Director of Engineering

Cushman & Wakefield; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 179,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Cushman & Wakefield is seeking a Director of Engineering to provide senior leadership and technical support across regions, developing policies for buildings managed by C&W and driving mechanical and engineering performance. The role involves coordinating with market leadership to maintain consistent project delivery and quality control.

The position requires extensive supervision of engineering teams, oversight of inspections and surveys, and ongoing development of engineering and operations

Qualifications

• 10+ years engineering experience with significant supervisory responsibility in a commercial property setting.
• Local operating engineer’s license or trade license, or equivalent.
• Familiar with Energy Management System (EMS) programming and fire alarm systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee the platform for property inspections and surveys, including policy compliance and energy audits.
• Drive compliance with life safety programs and EPA/OSHA regulations.
• Lead engineering leadership network and oversee performance evaluations for direct reports.
• Ensure sound project management, commissioning practices, and cross‑portfolio execution.
• Collaborate with market leadership to develop career tracks for engineers and staff.

Skills

Communication Proficiency

Interpersonal Skills

Organization Skills

Technical Proficiency

Leadership

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Vocational/Technical training certificate

Trade License / Journeyman or Master Electrician

Job description

Job Title

Director of Engineering

Job Description Summary

Responsible to provide senior leadership and technical/operational support to Engineering teams across all regions. Also responsible for the development of policies and procedures pertaining to all types of buildings managed by C&W, including collaborating with market leadership to drive the performance of mechanical and engineering staff/systems and maintaining continuity to provide overall consistent product delivery and quality control for all properties.

Essential Responsibilities

Develop and oversee the platform for property inspections and surveys, including policy compliance, energy audits and analysis, HVAC, energy management, electrical and plumbing systems. Also provide support for environmental compliance, ADA compliance, acquisition, third party surveys, and Property Condition Assessments Act as a resource for all technical operations as needed to include system air and hydraulic balancing reports, boiler, chiller and cooling tower maintenance and performance; mechanical and electrical system noise, vibration control, tenant work orders and preventative maintenance, and equipment overhauls or replacements Develop and maintain engineering and operations procedures to include preventative maintenance, energy management, water treatment, fire life safety, environmental health and safety, physical asset and team development, hazardous materials communications plan, indoor air quality programs, budget operating costs estimates, and comparisons Drive compliance within the markets and region related to life safety programs and procedures, domestic water quality control, and water treatment programs to include EPA & OSHA compliance Work with market leadership to evaluate prospective engineering employee qualifications, develop a network of engineering leaders, consult on manpower studies and establish career development track for engineers; responsible for ensuring completion of performance evaluations for direct reports Deliver and coordinate operational and mechanical seminars for city-level and regional markets as well as building staff, as needed Ensure sound construction management, project management, and commissioning best practices across the national portfolio Where applicable, assist clients with due diligence and building evaluation efforts. Can participate in Integrated Design Teams as part of new development projects Evaluate and recommend building automation systems, energy management/performance, and automatic temperature control systems Provide value-engineering recommendations and evaluate contractor qualifications Offer performance-related feedback and develop engineers for advancements; work with City Leads to identify engineers ready for new challenges and responsibilities Responsible for the understanding and maintenance of national safety manual and providing feedback, as well as partnering with the EH&S group Liaison with procurement in identifying national vendors, pricing, and local contract approvals. Also work to maintain key vendor relationship

Key Competencies

Communication Proficiency (oral and written) Interpersonal Skills Organization Skills Technical Proficiency Leadership Education: High School Diploma or GED Equivalent Important Experience: 10+ years engineering experience with significant supervisory responsibility in a commercial property setting

Additional Qualifications

Vocational/Technical training certificate Appropriate license/permit for trade as may be required, i.e. Journeyman or Master Electrician License or City Licenses Universal Technician for CFC’s depending on market licensure requirements or any similar combination of education or experience Knowledge and understanding of all applicable practices/techniques, laws, project controls and environmental regulations to include OSHA safety regulations One or more of the following required: Local Operating Engineer’s License or Trade License, Systems Maintenance Administrator (SMA), Real Property Administrator (RPA) Familiar with Energy Management System (EMS) programming and fire alarm systems

• Basic Computing Skills in Outlook, Excel & Word

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Regularly required to travel outside between properties in varying weather conditions.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may need to travel from floor to floor, climb stairs, and may be required to travel outside between buildings in varying outdoor weather conditions. The employee may also be regularly required to remain in a stationary position (sit or stand) for 85% of the time; regularly use hands to operate office machinery and regularly required to walk, talk, and hear.

AAP/EEO Statement

C&W provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law. Further, the company takes affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and employees during employment are treated without regard to any of these characteristics. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.

Benefits

Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

Compensation

The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications. The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role. The compensation for the position is: $ 178,500.00 - $210,000.00 Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.

ADA Accommodations

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email [e-mail]. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.

About Cushman & Wakefield

INCO: “Cushman & Wakefield” About Cushman & Wakefield Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a global leader in real estate services, leveraging our specialized expertise to deliver innovative solutions and exceptional value to owners and occupiers. With 52,000 employees in nearly 400 offices across 60 countries, we are one of the largest firms in the industry, with more than 100 years of history. In 2023, we generated $9.5 billion in revenue from our core services. To learn more, visit www.careers.cushmanwakefield.com.