Choice Hotels International · 13 hours ago
Director of Engineering
Chicago IL - Radisson Blu Aqua Chicago
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$125K/yr - $140K/yr
7+ years expChoice Hotels International, Inc is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. The Radisson Blu Aqua Chicago Downtown is seeking a seasoned engineering leader to oversee all engineering, facilities, and asset-management operations within the hotel. This role involves leading a dedicated engineering team while ensuring compliance with brand standards and operational excellence.
HospitalityHotelTravel
Responsibilities
Serve as a fully engaged Executive Committee member, contributing to hotel-wide strategy, service excellence, and financial performance
Ensure the physical condition of the hotel consistently supports Radisson Blu brand positioning, guest expectations, and Choice Hotels quality assurance standards
Collaborate with Ownership, Asset Management, and Choice corporate partners on asset condition, capital priorities, and long-range planning
Provide leadership and oversight of all engineering operations, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire/life safety, elevators, kitchens, pools, guest rooms, and public areas
Own and enforce a robust Preventive Maintenance (PM) program, ensuring work orders, inspections, and documentation meet Choice brand, safety, and regulatory requirements
Maintain the hotel in a 'inspection-ready' condition at all times for brand audits, life-safety reviews, and ownership walkthroughs
Balance proactive maintenance with rapid response to operational and guest-impacting issues
Lead and manage a unionized engineering team, in strict accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements, work rules, job classifications, and seniority provisions
Partner closely with Human Resources to administer discipline, scheduling, overtime, grievances, and contract interpretation in a fair, consistent, and compliant manner
Build strong working relationships with union leadership while maintaining management rights and operational flexibility
Ensure staffing levels and skill sets align with operational demands, major events, and capital projects
Develop, manage, and control the Engineering Operating Budget, with a strong focus on cost discipline, forecasting accuracy, and expense accountability
Partner with the General Manager, Finance, and Ownership on Capital Expenditure (CapEx) planning, execution, and tracking
Evaluate and manage service contracts, warranties, and vendor agreements to ensure value, compliance, and service reliability
Support long-term asset planning, including infrastructure lifecycle management and major system replacements
Ensure full compliance with OSHA, City of Chicago codes, fire/life safety regulations, environmental standards, and Choice Hotels requirements
Lead hotel emergency preparedness, safety training, and risk mitigation initiatives
Proactively identify and address physical plant risks to minimize downtime, guest impact, and liability exposure
Oversee third-party contractors, consultants, and vendors, ensuring adherence to union requirements, safety standards, and hotel operating protocols
Manage renovations, major repairs, and special projects with a focus on quality, timeline, budget control, and minimal disruption to guests and operations
Qualification
Required
7–10+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience in a full-service hotel or comparable complex facility, with at least 3–5 years in a senior leadership role
Proven experience managing a union engineering workforce in Chicago or a similar union-dense market
Strong working knowledge of building systems, life-safety requirements, preventive maintenance programs, and municipal compliance
Demonstrated experience managing operating budgets and supporting CapEx planning and execution
Strong leadership presence with the ability to navigate labor relations, ownership expectations, and brand standards simultaneously
Preferred
Relevant technical certifications or licenses (HVAC, electrical, boiler, etc.)
Company
Choice Hotels International
Choice Hotels International is a hospitality franchisor that provides businesses and travelers with a range of lodging options.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Choice Hotels International has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (34)
2024 (29)
2023 (35)
2022 (60)
2021 (40)
2020 (52)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$600M2024-06-25Post Ipo Debt· $600M
1996-10-16IPO
Leadership Team
Judd Wadholm
Senior Vice President and General Manager, Core Brands
Noha Abdalla
Chief Marketing Officer
Recent News
2026-01-22
Hotel Management Network
2026-01-07
Company data provided by crunchbase