Facilities Chief Engineer

Detailed Job Description
JOIN US IN ENABLING TRADE THROUGH CANADA'S LARGEST PORT.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is an arm's-length federal agency responsible for the shared stewardship of the lands and waters that make up the Port of Vancouver, Canada's largest port. Our mandate, as outlined in the Canada Marine Act, is to enable Canada's trade objectives on behalf of all Canadians, ensuring the safe movement of goods through the Port of Vancouver while protecting the environment and considering local communities.

As an organization with a significant impact on communities and businesses across Canada, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and sustainability. We strive to create a workplace that mirrors the richness of our community, empowering all employees to achieve their full potential.

The Facilities Chief Engineer leads a team of skilled technical workers in operating, maintaining, repairing, and optimizing plant and facility systems, infrastructure, and assets. The role oversees daily operations and maintenance, supports preventive and corrective maintenance, coordinates resources, and ensures compliance with safety and regulatory standards. The Chief Engineer also liaises with consultants and contractors, contributes to project execution, and fosters continuous improvement through technical leadership, staff development, and stakeholder collaboration, ensuring a reliable, efficient, and safe facility.

What You Do

• Supervise and support a team of skilled Power Engineers, providing guidance, mentorship, and performance oversight while promoting a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Set clear expectations and support staff development through regular feedback, coaching, and skill-building opportunities, while ensuring employees receive necessary training to enhance their competencies and meet operational requirements.
• Oversee daily operations, maintenance and repair activities, ensuring effective scheduling, prioritization, and task completion aligned with service level standards, key performance indicators and facility goals.
• Act as the primary technical resource for the plant, facility systems and infrastructure, assisting with troubleshooting and guiding complex problem resolution.
• Foster a safety-first culture by ensuring regulatory compliance, promoting safe practices, and supporting the development and execution of maintenance and safety procedures.
• Oversee all aspects of plant operations to ensure the safe, compliant, and efficient performance of heating, cooling, mechanical, and pressure systems. Provide technical leadership and ensure 24/7 system reliability across the facility.
• Establish, document, and enforce operational standards, setpoints, and performance parameters for plant and facility equipment and systems. Ensure team adherence to technical best practices, while fostering a proactive and accountable operational culture.
• Lead energy management initiatives by analyzing building automation data, trend logs, and performance analytics. Identify and implement strategies to improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and support sustainability and carbon-reduction goals.
• Oversee utility metering systems and infrastructure for steam, electricity, gas, and water.
• Ensure accurate monitoring, data integrity, and internal reporting to support billing, variance analysis, and utility forecasting. Investigate anomalies and collaborate on solutions to enhance energy accountability and performance.
• Support the development and implementation of preventive maintenance programs that align with best practices, manufacturer guidelines, and compliance requirements.
• Supervise the execution of daily maintenance and repair activities, ensuring alignment with schedules developed by the Maintenance Planner and Coordinator.
• Supervise work order assignments and progress, conduct site inspections, and ensure maintenance tasks are completed efficiently and to high-quality standards in line with operational goals. Oversee and track budgets and expenditures to maintain cost control.
• Allocate staff effectively to meet workload demands and service level standards, balancing operations, scheduled maintenance, repairs, customer requests, replacements, and project support.
• Collaborate with assigned maintenance team members to ensure accurate forecasting of resource needs and task durations.
• Support the delivery of capital and operational projects, including system upgrades, replacements, equipment installations, and infrastructure renewals.
• Oversee the work of consultants, contractors, and service providers to ensure compliance with safety protocols, technical specifications, contractual obligations, and project timelines for work within the Chief Engineer's scope of responsibility.
• Ensure operations and maintenance activities comply with all applicable codes, regulations, standards, and established safety and operational procedures.
• Maintain accurate documentation of completed work, safety checks, inspections, and corrective actions to meet audit and compliance standards.
• Monitor maintenance operations and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, asset reliability, and service delivery.
• Evaluate maintenance tools, workflows, and procedures to identify and implement improvements that increase reliability, efficiency, and asset longevity.

What You Bring

• Completion of a two-year, full-time diploma in Power and Process Engineering from recognized educational institution
• A valid 3rd Class Power Engineering certificate. A minimum of five years of progressively senior-level power engineering experience, including at least three years in a supervisory role within a similar work environment.
• Must have experience coordinating the work of consultants or contractors and supporting the delivery of minor projects.
• Proficient in the operation of building automation systems, plant systems, equipment, and tools.
• Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Office Suite, maintenance management systems, and operational software.
• Formal training or experience in energy management and efficiency or projects is considered an asset.
• Must be a self-motivated individual with excellent leadership qualities, sound judgement, and the ability to build positive working relationships with staff, contractors, and other stakeholders in a team-oriented environment.
• Must be self-directed, dependable, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision while maintaining high-quality work standards.
• Exceptional organizational, delegation and time management skills are essential to effectivelymanage multiple competing priorities.
• The role requires comfort working at heights, near water, and in confined spaces.

What We Offer

• Market-competitive base salaries and variable incentive plan
• Generous and inclusive benefits offering including retirement benefits plan
• Earned time off program
• Paid vacation and personal care leave
• Learning, development, and advancement opportunities
• Onsite gym with towel service in a national landmark in the heart of Vancouver's waterfront
• Friendly, unique, and respectful workplace

Location:
Vancouver, Canada

Job type:
Bargaining Unit, Full-Time, Permanent, On-Site

Working environment:
Normal office conditions, with frequent exposure to noise, odors, dust, fumes, and infrequent exposure to varying weather conditions during outdoor tasks. Occasional shift work is required to maintain uninterrupted 24/7 coverage, ensuring continuous operations.

Marine Transportation Security Clearance
The incumbent may be required to obtain and maintain a valid marine transportation security clearance as this position is required to access restricted areas/information as defined by the marine transportation security regulations.

This is Canadian-based employment, and it is expected that all employees maintain legal entitlement to work in Canada. Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process may be subject to background checks, including but not limited to criminal record, credit, and/or reference checks.
At the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, we are dedicated to employment equity and a workplace reflective of the diversity of our port community. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates including women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and members of visible minorities. Reasonable accommodation can be provided in the selection process and while working with the port authority. If you require support applying to our openings, please contact us at
We recognize and acknowledge that we are located on the traditional territories of the x
ʷməθk
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̓əm (Musqueam), S
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ú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwəta
ɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. To learn more about our indigenous relations and commitment to reconciliation, please visit our
website
.