COMPANY SUMMARY
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) is a NYC-focused REIT that owns and operates a portfolio of well-leased, top of tier, modernized, amenitized, and well-located office, retail, and multifamily assets. ESRT’s flagship Empire State Building, the “World's Most Famous Building,” features its iconic Observatory, ranked the #1 Top Attraction in New York City for the fourth consecutive year in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do. The Company is a recognized leader in energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. As of September 30, 2025, ESRT’s portfolio is comprised of approximately 7.8 million rentable square feet of office space, 0.8 million rentable square feet of retail space and 743 residential units. More information about Empire State Realty Trust can be found at esrtreit.com and by following ESRT on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.
The dedicated team at ESRT is a collection of diverse individuals with a shared passion for excellence and a keen eye toward future growth. Headquartered in New York City, we harness the energy of the city in everything we do. We care for one another, work hard, and have a lot of fun doing it! We are Certified™ as a Great Place to Work® by the global authority, Great Place to Work®, on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviors. We prioritize and invest in the health and wellness of employees to attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent. ESRT values continuous employee development and encourages colleagues to excel in their roles and adapt to emerging business needs. From our crown jewel, The Empire State Building, to incredible buildings modernized for the 21st century, to outstanding customer service, and our decade-long leadership position in sustainability and energy efficient portfolio that is 100% fully powered by renewable wind electricity, we take pride in our work. ESRT seeks an equally passionate colleague to join the team, understand the vision and help achieve that vision.
POSITION SUMMARY
ESRT is seeking a Chief Engineer who will work closely with the Property Manager and management team in the oversight of the building technical operations and project work, and in meeting all requirements of the Landlord. The Chief is fully responsible for supervising the building engineer staff, maintenance of the building equipment, preventive maintenance of all building equipment, overseeing associated outsourced building contracts, overseeing, and responding to Tenant service calls, providing support for all building leasing and marketing TI projects as required, expediting other special projects as directed by the Property Manager and responding to all building emergencies.
RESPONSBILITIES
Building Operations & Tenant Coordination:Serve as the building engineering representative and liaison with tenants and property management, ensuring building services are delivered in accordance with lease obligations and ESRT standards.Maintain positive tenant relationships by ensuring timely response to tenant requests, coordinating repairs, and documenting work through the building’s work order system.Identify and report common area maintenance deficiencies and ensure appropriate corrective action is initiated.Perform regular inspections of common areas, back‑of‑house spaces, and mechanical and electrical rooms; generate work tickets as required.Fire Life Safety & Compliance:Maintain a current Fire Life Safety Director Certificate of Fitness (F‑89), as required.Maintain Fire Department‑required logs and documentation for fire alarm, sprinkler, and standpipe systems.Ensure compliance with all fire life safety, emergency, and building procedures as established by ESRT and the managing agentTest, inspect, and maintain emergency equipment and systems in proper working order.Building Systems & Preventive Maintenance:Oversee the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire life safety, and related building systemsDirect and monitor preventive maintenance programs for all mechanical and electrical equipment using the building’s computerized maintenance management system (CMMS)Maintain accurate current and historical preventive maintenance records for all building systemsTroubleshoot and resolve system issues to minimize downtime and service disruptionPartner with other Chiefs to address gaps in inspections, PM completion, or regulatory compliance.Construction, Renovations & Controls:Review and coordinate tenant construction and renovation activities to ensure compliance with approved plans and building standards.Procure, review, and maintain architectural, mechanical, and electrical drawings, including as‑built plans and CAD documentationInspect construction and renovation work and prepare mechanical and electrical punch lists as required
Coordinate and supervise controls‑related projects, including procurement, design, and implementationEnsure tenant construction activities protect building infrastructure, finishes, and tenant property, coordinate restoration and cleanup upon completionContractor & Vendor Management:Provide technical oversight and subject-matter expertise for large repair and maintenance (R&M) initiatives and capital projects across the portfolio.Participate in project planning, scope development, plan reviews, and constructability assessments to ensure alignment with ESRT standards.Support the development and execution of long-term capital planning, including 5- and 10-year engineering capital forecasts.Maintain working knowledge of major building systems across portfolio assets, including equipment condition, lifecycle status, and replacement strategies.Supervise and monitor contractors, subcontractors, and vendors performing work in the buildingEnsure subcontracted work complies with applicable codes, regulations, and ESRT best practicesEvaluate, recommend, and monitor mechanical and service contractors, including bid review and performance oversightMaintain a current directory of approved contractor and vendor contact informationCoordinate proper disposal of materials and waste in accordance with building and regulatory requirementsEnergy & Sustainability:Monitor building energy usage and assist with the development and implementation of energy management strategiesIdentify operational efficiency improvements aimed at reducing equipment wear, energy consumption, and emissionsReview and report on opportunities for preventive maintenance, energy savings, and cost‑control measuresManagement & Administration:Supervise and coordinate activities of engineering staff using the building’s CMMS platform (e.g., Building Engines or equivalent)Ensure engineering staff are properly equipped, trained, and operating safelyAssign, track, and close work orders daily; ensure timely communication with tenants regarding delays or deferred workMaintain a written listing of open tasks and provide clear work instructions to engineering staffParticipate in the interview, training, scheduling, evaluation, and performance counseling of engineering staff, as required and in accordance with union agreementsReview and approve time sheets and overtime; utilize payroll and reporting systems such as ADP and ExcelBudgeting & Reporting:Provide technical oversight and subject-matter expertise for large repair