Portfolio Building Engineering Manager

New Portfolio Building Engineering Manager Cambridge, MA The Portfolio Engineer (PE) supports the Director of Engineering in the day‑to‑day execution and strategic management of building operations across a portfolio of high-quality commercial, medical office and life science properties. This role provides hands‑on mechanical systems support and leadership to a team of Chief Engineers and Building Engineers, ensuring operational excellence, code compliance, safety, and exceptional tenant service. The PE oversees preventive and corrective maintenance programs, ensures adherence to SOPs, and supports complex building systems and critical lab environments that require reliability, precision, and responsiveness throughout the portfolio Key Responsibilities Portfolio & Team Leadership Supervise, coach, and help develop a team of Building Engineers and Maintenance Technicians across multiple assets; oversee scheduling, coverage, on‑call rotations, and performance management. Conduct field audits and top to bottom inspections to validate quality of rounds, PM completion, and documentation. Help DOE Champion a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and tenant‑first service. Assist with hiring, onboarding, skills assessments, and training plans including advanced systems and life science operational standards (mechanical/electrical fundamentals, BAS controls, safety, SOP adherence). Ensure consistency and communication across portfolio In coordination with Regional Property Manager and General Managers, regularly assess current policies and implement new portfolio policies Mechanical Systems Support (Hands‑On & Technical Oversight) Provide advanced troubleshooting and optimization for HVAC systems supporting office, medical office and life science systems (central plants, boilers, air cooled chillers, cooling towers, AHUs, VAV's, standby oil units, pumps, heat exchangers, steam boilers/systems, House VAC, CDA and RODI systems, Nitrogen generators, fume hoods, gas monitoring systems, PH Neutralization systems, BTU metering, energy recovering systems, stand by and life safety generators.) Support and oversee high-performance HVAC systems, including 100% outside air systems, pressurization control, and tight environmental tolerances required in lab spaces. Ensure throughout the portfolio the management of the water treatment programs (closed loop, condenser water, domestic water, and specialty lab/process water systems where applicable) with strong attention to system performance is being carried out Oversee, understand electrical distribution (switchgear, transformers, panels), emergency power (generators, ATS), UPS systems, and lighting controls; coordinate and execute an electrical maintenance plan for the portfolio. Work with the Chief Engineers to understand building automation systems (BAS/BMS)—trend logs, setpoint strategies, scheduling, alarms, and sequences of operation; to maintain indoor environmental quality, optimize energy performance, and ensure system reliability Ensure compliance and maintenance of life‑safety systems (fire alarm, sprinklers, fire pump, smoke control, stair pressurization, emergency lighting) in partnership with Life Safety/Fire Protection vendors to align with regulatory and operational standards. In line with the DOE, Guide root‑cause analysis for recurring mechanical/electrical issues and lead corrective action plans. Support specialized lab systems Operations, Inspections & Compliance Ensure daily/weekly/monthly engineering rounds are completed, logged, and reviewed; verify meter readings, differential pressures, vibration/noise anomalies, and temperatures/humidity are within spec. Enforce with all engineers, inspection calendars and documentation for boilers, pressure vessels, backflow preventers, fire/life safety, elevators, tanks, and air quality; ensure timely remediation of deficiencies. Support compliance with OSHA, NFPA, ASHRAE, and lab-related operational guidelines. Partner with tenants and EHS teams to support inspections, audits, and operational coordination. Support and oversee laboratory waste systems, including pH neutralization systems, acid waste piping, and monitoring controls; ensure proper operation, calibration, and compliance with local discharge regulations and environmental standards. Coordinate with vendors and tenant EHS teams to maintain system performance, respond to alarms, and ensure safe handling and disposal of lab waste streams. Familiar with building systems serving animal care (vivarium) facilities, including HVAC systems designed for high air change rates, directional airflow, pressurization control, and strict temperature/humidity requirements Maintenance, Reliability & Capital Planning Verify all engineers maintain critical spares inventory (belts, filters, contactors, bearings, sensors) and validate their procurement process to minimize downtime. Contribute to multi‑year capital plans (equipment replacements, controls upgrades, energy retrofits, and lab infrastructure improvements) with scopes, budgets, and ROI. Oversee the planning and supervise shutdowns and tie‑ins (mechanical/electrical/plumbing), ensuring risk management and tenant communication. Lead or support commissioning, re‑commissioning, and retro‑commissioning initiatives. Energy, Sustainability & Analytics Make sure engineers optimize BAS schedules, resets, and sequences in line with occupancy and comfort standards; maintain indoor environmental quality targets. Optimize building systems to balance occupant comfort, operational performance, and energy efficiency, particularly in energy-intensive lab environments. Support sustainability certifications (e.g., ENERGY STAR, LEED, Fitwel, Wells) and corporate reporting Financial & Vendor Management Assist Property Managers with budget development and management (OPEX, R&M, utilities); validate invoices. Oversee vendor performance, ensuring quality service delivery and accountability. Assist with RFP process, including scope development where needed Maintain strong relationships with Utility providers and other partners, helping to ensure first class service and responsiveness Communication & Service Partner with Property Management, Security, Janitorial, and Leasing to support tenant satisfaction and business continuity. Serve as an escalation point for after‑hours incidents, weather events, and critical system alarms. Leasing Support Participate in leasing tours as requested. Support Leasing Process as requested, with building/system information and prospective client questions. Qualifications

Experience:

7-10+ years in commercial property/building engineering, including experience supporting life science, medical office, biotech, or laboratory environments with at least 3 years supervising multi‑site or large‑site teams.

Technical:

Strong knowledge of HVAC central plants, BAS/BMS, electrical distribution, life safety, water treatment, and CMMS workflows.

Regulatory:

Strong understanding of

OSHA, NFPA, ASHRAE

standards, local codes, and environmental regulations.

Software:

CMMS, BAS

front‑ends, MS 365 (Excel, Teams, SharePoint), energy analytics tools; ability to interpret trend logs and create basic dashboards. Certifications (Preferred)

CFC/EPA 608

Universal Manufacturer training (chiller/boiler/BAS) Lab safety or related technical training. Wastewater License Core Competencies Technical troubleshooting & systems thinking People leadership, coaching, and delegation Safety mindset and regulatory diligence Planning, prioritization, and follow‑through Clear written and verbal communication Customer service and tenant management Ability to support critical and high demand environments Physical & Work Conditions Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, climb ladders, access mechanical rooms/rooftops, and work in varying temperatures/noise levels. Occasional off‑hours/on‑call support, emergency response, and weather event coverage. Valid driver's license; ability to travel between sites. Oversee Engineers Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) PM completion rate & schedule adherence (≥95%) Rounds/inspection completion and documentation accuracy (100% on time) Unplanned downtime & mean time to repair (MTTR) reduction Safety metrics (recordables, near-miss reporting, audit scores) Budget adherence and contract performance Pay Range $123,000 - $185,000 USD