Area Chief Engineer

Overview: The Area Chief Engineer is responsible for the management and operation of the mechanical, life/safety, electrical, plumbing, elevators and building envelope for a local portfolio of commercial buildings within the West Region, and for the supervision of all engineers and other on-site mechanical and maintenance staff in the region. Reporting to the Director of Engineering the Area Chief Engineer strategically and tactically manages issues that include indoor air quality regulations, building codes, energy management technology, staffing and for operations pertaining to the acquisition of new properties within the region. Will develop cost saving programs for their assets (Water, HVAC, Lighting, etc.). The Area Chief develops and reviews the schedule of work (SOW) for all projects and also obtains and reviews proposals for projects to ensure the scope and pricing are correct. Will be responsible for issuing purchase orders (POs) and service orders (SOs) for their properties with approval of property management and at their direction. The Region’s portfolio consists of 1,288,095 rsf full-service, 1,542,390 rsf limited service and 405,699 rsf tenant managed space. The role is based in the Seattle office and have properties located in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Arizona.Responsibilities: Building:

• Responsible for the overall management of the mechanical, life/safety, electrical and plumbing operations for the area’s commercial buildings and for the start-up of operations of new acquisitions in the area.
• Manage the flow and schedule of maintenance and repair projects.
• Collaborate with the Regional Vice President, Area Director Engineering and Area Director in developing and managing projects, such as upgrading mechanical systems, building renovations, ADA compliance and tenant improvements.

Corporate:

• Under the direction of the Regional Vice President and National Engineering, establish and coordinate the implementation of new building systems technology to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of operations throughout the portfolio.
• Develop, implement and improve procedures related to preventive maintenance, energy management and indoor air quality.
• Participate in market development, due diligence and proposal preparation for new management business.

Staff Management & Supervision:

• Works in tandem with Property Managers and Assistant Property Managers to supervise building engineering staff including conducting performance reviews.

• Manages assigned staff including providing coaching, feedback, development and training.
• Train, supervise and conduct performance reviews for Chief Engineers, Lead Engineers, Building Engineers and other on-site mechanical and maintenance staff.
• Uphold all RMR policies and procedures and ensure employee’s understanding & compliance.
• Create and conduct staff development programs for engineering and operations personnel.

Financial Reporting:

• Assist the Director Engineering, Regional Vice President and/or Area Director in preparing monthly reports and operating and capital budgets for the properties.

Project Management:

• Assist the Area Director Engineering, Regional Vice President and/or Area Director in the development of standards and procedures for the management of tenant construction and improvements in accordance with building rules, regulations and practices.
• Review tenant construction drawings to insure all building design requirements are met.
• In collaboration with the Area Director Engineering, Regional Vice President and/or Area Director, develop and oversee capital improvement and repair projects, building improvement projects and tenant improvement projects.
• Assist Regional Vice President in the development of an Asbestos O&M manual.

Operations and Tenant Services:

• Oversee the coordination of all technical service providers and vendors, including bidding contracts and the monitoring of quality control.
• Monitor staff efforts in the quality and timeliness of completing tenant work order requests.
• Conduct meetings with tenants regarding any concerns related to the building’s mechanical systems, indoor air quality or other issues as required.
• Oversee Chief Engineers and Building Engineers in the implementation of a comprehensive life safety program, including tenant fire drills, system testing, and regulatory compliance.
• Analyze energy usage and demand information and implement operating strategies to reduce costs.
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering preferred; High school diploma or GED equivalent required.
• 7 - 10 years of direct experience in the management of mechanical, electrical and plumbing operations for commercial office buildings.
• Applicable military experience or other related operations experience will be considered including power plants, multi-family, hotels, hospitals, facilities, etc.
• Refrigeration or electrical license preferred.
• Experience managing, coaching and training building engineering staff.
• Experience implementing companywide policies and procedures relating to the mechanical operations, safety, code compliance and technology utilization.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven track record for monitoring and implementing energy conservation measures in a wide variety of commercial properties.
• Experience with proactively managing indoor air quality issues including water leaks and floods.
• Knowledge of codes and standards relating to Indoor Air quality.
• Familiarity with the USGBC and LEED certification requirements and with Energy Star ratings and labeling requirements.
• Experience handling building emergencies such as floods, power outages, inclement weather, earthquakes and bomb threats.
• Experience with OSHA, EPA and other regulatory agency requirements including Asbestos O&M Plans and NESHAPS renovation requirements.
• Experience with staffing and commissioning newly acquired buildings.
• Demonstrated ability to present complex data in order to facilitate analysis and decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to review operating and capital budgets with the ability to reduce costs and recommend ways to enhance company profitability.
• Experience with computerized building management systems, preventative maintenance and work order systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint is required.
• Will be required to perform off site duties through the use of a personal vehicle.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• If, at any time, security clearance is required for your job (e.g. you are assigned to work at a property leased by the Federal government), being awarded such clearance will be a condition of your employment.

Company Overview: The RMR Group LLC, or RMR, is a leading U.S. alternative asset management company, unique for its focus on commercial real estate (CRE) and related businesses. It conducts substantially all business for its parent company, The RMR Group Inc. (Nasdaq: RMR). RMR’s vertical integration is strengthened by more than 600 real estate professionals in over 30 offices nationwide who manage $32 billion in assets under management and leverage more than 30 years of institutional experience in buying, selling, financing and operating CRE. RMR benefits from a scalable platform, a deep and experienced management team and a diversity of real estate strategies across its client companies. Recently, RMR has been recognized by The Boston Globe as a “Top Place to Work,” by Fortune magazine as one of the “100 Fastest Growing Companies,” by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an “ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year,” by Boston Business Journal as the “Fastest Growing Middle Market Company in Massachusetts” and ranked 9th on Commercial Property Executive’s Top Commercial Property Management Companies. RMR is headquartered in Newton, MA and was founded in 1986. For more information, please visit www.rmrgroup.com. Follow RMR on LinkedIn and on Twitter @The_RMR_Group.