and maintenance (R&M) initiatives and capital projects across the portfolio.Participate in project planning, scope development, plan reviews, and constructability assessments to ensure alignment with ESRT standards.Support the development and execution of long-term capital planning, including 5- and 10-year engineering capital forecasts.Maintain working knowledge of major building systems across portfolio assets, including equipment condition, lifecycle status, and replacement strategies.Prepare and submit regular operational and activity reports to property managementAssist with the preparation of annual operating, maintenance, and capital budgetsMonitor expenditures and provide explanations for variances between approved budgets and actual expensesPrepare purchase orders and procure parts and supplies in accordance with company policies and approved budget guidelinesMaintain inventory of building‑owned tools, equipment, and suppliesCooling Tower & Specialty Systems:Inspect, service, maintain, and repair cooling towers, chillers, and associated electrical and mechanical componentsEnsure compliance with cooling tower maintenance programs, reporting, and regulatory requirementsObtain and maintain required certifications (including Category 7G, as applicable) for cooling tower maintenance programs and chemical applicationSafety, Ethics & Professional Standards:Maintain awareness and adherence to all building safety, emergency, and security proceduresControl engineering operations and response activities during emergency situationsPromote a safe, ethical, and drug‑free workplaceMaintain professional appearance, conduct, and courteous working relationships with tenants, contractors, and colleaguesAct as a cooperative member of the management and building operations team Leadership & Organizational Development
Serve as a visible leader and trusted resource for engineering teams across the portfolio.Act as an intermediary between building engineering teams and management helping translate strategy into execution.Demonstrate a proactive leadership approach, identifying opportunities for improvement rather than reacting to failures.Show a clear desire to grow within the organization and contribute to the long-term success of ESRT’s engineering platform.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
You are a highly motivated individual with a passion for engineering, who possesses the necessary skills needed in this role. You are a leader and can keep management updated on a daily basis. You are able to supervise a team of engineers and provide them with a list of responsibilities and instructions for which they are to complete. You have strong communication skills and the ability to communicate with both tenant and colleagues. You are organized and able to keep track of any issues that need to be fixed such as tenant or mechanical issues.
REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES
Technical Skills:Demonstrated training and/or hands‑on experience in multiple building trades.Ability to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot HVAC systems, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipmentWorking knowledge of electrical systems and related subsystemsExperience with building control systems, including pneumatic, electric, electronic, and solid‑state direct digital control (DDC) systemsKnowledge of plumbing, pressure piping, hydronic, and other pressurized piping systemFamiliarity with fire alarm systems, life safety systems, air distribution (ductwork), and VAV systemsAbility to safely use tools, equipment, and test instruments to measure, analyze, troubleshoot, maintain, and repair electrical and HVAC systemsExperience with Building Automation Systems (BAS/BMS), including platforms such as Johnson Controls, Honeywell, Tridium, Alerton, Automated Logic, Distech, Schneider Electric, or similar systemsKnowledge of preventive maintenance programs applicable to building systemsBasic proficiency in the use of computer systems and related softwareManagement & Communication Skills: Working knowledge of supervisory and management practices, including time management and performance oversightAbility to communicate effectively in written and spoken English with supervisors, coworkers, vendors, and managementAbility to prepare professional written documentation, including reports, memoranda, logs, and records
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
High school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), College or university credits or degree in applicable discipline preferredMinimum (5) years’ experience in the various disciplines of operating engineering, electrical power, and HVAC systems, with two or more years with personnel management experienceA current engineer's license (or equivalent) that is either issued or recognized and accepted by the jurisdiction in which the employee is actively engagedEPA CFC CertificationRefrigeration (Q-01)/Operator’s Certificate of FitnessFire Life Safety Director (F-89) and Emergency Action Plan Certificate of FinessesCategory 7G Certified Applicator License(G7) Category 7G Certified Applicator License (Pesticide), required or expected to be obtainedS-12/S-13 qualified or expected to be obtained.Fireguard/Torch (F-60)
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Must be physically capable of performing the essential functions of the positionAbility to work off the ladderAbility to work in tight environmentsAbility to carry up to 50 pounds
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
At ESRT, like our tenants, our employees come from everywhere. We foster a collaborative work environment that captures top talent and cultivates the best ideas. As a Great Place to Work® Certified employer, we are committed to maintaining our positive work culture where employees are engaged and can grow and develop. In addition, ESRT employees embody our Company Culture & Success Factors -
Adaptable – you are a self-starter who’s able to quickly digest and execute new processes to work both collaboratively and independently Dynamic – you are solutions-oriented, aim to improve processes and implement efficiency, and offer insightful feedback to improve ESRT
Dependable – you take a strong sense of ownership and accountability over your work
Passionate – you keep up with industry trends and are excited about the potential to propel the industry forward with a “roll-up-your-sleeves” attitude
Curious – you consistently look for new ways to work smarter, not just harder
Ethical – you treat others with respect, act with integrity in how you perform your work, and embrace our collaborative culture
Positive – you possess a service-oriented attitude with excellent follow through
BENEFITS
Local 94 Benefits as per Collective Bargaining Agreement
#LI-DNI
ESRT is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We celebrate the unique differences of our employees because they drive curiosity, innovation, and the success of our business. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, reproductive choices, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy, parental status, caregiver status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue hardship for the Company are available for applicants and employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs.
