Chief Engineer

MH Management (NSW) Pty Ltd; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career growth programs

Exclusive hotel deals

Global hotel perks

Staff banking & health benefits

Wellness and EAP support

Generous leave policies

Job summary

NH Collection Sydney, part of Minor Hotels, seeks a Chief Engineer to lead the hotel's engineering and maintenance operations during pre-opening and beyond. You will drive reliability, safety and efficiency while shaping the technical roadmap and sustainability initiatives.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will build a high‑performing engineering team, manage budgets, and coordinate with contractors to ensure seamless guest experiences from day one.

Qualifications

• Proven chief engineer or senior maintenance leadership in hotels.
• Experience with premium or luxury hotel environments is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of building systems, asset management and risk controls.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering and maintenance operations across hotel facilities.
• Oversee preventative maintenance, repairs and capital projects.
• Ensure compliance with fire, health and safety standards.
• Manage budgets, payroll and operating expenditures.
• Develop and coach the engineering team for high performance.
• Support pre-opening activities and operational readiness.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Hospitality operations

Building systems

Compliance & safety

Budget management

Pre-opening experience

Education

Mechanical or Electrical Engineering degree

Job description

Overview Minor Hotels is one of Australasia’s largest accommodation providers, managing over 70 properties in the region and a global portfolio of 640 properties across more than 66 countries. Our brands, Anantara, Avani, Oaks, NH Hotels, NH Collection, nhow, and Tivoli, span six continents, including Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe, and South America. Joining Minor means partnering with a diverse, expanding global organisation offering boundless opportunities to thrive and succeed.

NH Collection Sydney is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Chief Engineer to lead the hotel's engineering and maintenance operations during pre-opening and beyond. Reporting directly to the General Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring the property is maintained to the highest standards while delivering a safe, efficient and exceptional environment for guests and team members alike.

About the Role

As Chief Engineer, you will lead all aspects of the hotel's engineering and technical operations, balancing day-to-day maintenance with long-term strategic planning. You will oversee preventative maintenance programs, capital projects, contractor management, statutory compliance and sustainability initiatives while developing a high-performing engineering team. As part of the pre-opening team, you will be instrumental in preparing the property for launch, ensuring all facilities, systems and operational standards are in place to deliver an exceptional guest experience from day one.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the hotel's engineering and maintenance operations.
• Ensure the reliable, safe and efficient performance of all hotel facilities and technical systems.
• Manage preventative maintenance programs, repairs, refurbishments and technical projects.
• Ensure full compliance with statutory, fire, health and safety requirements.
• Conduct regular inspections of guest rooms, public areas, back-of-house facilities and plant rooms.
• Prepare and manage engineering budgets, including payroll, operational expenditure and project costs.
• Monitor and improve energy and water consumption through sustainability initiatives.
• Manage external contractors and service providers to ensure quality, compliance and value.
• Lead, coach and develop the engineering team to create a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Support all pre-opening engineering activities, project coordination and operational readiness planning.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Chief Engineer, Maintenance Manager or senior engineering leader within a hotel environment.
• Experience working within premium, luxury or upper-upscale hotels.
• Strong technical knowledge across building systems, maintenance operations and asset management.
• Demonstrated experience managing compliance, safety and risk requirements.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, contractors and capital projects.
• Formal qualifications in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline will be highly regarded.
• A hands-on leadership style with the ability to solve problems and remain composed under pressure.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and team development skills.
• Experience managing refurbishments, asset improvement projects and contractor relationships.
• Previous pre-opening experience will be highly regarded but is not essential.

Additional Information

At Minor Hotels, we value our people as the heart of our success. Joining Minor means, you’ll enjoy a rewarding package designed to support your professional growth, wellbeing, and work-life balance:

What We Offer:

• Career Growth: Learning and development programs to boost your career.
• Exclusive Hotel Deals: 50% off stays at Minor Hotels in Australasia; 20% off for friends and family.
• Global Perks: International accommodation discounts across our hotel brands.
• Retail Rewards: Cashback and discounts at 400+ top retailers in AU/NZ.
• Experiences: Discounted entertainment and activities.
• Banking and Insurance: Exclusive health insurance offers and workplace banking benefits.
• Generous Leave: Parental and birthday leave.
• Wellness Boost: EAP and tailored wellness support.

Our people drive the success of our business; We are a dynamic organisation dedicated to delivering exceptional guest experiences. We invest in your skills and foster a workplace culture that celebrates innovation, collaboration, and personal growth.

Minor International is one of the largest hospitality and leisure companies in the Asia Pacific region. Today Minor International has a global presence with hotels and resorts, restaurants and retail shops across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia. When Passion Meets Growth, Opportunity Sparks. At some point, we all hit a ceiling, and few have the passion or opportunity to break through. At Minor, we’ve made it our mission to encourage our people to push boundaries in search of opportunity and achieve their fullest potential. When the business grows, so do our people.