Chief Engineer (Non-Union)

Socket.dev; Arlington Heights (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Peak Properties is seeking a Chief Engineer (Non-Union) to lead a maintenance team across properties, overseeing work orders, preventive maintenance, and safety programs. The role involves scheduling, supervising staff, and coordinating with the Community Manager to ensure timely, high-quality repairs and improvements.

The candidate should have extensive building operations experience, relevant certifications, and strong planning and budgeting skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of building operations experience or equivalent.
• Budgeting knowledge and operating budgets understanding.
• Competence with and/or willingness to learn maintenance systems/tools.

Responsibilities

• Performs assigned work orders, emergency and preventive maintenance.
• Assigns work orders to staff and estimates time and materials.
• Plans maintenance and renovations for vacant units to make ready.
• Inspects property and coordinates with staff to ensure timely repairs.
• Implements preventive maintenance programs and ensures safety compliance.
• Maintains records of repairs, warranties and inventories.
• Arranges for subcontractors and evaluates work performed.
• Monitors safety and ensures OHSA compliance.
• Oversees janitorial and common area upkeep.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Detail-oriented

Planning & organization

Effective communication

Time management / multitasking

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Universal CFC certification

HVAC certification

Electrical certification

Tools

Yardi

Outlook

Excel

Job description

Job Title: Chief Engineer (Non-Union)

Reports To: Community Manager

Job Overview

The Chief Engineer (Non-Union) is very hands on and will work with his team to oversee the timeliness of work orders and make readies being performed by members under his/her direct supervision. He/she will work with the Community Manager to establish schedules and assign personnel for routine, deferred and emergency maintenance and will continually inspect the property or multiple properties for improvements.

Primary Responsibilities

• Performs assigned work orders, emergency and preventive maintenance.
• Utilizes advanced skills to perform complex preventive maintenance and corrective repair of buildings, industrial systems, vehicles, equipment and grounds.
• Assigns work order to staff. Estimates time and materials needed to complete repair.
• Uses reporting of tenant move-outs and move-ins to plan, coordinate, and schedule maintenance repairs, painting, or janitorial services for vacant units to make ready.
• Conduct weekly/daily inspections of the property including but not limited to grounds, building systems, roof, elevator rooms, maintenance shops, storage rooms, common areas, fire alarms, HVAC, building exteriors, and work order productivity. Note deficiencies observed during inspections and assign staff with proposed plan of action and follow-up for completion within a specific time frame.
• Implements a preventive maintenance program to ensure building machinery, elevators, and systems are fully functional with records/incidents documented.
• Complies with all applicable codes, regulations, governmental agency and Company directives related to building operations and work safety.
• Completes maintenance and repair records for all appliances, maintaining warranty information and using warranty for repair when applicable.
• Maintains inventory of adequate supplies, tools and orders necessary materials to complete all tasks.
• Arranges for subcontractors, assists in vendor repair contracts, and evaluation of work performed as needed.
• Must be aware of the condition of physical property throughout the property and must immediately correct unsafe conditions; e.g., broken steps, open holes, broken/burned out exterior lights, broken (door locks, inoperable smoke detectors, gas leaks.
• Ensures buildings common areas are clean and well maintained, monitors and assigns work to janitorial employees or contract services.
• Participates in shoveling and removal of snow, ensuring areas are salted and clear during winter season.

Tenant Relations

• Provides timely, attentive, upbeat service to residents, and making sure their needs are met or explained in a manner that reflects positively on the company or business.
• React quickly to emergency maintenance issues from tenants ensuring adequate staff assigned 24/7.
• Consults with residents to schedule preventive maintenance and other downtime to minimize interruption and inconvenience.
• Reviews monthly tenant service request summaries to pinpoint and correct recurrent operational problems.

Employee Relations

• Supervise, oversees, inspects in the evaluation of performance of maintenance and janitorial staff.
• Ensure that the maintenance staff is trained and competent in their job duties.
• Ensure that maintenance and janitorial staff adhere to OHSA requirements and implement safety procedures using personal protective gear.
• Assist with the scheduling of vacations, holidays, and floating holidays for janitors and maintenance staff for proper availability of staff especially during peak leasing season.

Other Duties

• Abides by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, or any Federal, State or Local rules or regulations.
• Maintains yearly certifications outlined by union and Federal Fair Housing laws, and preventing harassment courses per Federal, State, or Local laws.
• Ensure compliance with Peak Properties company policy, as well as federal and local regulations.
• Attend Peak meetings and/or connect with other Peak employees to share best practices.
• Additional duties as assigned by Management.

Qualifications

• Luxury lease up experience preferred**
• Minimum of five years-experience in complete building operations, or equivalent combination of education and experience with certificates and/or Licenses.
• Universal CFC certification required.
• Additional certification in two or more of the following: HVAC, electrical, mechanical, HVAC and refrigeration systems, process controls, mechanical power transmissions, painting, plumbing, carpentry or engine repair may be required or required by local or state jurisdictions.
• Strong working knowledge of planning, organization and direction of the maintenance and repair activities.
• Requires knowledge of financial terms and principles and to understand operating budgets.
• Competence with and/or desire to learn and use systems/tools (Yardi, Outlook, Excel).
• Strong interpersonal and business communication skills.
• Must be detail-oriented and a motivated self-starter.
• High level of organization, follow up, and can manage and resolve conflict.
• Ability to handle large volume of emails and phone calls.
• Understand principles and practices of administration, supervision and training. Interpret, apply and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Availability and Work Hours

• Must be available to handle requests as needed outside of normal business hours. Must be available to handle emergencies 24/7, occasional overtime.
• Ability to access emails on weekends and be available to resolve issues as needed.

Physical Requirements

• The ability to wear personal protective gear or safety equipment correctly most of the day as directed by OSHA, state and federal laws.
• Utilizes several trade skills such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting, roofing, heating and cooling.
• Heavy movement; stooping, standing, walking, climbing stairs / ladders and ability to lift / carry heavy loads of 50 lbs. or more.
• Operates a computer, tablet, phone, and other office productivity machinery.
• Requires the ability to move within different areas of properties, stand, sit, walk up/down stairs for periods of time.
• Must have a car and a valid driver’s license.