We’re seeking a visionary engineering leader to safeguard the seamless operation of an ultra-luxury Kyoto property where heritage architecture, contemporary design, and meticulous Japanese hospitality meet. You’ll be the custodian of all technical systems—mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fire & life safety, energy management, and sustainability—ensuring flawless functionality for discerning guests while protecting a culturally significant asset.

Own the entire physical plant and infrastructure of a 6-star Kyoto hotel, delivering 24/7 reliability, regulatory compliance, and a calm, almost invisible guest experience. Lead a multidisciplinary team, partner with design and cultural-preservation consultants, and translate the brand’s promise of “quiet perfection” into engineering excellence. 

If you are successful, you will enjoy the following:
- Leadership role in a flagship Kyoto property where engineering enables art, culture, and hospitality to coexist.
- Opportunity to shape sustainability standards in a heritage context.
- Competitive executive package, performance bonus, training, and relocation support.


Key Responsibilities
Facilities & Asset Management
- Direct daily operations, preventive maintenance, and emergency response for all buildings, guest rooms, public areas, back-of-house, gardens, and heritage structures (machiya elements, timber, shoji, stone baths). 
- Implement and continuously refine a comprehensive preventive maintenance program (HVAC, chillers, boilers, generators, water treatment, BMS/BAS, elevators, kitchen equipment, onsen/pool systems) to maximize uptime and guest comfort. 
- Conduct daily/weekly inspections and audits, maintain detailed service logs for internal reviews and regulatory inspections. 
Team Leadership & Culture
- Hire, train, schedule, and evaluate technicians, mechanics, and contractors; foster a safety-first, omotenashi-aligned service culture where engineering work is discreet and guest-centric. 
- Represent Engineering in daily HOD meetings, coordinate with Housekeeping, Front Office, F&B, Spa, and Security to minimize disruption. 
- Mentor staff on technical skills, Japanese building codes, fire/life safety, and brand standards. 
- Projects, Renovations & Capital Planning
- Lead renovation, restoration, and capital improvement projects (e.g., integrating modern systems into heritage timber structures) from feasibility through hand-over, ensuring budget, timeline, and quality control. 
- Oversee contractor selection, AMCs, and vendor relationships; negotiate cost-effective service agreements. 
Compliance, Safety & Sustainability
- Ensure full compliance with Japanese building, fire, environmental, and occupational safety regulations, plus international luxury-brand standards. 
- Develop and manage energy-conservation and decarbonization initiatives (e.g., BMS optimization, heat-recovery, water reuse, renewable integration) to reduce the property’s footprint while maintaining 6-star comfort. 
- Direct emergency programs (fire alarm, CCTV, evacuation drills, disaster preparedness) and maintain readiness of all life-safety systems. 
Financial & Asset Stewardship
- Prepare and manage annual operating and capital budgets; monitor utilities, analyze consumption data, and drive cost-saving without compromising quality. 
Maintain parts inventory, asset register, and documentation for audits and insurance. 

Key Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree/diploma in Mechanical, Electrical Engineering
- Minimum 7–10 years’ engineering leadership in 5-/6-star hotels or luxury resorts, ideally with experience in heritage or Japanese properties. 
- Deep technical knowledge of HVAC, electrical distribution, plumbing, fire protection, BMS, energy management, and building automation. 
- Proven record managing large teams, complex projects, and multi-million-dollar budgets. 
- Excellent communication in English; Japanese (or willingness to acquire) strongly preferred for liaising with local authorities and craftsmen.
- Strong problem-solving, crisis-management, and stakeholder-influence skills; calm presence and discretion befitting a 6-star environment.


If you blend technical mastery with cultural sensitivity and can keep a luxury Kyoto icon running flawlessly—quietly, reliably, beautifully—let’s talk.