Chief Maintenance Engineer

Friends of the High Line (FHL) is the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation’s non-profit partner working to ensure the park on the High Line is maintained as a great public place for all New Yorkers and visitors to enjoy. In addition to overseeing the maintenance, operations, and public programming for the High Line, Friends of the High Line is currently working to raise the essential private funding to help complete the High Line's construction and create an endowment for its future operations.

The Chief Maintenance Engineer is a full-time, year-round non-exempt employee of Friends of the High Line, and is a critical member of FHL’s Park Operations team. Under the supervision of the Associate Director of Facilities & Engineering, the Chief Engineer will supervise a team in maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing all High Line facilities. The Chief Engineer will work interactively with the Facilities team to coordinate the day-to-day maintenance, repair, and efficient operation of the High Line and the High Line Headquarters.

Primary Responsibilities

• Prioritize, schedule, and respond to daily work flow for of all High Line infrastructure elements including MEP systems, specialized lighting, a water feature, security gates and cameras, elevators, fire alarms, and park furniture and pavers;
• Supervise a team of Maintenance Technicians responsible for daily and long-term maintenance assignments, ensuring proper and timely execution of tasks;
• Inspect park facilities and property areas daily, identifying and troubleshooting problems, liaising with the appropriate personnel to achieve resolution;
• Have primary ownership over entering, assigning, and coordinating work orders for the team in FHL’s work order software;
• Coordinate and participate in troubleshooting, maintaining, repairing, and calibrating small equipment such as snow blowers, lawn mowers, power washers, etc. Test performance, and replace defective parts, bearings, skirting, and belts. Install and adjust functional and structural parts;
• Coordinate and participate in basic repairs to High Line infrastructure, furnishings, and utilities. Repair, paint, patch surfaces, including concrete, wood, plaster, sheetrock, metal, etc.;
• Coordinate and participate in troubleshooting lighting systems including breakers, ballasts, fixtures, bulbs, etc.;
• Coordinate and participate in maintaining water feature including pumps, filters, actuators, strainers, monitoring of chemical levels, UV system, and spring and fall seasonal preparation;
• Coordinate and participate in basic repairs to larger park mechanics including, elevators, gates, bathroom plumbing, and security cameras;
• Work in collaboration with outside contractors/vendors to complete work;
• Perform winterization and spring start-ups on applicable systems;
• Coordinate and participate in ice and snow removal; Act as on-call, main point-of-contact to resolve emergency maintenance issues;
• Assist with special projects including public and private events set-ups;
• Communicate daily with the Associate Director of Facilities and Engineering on status of projects; Perform other duties as assigned.
• Make purchases, control expenditures, maintain all inventories of tools, equipment, parts, and supplies;
• Work with team to maintain administrative files and records relevant to building operations and restaurant tenant;
• Conduct functional and safety trainings for Maintenance Technician team;
• Ensure that the FHL’s standards, policies, and procedures are implemented, met, and maintained consistently;
• Develop and maintain a climate of achievement which fosters a high level of employee motivation and commitment to the overall facility and FHL’s goals.

• Bachelor’s degree, with technical/vocational degree/certification;
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in commercial building operations and maintenance, repair, or equipment servicing;
• General knowledge of construction trade types (carpentry, plumbing, painting, electrical, mechanical, etc.);
• Ability and desire to work in a start-up facility, developing best practices for efficient operations;
• Hands-on ability to maintain mechanical systems;
• Ability to handle multiple priorities with efficiency and accuracy with a commitment to maintaining high standards;
• Ability to acquire required FDNY certificates of fitness and a Pool & Spa Operator certification;
• Ability to read schematic drawings and comprehend specifications;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Office, and Excel;
• Ability to learn new computer programs and mobile applications quickly;
• Effective oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to work overtime, weekends, and holidays as needed;
• Physical ability to squat, stoop, kneel, climb, work in confined spaces, in varying weather conditions, and lift items weighing up to 60 lbs;
• Valid driver’s license.