Role Overview
At JA Mar Hall, we are proud to operate within a unique heritage property, combining historic character with a refined luxury guest experience. Following a significant refurbishment of the main hotel building and with continued development ahead, we are seeking an experienced and hands on Chief Engineer to lead the maintenance and conditioning of the estate.
Reporting to the Resort Director, the Chief Engineer is a pivotal leadership role responsible for ensuring the property is maintained to the highest possible standard, balancing the preservation of a heritage building with the expectations of a modern luxury resort aligned to Forbes Travel Guide five-star luxury standards.
You will lead both the Maintenance and Conditioning teams, overseeing reactive and planned works, while also driving a proactive approach to upkeep, presentation, and continuous improvement across all areas of the hotel.
Key Responsibilities
Engineering and Maintenance Leadership
- Lead and manage the day-to-day engineering and maintenance operation across the resort.
- Oversee all reactive and planned maintenance tasks, ensuring timely and effective resolution.
- Implement a proactive maintenance strategy to protect the integrity and longevity of the property.
- Ensure all plant, equipment, and building systems are operating efficiently and safely.
- Act as a visible leader, supporting the team on the ground and ensuring high standards of delivery.
Heritage Property Management
- Take responsibility for maintaining and preserving the character and condition of a heritage building.
- Balance modern operational requirements with the care and protection of original features.
- Ensure all works carried out are sympathetic to the building’s design and history.
- Work closely with senior leadership for JA Resorts & Hotels on long term maintenance and capital investment plans.
Conditioning Team Leadership
- Lead and coordinate a dedicated Conditioning team responsible for the ongoing presentation of the property.
- Oversee responsibilities including painting and decoration of walls and ceilings.
- Manage floor staining and polishing programmes across the estate.
- Ensure furniture is maintained to a high standard including polishing, spot cleaning, and minor repairs.
- Oversee window cleaning programmes, including ongoing condition checks.
- Coordinate upholstery and carpet cleaning, ensuring high standards of cleanliness and upkeep.
- Manage the care of curtains and blinds, including high level access, in collaboration with Housekeeping where required.
- Oversee specialist cleaning including high level chandelier cleaning.
- Ensure the team operates in a multi skilled capacity, allowing flexibility across tasks and effective scheduling over a seven-day operation.
Operational Excellence
- Establish and maintain structured maintenance schedules and task planning.
- Ensure effective prioritisation of work across reactive and planned maintenance.
- Maintain clear communication with all departments regarding maintenance activity and progress.
- Support operational teams to minimise disruption to the guest experience.
Standards and SOP Development
- Create, implement, and continuously refine SOPs across engineering and conditioning functions, in line with local requirements and JA Resorts & Hotels group standards.
- Embed a culture of high standards, accountability, and attention to detail.
- Ensure consistency in execution across all areas of responsibility.
- Support the hotel’s journey towards Forbes Travel Guide five-star expectations through presentation and conditioning standards.
Team Leadership and Development
- Lead, coach, and develop both Maintenance and Conditioning teams.
- Build a multi skilled, flexible workforce capable of supporting a wide range of tasks.
- Set clear expectations for performance, behaviour, and standards.
- Support training and development to enhance technical capability and service awareness.
Health, Safety, and Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with all health and safety legislation, statutory requirements, and hotel policies.
- Maintain accurate records of maintenance, safety checks, and compliance documentation.
- Oversee contractor management, ensuring all external work meets required standards and regulations.
- Ensure a safe working environment for all team members and contractors.
- Lead on all fire safety management policies and procedures for the resort, ensuring a well-structured training programme is in place for in person fire safety evacuation training at all levels.
- Take full ownership of Riskproof compliance platform across the resort, and be an ambassador on educating other managers to demonstrate compliance effectively.
Commercial Awareness and Planning
- Manage maintenance budgets, cost control, and procurement of materials and services.
- Support capital expenditure planning and long term property improvement strategies.
- Monitor energy usage and implement initiatives to improve efficiency and sustainability.
- Work closely with senior leadership on planning, forecasting, and operational priorities.
Collaboration and Guest Experience
- Work collaboratively with all departments to support a seamless guest experience.
- Respond to guest maintenance issues promptly and professionally and ensure minimal disruption to guests while works are carried out.
- Support the overall presentation and functionality of all guest facing and back of house areas.
About You
- Proven experience as a Chief Engineer or senior engineering leader / head of maintenance / maintenance manager within a hotel, resort, or similar environment.
- Strong technical knowledge across building systems, maintenance, and facilities management.
- Experience working within a heritage or complex property is highly desirable.
- A hands‑on leader with a proactive and solution focused approach.
- Strong organisational and planning skills.
- Experience managing both reactive and planned maintenance programmes.
- Knowledge of health and safety legislation and compliance requirements.
- Commercial awareness with experience managing budgets and projects.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills.
Personal Attributes
- A detail focused leader with pride in maintaining exceptionally high standards.
- Calm, practical, and solutions driven under pressure.
- Professional and aligned with a luxury environment.
- Collaborative in approach with strong cross functional relationships.
- Adaptable and flexible within a dynamic and evolving property.
- Committed to continuous improvement and development.
What Success Looks Like
- A well maintained, safe, and fully operational property at all times.
- A heritage building preserved and presented to a high standard.
- A proactive maintenance culture with minimal reactive disruption.
- A highly effective, multi‑skilled engineering and conditioning team.
- Strong compliance with all health, safety, and statutory requirements.
- A visible contribution to the overall guest experience and luxury positioning of the resort.
Why Join Us
- Competitive salary plus tronc, paid via an independent tronc system, meaning your monthly earnings are topped up through service charge.
- Free luxury leisure club membership.
- Discounted membership for friends and family.
- 50% discount on spa treatments.
- Golf day discounts for you, friends, and family.
- 50% discount on food for you + 3 guests, and 25% off beverages.
- Discounts on overnight stays for JA Mar Hall and our sister properties.
- Friends and family hotel rates.
- Access to Wisdom, our confidential well‑being support programme.
- Access to exclusive £100 room rates across the PoB hotels collection.
- Free on‑site parking.
- Uniform provided (role dependent).
- Recommend‑a‑Friend bonus scheme.
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