A chief engineer is an individual with overall responsibility for the maintenance and protection of a company’s building plant, machinery and equipment. The chief engineer ensures operations meet the target customer’s needs, strives for team member satisfaction, and maximises the cost effectiveness of the department through efficient use of all utilities while ensuring continued asset value through predictive and preventative maintenance techniques. This week, Beaches Negril’s Wilbert Harding sheds some more light on the career choice.

What is the value of the work that you do?

Engineering activities are crucial in ensuring that the resort runs efficiently and effectively. Engineering is like the oil that helps a machine to work properly, and as such chief engineers play an integral role in the overall success of any company.

What was it that prompted your entry into the field?

Fresh out of college years ago, I worked in England for a year at a hotel as a rooms technician. When I returned to Jamaica, I became a management trainee in hotel engineering and since that experience, the love for the service industry developed.

What are your responsibilities as chief engineer?

My responsibilities include ensuring that the Beaches Negril property, building and equipment are operating at an optimum level at all times and within the financial targets of the department. I am also required to:

* Service and maintain all plant equipment

* Effectively and efficiently monitor all utilities

* Effectively maintain asset value

* Report on departmental performance as it relates to expenditure

* Improve and manage preventative maintenance systems and give advice on technical matters to the general manager and group director

* Develop and monitor the annual budget for regular operations, capital expenditures and utility consumption

* Negotiate service and project contracts, where applicable, with outside contractors/ firms as well as supervise and inspect all work carried out by contractors and their agents

* Maintain effective inventory management of spares and material

* Conduct relevant purchases on a timely basis, ensuring availability of all materials for employees’ use in a cost-effective manner

* Monitor all utilities and submit periodic readings and measurements on a daily and monthly basis, explaining variances.

What do you enjoy most about the work that you do?

What I enjoy most is the fact that our external and internal guests are satisfied with the service we offer as an engineering team.

What are the challenges that you face on the job?

The main challenge is trying to balance the department’s finances with operational demands.

What are the academic requirements for entry into the field?

To become a chief engineer, one should possess (a minimum of) a first degree in the field of engineering and relevant certification to comply with local and national codes such as Certified Engineering Operations Executive (CEOE), Certified Facility Manager (CFM), or Certified Energy Manager (CEM). One would also need at least a minimum of five years’ experience in a similar capacity.

Why would you advise anyone to get into the field?

Engineering is a career which is relevant at any company and there is always scope for career growth in this field.

Describe a typical day for you on the job.

A typical day on the job involves monitoring daily engineering activities and looking at the plans and projects for the engineering department, while maintaining a keen eye on the costs of the department’s operations. I also conduct meetings with the management team of the hotel as well as the engineering team to further keep abreast of issues and provide updates as necessary.