Director of Engineering

Kempinski Hotels; Bahrain; On-site; BHD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Kempinski Hotels in the Kingdom of Bahrain seeks a Director of Engineering to lead the pre-opening technical handover, commissioning, and long-term facility preservation for a luxury property in Manama. This role oversees MEP, HVAC, life-safety systems and premium amenities, coordinating with developers, consultants, contractors and authorities to deliver standards before opening.

English fluency is mandatory; GCC experience is highly preferred, with 5–8 years in senior hotel engineering roles

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services, or related technical discipline.
• 5–8 years as Director of Engineering/Chief Engineer in a 5-star luxury hotel or integrated resort.
• Pre-opening experience from construction handover to operational launch.
• Regional Middle East/GCC experience preferred; familiarity with Bahrain regulations and vendor ecosystems.
• Strong knowledge of central HVAC, BMS, desalination, emergency generators, HV systems, and FLS protocols.
• Business fluency in English; conversational Arabic a plus.

Responsibilities

• Represent the operator in site inspections, snagging, testing, and commissioning of plant and life-safety infrastructure.
• Review drawings, O&M manuals, warranties, and as-built plans before acceptance.
• Coordinate system performance evaluations with contractors for compliance with local environmental standards.
• Establish asset registries and implement a CMMS/PMMS from scratch.
• Build and structure the engineering department and recruit qualified staff.
• Develop SOPs, emergency workflows, and safety protocols aligned with corporate standards.
• Establish preventive maintenance programs for all major equipment and spaces.
• Conduct technical and life-safety training for staff and cross-departmental teams.
• Prepare and manage operating budgets, CapEx plans, and energy consumption models.
• Monitor energy, water, and fuel usage; implement sustainability initiatives.
• Negotiate and monitor third-party service contracts for major systems.

Skills

Contractor management

Budget planning

Crisis management leadership

Cross-functional team management

English fluency

Arabic conversational (plus)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or Building Services

Tools

CMMS/PMMS

BMS systems

Desalination/water treatment

Job description

The Director of Engineering oversees the technical hand-over, operational testing, commissioning, and long-term facility preservation of the luxury property. During the pre-opening phase, this role serves as the primary technical liaison between project developers, consultants, contractors, local authorities, and the hotel operating team.

The position ensures that all MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing), HVAC, life safety systems, structural assets, and high-spec luxury amenities (such as infinity pools, sky lounges, and spa facilities) are delivered to Kempinski standards, local municipal regulations, and corporate sustainability guidelines before opening to guests.

Department

Engineering

Location

Kingdom of Bahrain - Manama

Key Responsibilities

• Represent the operator in all site inspections, snagging processes, testing, and commissioning of physical plant, MEP equipment, vertical transportation (elevators), and life safety infrastructure.
• Review architectural and MEP drawings, operational operation & maintenance (O\u0026M) manuals, warranty agreements, and as-built plans prior to property acceptance.
• Coordinate system performance evaluations alongside main contractors to verify compliance with local environmental.
• Establish asset registries and implement a computerised maintenance management system (CMMS) or Property Management Maintenance System (PMMS) from scratch.

Departmental Operations & Team Leadership

• Build, recruit, and structure the engineering department, selecting qualified shift engineers, technicians, and specialized craftsmen.
• Develop Departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), emergency response workflows, and safety protocols in line with corporate standards.
• Establish preventive maintenance programs (PMP) for all major equipment, guest rooms, public spaces, back-of-house (BOH) zones, and exterior infrastructure.
• Conduct technical and life-safety training programs for engineering staff and cross-departmental teams.

Financial, Energy & Sustainability Management

• Prepare and manage the engineering operating budget, capital expenditure (CapEx) plan, pre-opening departmental launch budgets, and utility consumption models.
• Monitor energy, water, and fuel usage; design and implement energy-saving and carbon-reduction initiatives.
• Negotiate, execute, and monitor third-party service and maintenance contracts (e.g., chillers, fire suppression systems, elevators, pool maintenance, high-voltage systems).

Safety, Compliance & Asset Protection

• Serve as the hotel’s lead technical authority on Fire, Life, and Safety (FLS) systems, ensuring total readiness for internal audits and municipal certifications.
• Implement risk management policies to protect the physical asset against environmental degradation, water damage, electrical risks, and structural wear.
• Oversee sustainability compliance (e.g., EarthCheck or equivalent certification programs required by corporate standards).

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience: Minimum 5–8 years as a Director of Engineering / Chief Engineer in a 5-star luxury hotel or integrated resort environment.
• Demonstrated track record in a pre-opening capacity (taking a hotel property from construction phase/handover through to operational launch).
• Regional Experience: Middle East / GCC market experience highly preferred; familiarity with Bahrain Civil Defence, EWA regulations, and local vendor ecosystems is a strong advantage.
• Technical Mastery: Deep knowledge of central HVAC plant operations, BMS systems, desalination/water treatment, emergency generators, high-voltage networks, and advanced FLS protocols.
• Languages: Business fluency in English is mandatory; conversational Arabic is a plus.
• Competencies: Strong contractor management capabilities, commercial budget planning, Crisis Management Leadership, and cross-functional team management.

Why Join Kempinski

Kempinski emphazises talent development and offers career progression within its global network, with properties in over 30 countries. There are opportunities to work in diverse cultural environments whilst continuing your professional growth. We are proud to foster a culture where employees feel valued, heard, and are empowered to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

Be part of a legacy, build your future. Discover the possibilities at Kempinski.