended periods while performing inspections or hands-on work.
• Ability to work in varied environmental conditions, including mechanical rooms, outdoor areas, elevated temperatures, noise, dust, and exposure to steam, water, and electrical systems.
• Must be able to respond to emergencies and support after-hours, on-call, and weekend operational needs as required.