Chief Building Engineer

Chief Building Engineer

The Chief Building Engineer (Chief Engineer) leads the technical operations, maintenance, and engineering programs across a large financial institution’s multi-site portfolio, including headquarters, administrative offices, and 25 branch locations. This role is responsible for ensuring that all building systems operate safely, efficiently, and reliably while providing exceptional service to the client’s facilities team and branch personnel.

The Chief Engineer manages and mentors a team of roving building engineers, coordinates vendor activity, oversees preventive maintenance programs, and serves as a key operational partner to the Senior Property Manager and Assistant Property Manager. This position requires deep technical expertise, strong leadership, and a proactive approach to maintaining high-performing facilities across multiple locations.

This is a highly visible, high-impact role supporting an important Holder Properties client relationship.

Who Thrives in This Role

This position may be for you if:

• You excel in leading and mentoring engineering teams while remaining hands-on with building systems.
• You communicate clearly and professionally with property management, vendors, and client stakeholders.
• You manage competing priorities across multiple locations without losing attention to detail.
• You’re proactive — identifying issues early, solving problems quickly, and keeping people informed.
• You deliver high-quality, reliable service and take pride in representing your team and organization well.

Desired Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 7 years of commercial building engineering or facilities experience, including at least 3 years in a supervisory role.
• Strong working knowledge of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and fire/life safety systems.
• Relevant certifications preferred (EPA Universal, CFC, LEED, BOMA, or similar).
• Experience using work order systems (Facility360, MRI, Angus, or similar).
• Strong computer skills (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to travel regularly across multiple locations; participation in an on-call rotation is required.

Primary Responsibilities

Building Operations and Preventative Maintenance

• Oversee operation, maintenance, and repair of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and fire/life safety systems.
• Implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs across all sites.
• Monitor building automation systems and energy management performance.
• Conduct routine site inspections and identify maintenance or safety issues.
• Work hands-on as needed to support maintenance tasks and troubleshoot system issues.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a roving engineering team.
• Assign and prioritize daily work orders in coordination with the APM and Senior PM.
• Provide ongoing technical training and reinforce safety and quality standards.
• Foster a culture of professionalism, responsiveness, and client service.

Vendor and Contractor Oversight

• Coordinate work with critical vendors (HVAC, fire/life safety, janitorial/porter, landscaping, pest control, etc.).
• Review vendor proposals and support bid comparisons for major work.
• Ensure work is completed safely, on schedule, and to Holder and client standards.

Client Communication and Support

• Maintain regular contact with client’s facilities leadership.
• Communicate clearly regarding system issues, maintenance priorities, and site needs.
• Support escalations and service requests from client personnel and facilities staff.

Financial Stewardship

• Assist with annual operating and capital budget planning.
• Track maintenance expenses, utilities, and equipment repair costs.
• Recommend capital improvements and system upgrades to extend asset life.

Organizational Structure

Reports to: Senior Property Manager and Chief Regional Engineer

Work Schedule

• This position is full-time, field-based in Atlanta, GA
• Participation in the engineering on-call rotation required.

About Holder Properties

Founded in 1980, Holder Properties is a full-service commercial real estate development and investment company. We offer all critical real estate functions—investment, development, management—under one roof. Throughout our history, we have developed or invested in multiple property types. While each type is unique, our broader approach is the same: We work to create environments where tenants and residents feel valued and know that their every need will be met. With our people-first approach to real estate, we build success on the foundation of relationships. That’s why keeping our word and developing trust are as important today as they were when we started four decades ago.

Why Holder?

1. We do what we say we'll do.

2. We think and act boldly.

3. We empower expertise.

4. We care.

Contact Information

Christine (Chris) Smith

Senior Managing Director, Property Management

D: (770) 988-3126; M: (404) 538-1309

csmith@holderproperties.com

www.holderproperties.com