Assistant Director of Engineering

Hotel Café Royal is a landmark 5-star luxury hotel located by Piccadilly Circus, offering 159 beautifully appointed rooms and suites, five distinctive restaurants and bars, and the award-winning Akasha Holistic & Wellbeing Spa featuring an 18-metre swimming pool, steam room, jacuzzi, sauna and specialist treatment rooms. The property also includes extensive back-of-house facilities, including a plant room located in the lower basement, and a 24-hour engineering operation supporting the hotels world-class services.

Role Overview

The Assistant Director of Engineering is the second-in-command within the Engineering department and acts as the key deputy to the Director of Engineering. This role ensures the effective day-to-day operation, leadership, and performance of the engineering team, comprising 24-hour shift engineers and in-house specialists including an electrician, marble specialist, and French polisher.

You will support the Director in maintaining the hotels technical operations and ensuring all plant, building systems, guest rooms, spa facilities, and front-of-house/back-of-house areas operate at the highest standards in line with luxury hotel expectations. In the Directors absence, the Assistant Director will assume full departmental leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Operational & Technical Leadership

• Support and deputise for the Director of Engineering in all aspects of department management and hotel technical operations.
• Oversee the daily activities of shift engineers and specialist trades to ensure timely, high-quality maintenance and repairs.
• Ensure that all building systemsincluding HVAC, electrical, mechanical, water systems, swimming pool plant, fire life-safety systems, and the lower-basement plant roomare operating safely, efficiently, and reliably.
• Lead and coordinate preventive maintenance programmes for rooms, spa facilities, restaurants/bars, and public areas.
• Monitor plant performance, utilities consumption, and energy efficiency initiatives.

Team Management

• Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management for the engineering team, fostering a strong service culture and high technical standards.
• Support staff scheduling for 24-hour engineering coverage.
• Promote teamwork and communication between shift engineers, specialists, and other hotel departments.

Guest & Operational Support

• Ensure rapid and effective response to guest room maintenance requests, operational issues, and emergency engineering situations.
• Collaborate with Front Office, Housekeeping, Spa, and F&B teams to minimise disruption and ensure seamless luxury guest experiences.

Compliance & Safety

• Uphold all statutory compliance requirements including health & safety, fire regulations, water hygiene, and equipment testing.
• Maintain accurate engineering logs, statutory records, and asset documentation.
• Ensure safe working practices across the department and manage contractor activities as required.

Project Support

• Assist in planning and executing refurbishment projects, equipment upgrades, and capital improvement plans.
• Coordinate with contractors, suppliers, and consultants as needed.

Financial & Administrative Duties

• Support budget preparation and cost control for maintenance, utilities, labour, and capital expenditure.
• Manage procurement of engineering supplies ensuring best value and compliance with hotel policies.

Skills & Experience Required

• Previous experience in a senior engineering role within a luxury hotel or equivalent high-end environment. Experience working in a Grade-listed building is advantageous.
• Strong technical knowledge across MEP, HVAC, and building services.
• Proven leadership abilities with experience managing a multi-skilled engineering team.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, guest-focused environment with meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
• Solid understanding of statutory compliance and safety regulations.
• Experience managing contractors, service providers, and small to medium-scale projects.
• Experience using BMS, TREND systems, and asset management systems.
• Strong project management skills, with experience overseeing refurbishments, upgrades, or capital works.
• Engineering qualifications in electrical or mechanical disciplines (IOSH/NEBOSH or PWTAG/Pool Plant qualifications are an advantage).

What We Offer

• The opportunity to be part of one of Londons most iconic luxury hotels.
• A dynamic, supportive working environment with clear leadership responsibilities.
• Career development and training opportunities.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.