Chief Building Engineer / Building Operations Manager

TCWGlobal; Miami Beach (FL); On-site; USD 62,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

TCWGlobal is seeking a hands-on Chief Building Engineer to lead maintenance and operations for a large Miami Beach condo building. You will manage three staff members and coordinate with outside contractors to keep systems running smoothly.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in building engineering, with strong HVAC, plumbing, and electrical expertise. This role requires the ability to respond to emergencies and implement preventive maintenance strategies.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience as a Chief Engineer or Building Engineer in a multi-unit property.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and building systems.
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred for contractor coordination.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day maintenance and operation of the building and systems.
• Lead a three-person maintenance team and assign responsibilities.
• Coordinate and supervise outside contractors for repairs and maintenance.
• Develop and implement a proactive preventive maintenance program.
• Respond to after-hours emergencies as needed.

Skills

HVAC

Plumbing

Electrical

Building maintenance

Leadership

Contractor management

Budgeting

Job description

Chief Building Engineer / Building Operations Manager

Location: Miami Beach, FL 33140 ( *Must be local)

Pay: $45-65hr ( Based on experience)

Schedule: Full-Time, Monday–Friday | Flexible 8:00 AM–4:00 PM or 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire | Approximately 4–6 months based on performance

About the Company

Established residential condominium community in Miami Beach, featuring a large 300-unit, 350,000-square-foot property.

The organization is focused on maintaining a safe, well-run, and comfortable environment for residents while continuously improving the building’s operations, maintenance, and long-term infrastructure.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Chief Building Engineer / Building Operations Manager to oversee the maintenance, operation, and overall condition of a 350,000-square-foot, 300-unit residential condominium building.

‘This is a hands-on leadership role for someone with a strong building engineering or facilities background who understands how major building systems operate and can confidently oversee maintenance staff, vendors, and contractors.

The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and general building systems, with deep expertise in at least one major discipline. You do not need to be an expert in everything, but you must be able to confidently identify building issues, determine what needs to be done, select the right contractor, and make sure the work is completed correctly.

Key Responsibilities

Building Operations & Maintenance

• Oversee the day-to-day maintenance and operation of the building and its systems.
• Provide leadership for the building's maintenance team of three employees.
• Monitor and troubleshoot issues involving HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and other building systems.
• Conduct regular building inspections and identify potential issues before they become larger problems.
• Develop and maintain a proactive preventive maintenance program.
• Establish maintenance schedules for equipment and building systems.
• Identify aging equipment, systems, and infrastructure that may require repair or replacement.
• Evaluate the condition of the building and develop short- and long-term maintenance plans.
• Recommend improvements based on current building practices, technology, and equipment.
• Help identify systems that could create significant damage or disruption if they fail and prioritize them accordingly.

Technical Expertise & Contractor Management

• Serve as the building's internal technical resource and understand enough about major systems to accurately identify problems and determine the appropriate solution.
• Must have strong expertise in at least one major building discipline, such as HVAC, plumbing, or electrical.
• Coordinate and oversee outside contractors for technical repairs and maintenance.
• Review contractor recommendations and proposals to ensure repairs are necessary and appropriate.
• Select and coordinate qualified contractors for building repairs and projects.
• Monitor contractors while they are onsite and ensure work is performed properly, safely, and according to specifications.
• Verify completed work and make sure the building receives the services it is paying for.
• Avoid unnecessary repairs or costs by having enough technical knowledge to ask the right questions and hold contractors accountable.
• Directly supervise and provide leadership to the building's three-person maintenance team.
• Assign and prioritize maintenance responsibilities.
• Provide guidance, training, and oversight to maintenance employees.
• Develop the team's ability to handle routine building issues independently.
• Identify Tier 1 issues that can be handled by 24-hour building staff and train employees on appropriate procedures.
• Build confidence and capability within the team so that routine issues do not always require after-hours intervention.
• Lead by example and create a culture of accountability, ownership, and proactive maintenance.

