Director of Engineering

About the role

The Director of Engineering will lead the technical hand‑over, testing, commissioning and long‑term preservation of a luxury hotel property in Manama. Acting as the primary technical liaison during the pre‑opening phase, the role coordinates developers, consultants, contractors, local authorities and the hotel operating team to ensure all engineering systems meet Kempinski standards, local regulations and sustainability goals.

Key responsibilities

• Represent the operator in site inspections, snagging, testing and commissioning of MEP, HVAC, vertical transportation and life‑safety infrastructure.
• Review drawings, O&M manuals, warranty agreements and as‑built plans prior to property acceptance.
• Establish asset registries and implement a CMMS/PMMS from scratch.
• Build and lead the engineering department, recruiting shift engineers, technicians and specialised craftsmen.
• Develop SOPs, emergency response workflows and preventive maintenance programmes for guest rooms, public areas and back‑of‑house zones.
• Prepare and manage the engineering operating budget, CapEx plan and utility consumption models.
• Monitor energy, water and fuel usage and drive energy‑saving and carbon‑reduction initiatives.
• Negotiate and oversee third‑party service contracts for chillers, fire‑suppression, elevators, pool maintenance and high‑voltage systems.
• Serve as the hotel’s lead authority on fire, life and safety systems, ensuring audit readiness and municipal certification.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in engineering management within luxury hospitality or similar high‑spec facilities.
• Proven ability to lead multi‑disciplinary teams through pre‑opening commissioning and ongoing operations.
• Strong knowledge of local building codes, municipal regulations and corporate sustainability standards.
• Excellent communication skills to liaise with developers, contractors and regulatory bodies.

Required skills

• MEP systems
• HVAC systems
• Fire and life‑safety systems
• CMMS (Computerised Maintenance Management System)
• PMMS (Property Management Maintenance System)
• Elevator (vertical transportation) systems
• High‑voltage electrical systems
• Energy‑management and sustainability initiatives