Cluster Director Of Engineering

Novotel Hotels; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Accor in Dubai seeks a senior engineering leader to oversee the Engineering, Maintenance and Asset Management function across two Novotel hotels. You will manage MEP systems, energy initiatives and major capital projects to ensure reliability and guest comfort.

The role requires 8–10 years of engineering experience in hospitality, with 3–5 years in senior leadership, and a strong track record in CAPEX and stakeholder management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline relevant to building services or facilities management.
• 8–10 years in engineering, preferably in upscale hospitality or large-scale properties.
• 3–5 years in senior engineering/technical leadership, multi-property experience preferred.
• Experience with hotel building infrastructure, MEP, chillers/HVAC, and life-safety systems.
• Knowledge of UAE regulations, Civil Defense and HSE requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Engineering, Maintenance and Asset Management function across two hotels.
• Oversee critical building infrastructure, including MEP, HVAC, electrical and life-safety systems.
• Develop preventive and predictive maintenance strategies to maximise reliability.
• Establish asset replacement plans, identify risks and investment priorities.
• Lead major engineering projects, renovations and technical upgrades from concept to handover.
• Develop and manage CAPEX plans and business cases with senior leadership.
• Provide technical oversight of consultants, contractors and designs.
• Ensure compliance with local regulations and brand standards.
• Drive energy and utility optimisation and sustainability initiatives.
• Monitor OPEX/CAPEX, contractor performance and vendor relationships.
• Lead engineering teams with a focus on capability, succession and high performance.

Skills

Engineering leadership

CAPEX management

MEP systems

Energy management

Stakeholder management

Project management

Budgets & financial acumen

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Building Services Engineering, Facilities Management or related

Job description

Job Description

Company Description

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OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION:

We are an inclusive company and our ambition is to attract, recruit and promote diverse talent.

WHY WORK FOR ACCOR?

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By joining Accor, every chapter of your story is yours to write and together we can imagine tomorrow's hospitality. Discover the life that awaits you at Accor, visit https://careers.accor.com/

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Job Description

• Lead the overall Engineering, Maintenance and Asset Management function across both hotels, ensuring operational excellence, safety, reliability and guest comfort.
• Oversee the integrity and performance of all critical building infrastructure, including foundations, structure, MEP systems, chillers, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, water systems, lifts and life-safety systems.
• Develop and implement comprehensive preventive and predictive maintenance strategies to maximise asset reliability and lifecycle.
• Establish and maintain long-term asset management and replacement plans, identifying critical risks and investment priorities.
• Lead major engineering projects, renovations, refurbishments and technical upgrades from concept and design through execution and handover.
• Develop and manage Engineering CAPEX plans, budgets and business cases in partnership with the Cluster GM and Owning Company.
• Act as the senior technical advisor to the Cluster GM and maintain regular engagement with the Owning Company Representative on asset condition, CAPEX, projects and technical risks.
• Provide technical review and oversight of consultants, contractors, engineering designs, specifications, tenders and project delivery.
• Ensure full compliance with local authority regulations, statutory requirements, fire and life-safety standards, brand standards and applicable engineering legislation.
• Lead engineering risk management, emergency preparedness and business continuity planning for critical infrastructure.
• Drive energy, water and utility optimisation across both properties, with a focus on cost efficiency and environmental performance.
• Lead sustainability and engineering initiatives supporting the hotels’ ESG, energy-efficiency and carbon-reduction objectives.
• Monitor engineering OPEX, utility costs, maintenance expenditure and contractor performance, identifying opportunities for operational and financial optimisation.
• Establish engineering KPIs and monitor equipment availability, maintenance compliance, downtime, energy performance and project delivery.
• Ensure engineering standards across guestrooms, public areas, BOH facilities and operational areas consistently support the guest experience.
• Manage strategic supplier, contractor and technical service relationships, ensuring quality, compliance and value for money.
• Lead, develop and engage the Engineering teams across both hotels, ensuring technical capability, succession and high-performance culture.
• Partner closely with Operations, Finance, Security, P&C and other stakeholders to ensure effective property and engineering management.
• Provide clear technical recommendations, reports and investment proposals to senior management and ownership to support informed asset and business decisions.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve property value, operational efficiency, sustainability, asset longevity and overall engineering performance across the cluster.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Building Services Engineering, Facilities Management or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 8–10 years’ engineering experience, preferably within upscale hospitality, commercial buildings or large-scale properties.
• Minimum 3–5 years in a senior Engineering/Technical leadership role, ideally managing multiple properties or complex assets.
• Proven experience managing hotel building infrastructure, MEP systems, chillers/HVAC, electrical, plumbing, life-safety and building systems.
• Strong experience in CAPEX, major renovations, technical projects and asset lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of UAE/local authority regulations, statutory compliance, Civil Defense and HSE requirements.
• Strong understanding of energy management, sustainability, utility optimization and ESG initiatives.
• Experience managing engineering budgets, OPEX/CAPEX, contractors, consultants and technical suppliers.
• Proven ability to work directly with General Managers, hotel leadership and property owners/representatives.
• Strong commercial, analytical, project management and stakeholder management skills.
• Professional engineering certification or membership with a recognized engineering body is preferred.
• Hotel engineering experience within an international hospitality group and exposure to multi-property/cluster operations would be an advantage.

Requirements