Director, Engineering MEP Support

Position statement:

As highly established director of engineering support, you will work closely with the senior director to develop, manage and implement sustainable engineering solutions, and drive engineering excellence across all MEP disciplines, as well as fire and life safety standards for all brands. Your role will support Hilton’s expansion across the MEA region, with a key focus on Egypt and Pakistan. You will provide expert advice to the Hilton project management team, external design consultants, and owners on new developments, property improvement plans, refurbishments, and adaptive reuse projects.

Position summary:

This role will consist, but not be limited to assisting the senior director of engineering support with:

• Supporting Hilton’s growth across the MEA region, maintaining strong knowledge of local codes and effectively implementing and delivering projects in region.
• Developing and implementing engineering and fire life safety standards for all Hilton brands across EMEA, including coordinating with brand managers to establish location-specific requirements and overseeing the creation of tailored design and construction standards in collaboration with Hilton’s regional design and construction teams.
• Maintaining and updating all engineering- and fire-life-safety-related design and construction standards annually, ensuring project managers have access to the latest versions.
• Reviewing building engineering services drawings for multiple brands and countries to ensure compliance with construction brand standards across new developments, property improvement plans, refurbishments, adaptive reuse initiatives, and Hilton Capex projects.
• Championing the regional sustainability vision by shaping strategic goals and driving impactful environmental initiatives.
• Collaborating with the area operations engineering team to assess the performance of newly opened hotels, using operational feedback to refine and enhance future design schemes.
• Driving technical excellence by applying deep knowledge of Hilton’s engineering design guidelines and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Ensuring all technical specifications remain current and are clearly reflective of the latest technology and brand standard requirements.
• Maintaining an understanding of brand standards and local code requirements, communicating code variances and their implications to the senior director.
• Developing strategies and directions for engineering processes, procedures, and reporting.
• Supporting the execution of strategic plans and internal/external communication of key engineering messages.
• Managing the cross-functional coordination between AD&C and other internal departments to ensure alignment and seamless project delivery.
• Conducting project design reviews, construction visits, and testing and commissioning witnessing of systems in region.

What will I be doing?

Planning activities:

• Research local codes and help to identify business opportunities for Hilton to support development pipeline.
• Research new technologies and develop new innovations for the business and present quarterly to senior director of engineering.
• Manage objectives for the department, communicate across functions and clearly manage all design reviews for the department, planning project visits and status reporting across all assigned projects.
• Travel and site inspections and team meetings.
• Arrange knowledge CPDs for the wider engineering team.
• Consider the needs of other business functions and plan for changes to standards/updates to meet these visions.

Organizing activities:

• Establish priorities and support the wider engineering team members ensuring optimum allocation of resources to support projects.
• Work with key stakeholders and departments structuring activities and resources so overall objectives are met.
• Communicate management plans and project activities and ESG goals clearly in reports.
• Evaluate and streamline business processes to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
• Manage cross-functional links to other technical services (architecture and construction) departments.
• Adhere to measurements of engineering performance standards to ensure overall effectiveness.
• Develop plans to implement long term goals for ESG and AD&C department.
• Review current external professional teams and look to enhance the support network across the region, developing organisations that support the department’s needs.

Directing activities:

• Implement and manage departmental processes and procedures to ensure strategies and directives are carried out effectively.
• Oversee the development and administration of the agreed engineering standards.
• Communicate important information to team members.
• Influence department members to achieve department objectives.
• Execute organisational directives and encourage achievement of goals through motivation, communication and leadership.
• Manage third parties, identify vendors and monitor cost and quality of service.
• Leverage effective partnerships with third parties and internal constituents.
• Advise management on progress and advise on key performance issues.
• Conduct detailed design reviews.
• Report on reviews.
• Visit projects and conduct site inspections and issue detailed reports on quality and progress.
• Witness commissioning and undertake checks for signing off on engineering systems.
• Report writing, project overviews and final project sustainability reporting.
• Present ESG initiatives and new technologies in an executive format.

Controlling activities:

• Oversee proper controls and systems to ensure compliance with the agreed engineering standards.
• Ensure established performance standards are met for department or project.
• Assess actual performance to ensure success and take corrective actions.
• Ensure business plan is followed and achieved providing feedback as necessary.
• Enforce policies and procedures to improve overall operations and effectiveness.
• Operate within prescribed budget parameters.

Other activities:

• Contribute to multi-skilled projects.
• Be aware of business and commercial opportunities for Hilton.
• Conduct competitor and industry analysis and produce reports and recommendations to enhance Hilton’s design standards.
• Conduct market trends in engineering and analyze new routes forward for Hilton to enhance guest experience, drive energy efficiencies and drive value.
• All other job duties as assigned.

What are we looking for?

To successfully fill this role, you should maintain the attitude, behaviours, skills, and values that follow:

• Excellent MEP design knowledge and practice with project management involving witnessing and commissioning on systems.
• Excellent sustainability knowledge in design.
• Very good understanding of regulations within MEA and infrastructure challenges across the region.
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing reporting to senior members of the business and to external stakeholders.
• Strong ability to analyse departmental financial data.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to build trust and confidence to motivate and influence others.
• Demonstrates the highest standards of ethical behaviour and absolute discretion with sensitive information.
• Ability to take initiative to identify, prioritise and implement actions required to achieve functional goals.
• Very strong problem-solving skills including ability to address any issue in collaboration with others, identify and prevent potential problems and develop problem solving skills in others.
• Ability to work well under pressure and effectively handle multiple and concurrent demands.
• Ability to collaborate with others and act in an objective manner to stay on track to achieve common goals.
• Very strong in design engineering skills and ability to quickly learn new programs and train others.
• Excellent project management skills including ability to manage details through to completion and ensure deadlines are met.
• Capable of conversing with both technical and non-technical parties.
• Experience working in multi-cultural and international settings.
• Experience in dealing with developers, owners and other corporate clients.
• An understanding of and working knowledge of the Middle East regulations and standards.
• Proficiency with Word, PowerPoint, Excel, AutoCAD.

Qualifications

Required qualifications

• University degree in mechanical and electrical engineering or similar construction related discipline or extensive experience in lieu.
• Recognised professional qualification in engineering or similar construction related discipline.
• Substantial work experience in property, engineering design and/or construction related roles including significant experience in related advanced hotel development and construction related experience ideally within an international hotel group.
• Ability to speak, write and communicate fluently in both Arabic and English.

Preferred qualifications

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Substantial experience within the hospitality industry and in a similar role.
• In-depth knowledge of hotel and general leisure engineering systems and design.
• Supervisory experience greater than 5 years.
• Project management experience.
• Excellent understanding of fire, life and safety systems, preferably experience in applying NFPA, main UAE standards and building and fire codes.
• An excellent understanding and working knowledge of Middle East standards.
• MEP design background.
• On site practical experience including testing and commissioning.

What will it be like to work for Hilton?

Hilton is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For nearly a century, Hilton has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. Hilton is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Our vision