Assistant Chief Engineer

Are you a master of craft? Do you thrive in a team that succeeds together, demonstrating integrity and respect while acting responsibly? Do you embrace a growth mindset? We invite you to become a fan of the exceptional.

Mandarin Oriental is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences located in prime destinations around the world, with a strong development pipeline. Increasingly recognized for creating some of the world’s most sought-after properties, the Group provides legendary service inspired by Asian heritage whilst representing the very cutting-edge of luxury experiences.

Mandarin Oriental, Makati is an upcoming 5-star luxury hotel set within the lush Ayala Triangle Gardens, at the prestigious corner of Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue. Scheduled to open in 2026, this landmark development will feature 276 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites, offering a refined blend of contemporary design and timeless sophistication. Guests will enjoy an exceptional array of world-class amenities, including a curated selection of restaurants, a stylish bar, a serene pool area, and the brand’s signature spa. Designed to be a sanctuary in the heart of the city, the hotel promises an elevated experience for both leisure and business travelers seeking comfort, excellence, and distinction in Manila.

The Role

The Assistant Chief Engineer (ACE) supports the Director of Engineering in leading the full engineering function for a luxury, pre-opening hotel. The role ensures all plant, equipment, and building systems are commissioned, maintained, and operated to brand, safety, and regulatory standards. The ACE co-leads the pre-opening technical program (commissioning, life-safety certification, asset tagging, preventive maintenance set-up) and transitions the property to stable, guest-ready operations—delivering reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and an exceptional colleague and guest experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Pre‑Opening & Commissioning
• Co-own the Engineering pre-opening critical path: system handovers, O&M manuals, as-builts, warranties, asset registry, and CMMS/PPM setup.
• Coordinate testing & commissioning (T&C) for MEP, BMS, elevators, fire life safety, water systems, kitchen/laundry equipment, façade and building envelope.
• Lead defect management with contractors/ID consultants; track punch lists to closure prior to opening.
• Ensure statutory permits and certifications (e.g., Fire Safety Inspection Certificate, Occupancy Permit) are achieved on time.
• Develop Engineering SOPs, EHS procedures, emergency response plans, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and handover checklists.
• Plan and staff the pre-opening engineering team; coordinate training, certifications, and brand onboarding.
• Operations & Maintenance
• Set up and manage CMMS with asset tagging, preventive maintenance plans, task frequencies, and spares inventory.
• Ensure optimal operation of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, BMS, ELV, vertical transportation, kitchen/laundry equipment, and building envelope.
• Establish a 24/7 maintenance response, duty roster, and call-out procedures to meet brand standards and SLAs.
• Lead guestroom maintenance programs (POM, predictive routines) to minimize down rooms and repeat defects.
• Oversee grounds and back-of-house infrastructure, workshops, and technical stores.
• Compliance, Safety & Risk
• Maintain full compliance with Philippine codes and authorities (e.g., Fire Code (BFP), DOLE OSH, DENR for environmental regulations, DOE for energy).
• Champion EHS: risk assessments, PTW/LOTO, confined space, hot works, machine guarding, electrical safety, legionella control, water quality, cooling tower management.
• Conduct life safety system tests (fire detection, alarms, sprinklers, smoke control) and coordinate drills with Security.
• Maintain all licenses, permits, inspections, and records; prepare for audits.
• Ensure contractor control: method statements, job hazard analysis, PTW, and supervision.
• Energy, Sustainability & Utilities
• Implement energy management and conservation measures (chiller optimization, heat recovery, VFDs, LED retrofits, demand control ventilation).
• Track energy, water, LPG/diesel KPIs; benchmark and drive continuous improvement.
• Manage waste, water reuse, and environmental reporting aligned to brand ESG targets.
• Projects, CapEx & Budgeting
• Support annual CapEx planning, business cases, and execution; manage vendor performance.
• Maintain spares strategy, service contracts (elevators, BMS, chillers, generators), and warranty claims.
• Assist with budgeting & cost control: utilities, maintenance, contracts, break-fix; deliver monthly variance analysis.
• Ensure project works meet brand standards, technical specs, and closeout documentation.
• Team Leadership & Culture
• Lead, coach, and schedule Engineering supervisors, technicians, and apprentices; instill a safety-first, guest-first culture.
• Deliver technical and safety training, certification tracking, and cross-functional drills.
• Foster colleague engagement, performance management, and succession planning.
• Guest Experience & Stakeholder Partnership
• Partner with Rooms, Housekeeping, Culinary, Security, Events to proactively support operations and VIP/Group needs.
• Ensure rapid, professional guest room recovery for technical issues with minimal disruption.
• Communicate clearly with leadership and departments on planned outages, project impacts, and risk mitigations.
  
  

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Degree/Diploma in Mechanical/Electrical/Building Services Engineering or equivalent trade certification.
• Experience: 5–8+ years in Engineering within luxury hotels, large mixed-use developments, or hospitals; pre‑opening and commissioning experience highly preferred.
• Technical: Strong knowledge of HVAC/chillers, electrical distribution & generators, BMS, plumbing, ELV, elevators, kitchen/laundry equipment, life safety systems, and building envelope.
• Compliance: Working knowledge of Philippine codes (BFP, DOLE OSH, DENR), LOTO, PTW, risk assessment, and emergency response.
• Systems: Proficient with CMMS, BMS analytics, and MS Office; familiarity with energy dashboards and reporting tools a plus.
• Leadership: Proven team leadership, contractor management, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Language: Proficient in English; Filipino an advantage.
• Certifications (preferred): PRC license (EE/ME), DOLE OSH (SO2/SO3), specific OEM certifications (chillers, lifts), and confined space/hot works credentials.
  
  

Core Competencies

• Safety & Compliance Mindset – rigorous attention to detail, documentation, and risk controls.
• Operational Excellence – plans preventively, solves root causes, and drives uptime.
• Project & Vendor Management – scopes clearly, controls quality, cost, and schedule.
• Analytical & Financial Acumen – reads trends, optimizes consumption and spend.
• Stakeholder Communication – clear, calm, solution-oriented; strong service ethos.
• People Leadership – coaches, sets standards, and holds team accountable.
• Resilience – thrives in pre-opening pace; handles ambiguity and urgency well.
  
  

Why Join Us?

Mandarin Oriental offers a world‑class environment where your expertise, creativity, and leadership will shape the legacy of our return to Manila. You will be part of a dynamic pre‑opening team committed to excellence, innovation, and authentic Asian hospitality.

Our Commitment To You

• Learning & Development. Your success is our success. We craft unique learning and development programmes for various stages in your career so that you grow, continuously.
• MOstay. When you work as hard as our colleagues do, it’s important to take time off. As a member of the #MOfamily, you can stay with us wherever you go in the world. The MOstay programme offers complimentary nights and additionally attractive rates on rooms for you and your loved ones.
• Heath & Colleague Wellness. Finding the right work-life balance is important. Your wellbeing matters to us. A variety of health benefits and wellness programmes are offered to all our colleagues, globally.
  
  

We’re Fans. Are you?

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