Location: Fargo/West Fargo, ND
Job Title: Area Chief Engineer
Location: Travel-Based Position (Fargo/West Fargo Market)
Reports To: VP of Operations
Company Overview
KAJ Hospitality is a rapidly growing leader in the hospitality industry with a mission to inspire people to pursue, fail, and achieve within a family-oriented culture. We are committed to creating a work environment where personal and professional growth flourish, grounded in our core values and sense of community.
We operate hotels in Fargo, Gillette WY, Omaha, Wichita, and Sioux Falls, offering employees the opportunity to work across multiple markets.
Position Overview
As the Area Chief Engineer, you will lead various hotel maintenance and improvement projects across multiple locations. This is a travel-based role, allowing you to work independently on maintenance and repair tasks, directly contributing to the upkeep and enhancement of our hotel properties. You’ll be responsible for coordinating with the VP of Operations, general contractors, and onsite hotel teams to ensure all work is completed to KAJ’s high standards. Expect to be on the road during the week and home on most weekends.
- HVAC Certification is required for this position.
- High levels of mechanical knowledge, plumbing, electrical, and pool maintenance is a plus.
Safety and Security
- Respond promptly to emergency safety issues such as fire alarms, spills, water leaks, snow removal, and pool-related concerns.
- Conduct regular safety inspections, ensuring compliance with local, state, federal codes, and brand standards (e.g., fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, pool chemicals).
- Oversee guest and associate safety, including testing electronic locks, maintaining proper water temperatures, and ensuring all emergency safety measures are up to code.
Preventative Maintenance
- Perform quarterly preventive maintenance for guest rooms and public areas to maintain high standards.
- Conduct routine checks on HVAC systems, pool equipment, air handlers, exterior features, and more to ensure equipment operates efficiently.
- Maintain compliance with hotel and brand standards on maintenance tasks such as PTAC cleaning, TV testing, and caulking.
Daily Operations
- Provide support for daily hotel operations, including room maintenance calls and routine repair tasks.
- Assist in managing purchasing for maintenance operations and adhere to budget guidelines.
- Ensure maintenance teams prioritize maintenance calls within 30 minutes, ensuring guest satisfaction.
- Communicate with maintenance teams regarding maintenance needs, priorities, and progress.
- Ensure each property is managing proper storage, maintaining tools and managing inventory of supplies.
Maintenance Projects and Oversight
- Assist in hiring and training hotel maintenance staff in your designated market as open positions become available.
- Lead and manage large maintenance repairs, overseeing projects with budgets over $1,000.
- Handle contract negotiations and management for services including elevator maintenance, fire protection, pool care, and landscaping.
- Monitor condition and Quality Assurance action plans for each property to ensure ongoing excellence.
- Supervise preventive maintenance efforts, ensuring they align with brand and manufacturer standards.
Physical Demands
This role requires extended periods of standing and walking, as well as frequent bending, lifting (up to 40 pounds), and working in a variety of physical positions (e.g., kneeling, stooping). The job will also involve climbing and working with tools in both indoor and outdoor settings.
Work Environment
You’ll work in various hotel environments where safety is paramount. Expect to face challenges like weather exposure (when dealing with outdoor tasks), and occasional high-pressure scenarios, particularly when responding to emergency maintenance issues.
What We Offer
At KAJ Hospitality, our team enjoys:
- Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and PTO
- Career advancement opportunities and mentorship
- Discounts on Hilton, Marriott, and IHG-branded hotels worldwide
- A strong sense of community and personal growth opportunities within the company
- If you’re ready to take your home building, maintenance, or engineering expertise to the next level in a hospitality environment, KAJ Hospitality is ready for you. Apply now to join a team where excellence and family values come together!
