Chief Engineer - Resort Engineering & Facilities

Delavan Holdings; Delavan (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, Wisconsin seeks a Chief Engineer to lead the Engineering & Facilities department, oversee maintenance of resort buildings, guest rooms, public areas, and grounds, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance.

You will recruit, train, schedule, coach, and develop the engineering team; manage vendors, contractors, and capital projects; and align operations with budget and guest experience goals.

Qualifications

• Experience leading, training, scheduling, and developing maintenance or engineering teams.
• Strong knowledge of building systems and preventive maintenance practices.
• Experience managing vendors, contractors, and capital improvement projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the daily operations of Engineering & Facilities, ensuring efficient workflow and timely maintenance.
• Recruit, train, schedule, supervise, coach, and develop Engineering team members.
• Oversee maintenance of resort buildings, guest rooms, public areas, and grounds.
• Inspect and maintain HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, carpentry, and building systems.
• Manage engineering vendors, contracts, bids, and project work.
• Develop and manage preventive maintenance programs and budgets.

Skills

HVAC knowledge

Electrical systems

Plumbing knowledge

Mechanical systems

Leadership & team development

Project management

Troubleshooting

Communication skills

Guest service understanding

Education

Technical certifications/licenses preferred

Job description

Description

Position Details

• Job Title: Chief Engineer – Resort Engineering & Facilities
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Shift: Flexible / Days, Evenings, Weekends, Holidays & On-Call as Needed
• Department: Engineering / Facilities
• Location: Delavan, Wisconsin

What You'll Do

• Lead the daily operations of the Engineering and Facilities department, ensuring efficient workflow and timely completion of maintenance needs.
• Recruit, interview, hire, train, schedule, supervise, coach, and develop Engineering team members.
• Establish staffing levels and schedules based on business volume, guest needs, and budget guidelines.
• Oversee the maintenance and operation of resort buildings, guest rooms, public areas, recreational facilities, and grounds.
• Inspect, troubleshoot, maintain, and repair HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, carpentry, and general building systems.
• Ensure resort equipment and building systems operate safely, efficiently, and at optimal performance.
• Develop and manage effective preventive maintenance programs, including room and facility preventive maintenance.
• Assign and monitor work orders while ensuring projects are completed safely, accurately, and on schedule.
• Manage engineering vendors, contractors, service providers, leases, contracts, bids, and project work.
• Evaluate engineering project designs and specifications and oversee installations and construction projects.
• Ensure engineering projects comply with resort standards, applicable building codes, permitting requirements, and government regulations.
• Manage necessary permits, inspections, licenses, and regulatory compliance for Engineering projects and operations.
• Develop cost-reduction, work simplification, and process improvement initiatives to improve department efficiency.
• Manage department purchasing, purchase orders, requisitions, materials, equipment, and maintenance supplies.
• Develop annual Engineering budgets, staffing plans, labor forecasts, operating expenses, and capital expenditure requests.
• Help evaluate capital projects and prioritize investments that protect resort assets and, when possible, provide a return on investment.
• Maximize the useful life and operating efficiency of resort equipment, systems, and physical assets.
• Submit daily and periodic department updates, project progress reports, recommendations, and operational information to the Director of Engineering & Property Development and General Manager.
• Provide 24-hour on-call support for emergency engineering and maintenance needs.
• Assist with fire safety programs, emergency procedures, safety training, chemical safety, and accident prevention.
• Ensure Engineering team members follow all company, safety, security, PPE, uniform, grooming, and departmental policies.
• Conduct regular Engineering department meetings and participate in department head and resort leadership meetings.
• Collaborate with other departments to anticipate maintenance needs and provide excellent guest service.
• Serve as a technical resource and liaison for resort departments and other Lake Lawn Resort managed properties and facilities.
• Provide guidance, technical training, and Engineering support to leadership at other managed properties as needed.
• Assist with maintenance and facility needs at off-site employee housing.
• Perform hands‑on maintenance duties, including general maintenance, electrical, carpentry, and HVAC work, when needed.
• Assist with Manager on Duty responsibilities as assigned.
• Identify opportunities to improve guest service, operational efficiency, and resort profitability.

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• Previous Chief Engineer, Director of Engineering, Engineering Manager, Maintenance Manager, Facilities Manager, or Senior Maintenance leadership experience, preferably in a hotel, resort, hospitality, or large commercial property.
• Strong working knowledge of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical systems, carpentry, building maintenance, and preventive maintenance.
• Demonstrated experience leading, training, scheduling, and developing maintenance or engineering teams.
• Experience managing contractors, vendors, construction projects, and facility improvement projects.
• Strong understanding of building systems, safety requirements, permitting, inspections, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience developing and managing departmental budgets, labor forecasts, purchasing, and capital improvement projects.
• Strong project management, organization, troubleshooting, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects while responding effectively to emergency maintenance needs.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with guests, employees, vendors, contractors, and resort leadership.
• Knowledge of hotel or resort operations and the ability to understand how Engineering impacts the overall guest experience.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule and participate in a 24‑hour emergency on‑call rotation.
• Valid driver's license required.
• Relevant technical certifications or licenses preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, climb stairs and ladders, bend, kneel, reach, crawl, and work in confined spaces.
• Frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling of tools, equipment, and materials.
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to safely operate hand tools, power tools, ladders, lifts, and other maintenance equipment.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to respond quickly to emergency maintenance situations.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, including head, eye, hearing, and respiratory protection when necessary.

Work Environment

• Resort-wide Engineering and Facilities environment supporting guest rooms, restaurants, meeting spaces, recreational facilities, public areas, and grounds.
• Combination of office, mechanical, maintenance, guest‑facing, and outdoor work environments.
• Exposure to electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC equipment, chemicals, machinery, tools, and construction/maintenance activities.
• Fast‑paced hospitality environment requiring flexibility and strong attention to guest satisfaction.
• Frequent interaction with resort leadership, department managers, employees, vendors, contractors, and guests.
• Participation in emergency and after‑hours response as needed.

About Lake Lawn Resort

Located on Delavan Lake, Lake Lawn Resort is a premier hospitality destination known for exceptional service and a strong team culture. Whether you're starting your career or looking for a steady role, this is a great place to grow.

Disclaimer

This role includes a variety of responsibilities to support daily operations.