Preventive Maintenance & Long-Term Planning

• Move the building from a break-fix maintenance model to a proactive preventive maintenance approach.
• Survey building systems and identify upcoming maintenance and replacement needs.
• Develop recommendations for what should be addressed immediately, within one year, and over the next several years.
• Evaluate aging systems and prioritize repairs or replacements based on condition, risk, and potential impact.
• Identify opportunities to improve the building using modern building practices, equipment, and technology.
• Present recommendations to the Property Manager and Board of Directors, including scope, cost, timing, and required resources.
• Help protect the long-term value and condition of the property.

Emergency Response

• Participate in an after-hours/on-call rotation for critical building emergencies.
• After-hours calls are generally expected approximately 1–2 times per month, although timing and severity will vary.
• Respond to or coordinate emergencies involving water leaks, flooding, plumbing failures, electrical issues, HVAC failures, and other critical building problems.
• Use sound judgment to determine whether an issue can wait until the next business day or requires immediate response.
• Coordinate with the senior maintenance technician, building staff, contractors, and Property Manager as needed.
• When necessary, personally respond to the building and take charge of the situation.
• Develop procedures and train staff to appropriately handle lower-level emergencies without requiring the Chief Engineer to respond.
• Must be reasonably located within the Miami Beach area and available to respond when a critical situation requires onsite assistance.

Property Manager & Board Support

• Work closely with the Property Manager and Board of Directors on building maintenance and operational priorities.
• Provide professional recommendations regarding repairs, replacements, preventive maintenance, and capital improvements.
• Communicate what needs to be done, why it is needed, estimated costs, timing, and resources required.
• Take ownership of building issues rather than waiting to be told what needs to be done.
• Bring forward ideas and recommendations that improve the building's operations, safety, and long-term condition.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience as a Chief Engineer, Building Engineer, Facilities Manager or Engineering Manager
• Previous experience working in a commercial, high-rise residential, condominium, hospitality, or similar building environment.
• Experience managing a multi-person maintenance or engineering team.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and general building systems.
• Expert-level knowledge in at least one major building discipline, preferably HVAC, plumbing, or electrical.
• 2+ years of supervisory or management experience, preferably managing maintenance or engineering personnel.
• Experience overseeing outside contractors and service providers.
• Ability to evaluate contractor recommendations and determine whether proposed work is necessary and appropriate.
• Strong understanding of building maintenance, equipment, and aging infrastructure.
• Ability to identify potential problems and develop long-term maintenance and replacement plans.
• Strong leadership, judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Highly proactive and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to confidently communicate technical recommendations to management.
• Bilingual English/Spanish required due to communication with maintenance personnel and primarily Spanish-speaking contractors.
• Must be comfortable with after-hours/on-call emergency responsibilities.
• Must be able to respond onsite when a critical emergency requires immediate attention.
• Must be reliable, accountable, responsible, and willing to take ownership of building operations.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is a true building operations leader — not someone who simply waits for something to break.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is highly proactive and takes ownership.
• Has strong technical knowledge and can confidently evaluate building issues.
• Is an expert in at least one major discipline, such as HVAC, plumbing, or electrical.
• Knows how to manage and hold contractors accountable.
• Can lead and develop a maintenance team.
• Thinks ahead and creates preventive maintenance and long-term improvement plans.
• Has the confidence to tell management, “This is what we need to do, this is why, this is what it will cost, and this is how we should approach it.”
• Uses good judgment during emergencies and knows when an issue requires immediate action.Is comfortable working independently without someone constantly providing direction.
• Is hands-on, responsible, dependable, and solutions-oriented.
• Can communicate effectively with employees, contractors, the Property Manager, and the Board.

Contract-to-Hire

This position will initially be offered as a 4–6 month contract-to-hire opportunity, based on performance.

The goal is to identify the right long-term person for the building. Successful performance during the contract period may lead to conversion to a permanent position.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of the building operations for a large, established 300-unit condominium property and make a meaningful impact.

The building is in good condition, but there is significant opportunity for the right leader to improve preventive maintenance, long-term planning, contractor oversight, staff development, and overall building operations.

If you are an experienced building engineer who enjoys solving problems, leading people, improving systems, and being proactive rather than reactive, we would like to hear from you.