Specialist, Facilities
Operations
Nairobi, Kenya
About Athena
At Athena, we empower possibility through transformative delegation. We pair exceptional Executive Assistants with driven clients and support both with world-class systems and AI-enabled tools. The result is greater leverage, more time, and meaningful impact.
We are on a mission to build the best delegation and agentic automation platform in the world—where Human + AI collaboration unlocks new levels of productivity and scale.
Position Overview
The Facilities Specialist – Hard Services is responsible for the technical operation, maintenance, reliability, and continuous improvement of all building engineering systems across assigned office locations. The role ensures that critical mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), fire and life safety systems, and building infrastructure operate safely, efficiently, and in compliance with regulatory standards to support uninterrupted business operations.
The position serves as the subject matter expert for engineering and technical facilities management, overseeing preventive maintenance programs, technical vendor performance, capital improvement projects, energy optimization, asset lifecycle management, and emergency response. Working closely with landlords, contractors, security, and vendors, the Facilities Specialist proactively identifies operational risks, implements engineering solutions, and drives continuous improvements to maximize system reliability, sustainability, and cost efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
1. Building Engineering Operations
Manage the daily operation, monitoring, and performance of all engineering systems, including:
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Chilled Water Systems
Precision Air Conditioning
Electrical Distribution Systems
Main Switchgear
Transformers
Generator Sets
Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS)
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Lighting Systems
Emergency Lighting
Plumbing Systems
Water Supply and Pumps
Sewage and Drainage Systems
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems (FDAS)
Fire Suppression Systems
Sprinkler Systems
Fire Pumps
Elevators and Escalators
Building Management System (if applicable)
Energy Management Systems
Access Control System
CCTV infrastructure
Structured cabling pathways
Utility metering systems
Ensure all systems remain operational and meet uptime and reliability requirements.
2. Preventive & Corrective Maintenance
Develop, implement, and monitor comprehensive preventive maintenance programs. Responsibilities include:
Prepare annual preventive maintenance schedules.
Coordinate corrective maintenance activities.
Perform routine technical inspections.
Review maintenance reports.
Verify completion of maintenance work.
Conduct post-maintenance testing.
Track equipment performance.
Analyze recurring failures.
Recommend engineering improvements.
Ensure zero overdue preventive maintenance activities.
3. Technical Troubleshooting
Serve as the primary engineering resource during equipment failures. Responsible for:
Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
Failure investigations
Equipment diagnostics
System restoration
Emergency repairs
Engineering recommendations
Permanent corrective actions
Risk mitigation
Respond to critical incidents including:
Power failures
Generator failures
UPS alarms
HVAC outages
Water leaks
Fire system faults
Plumbing failures
Mechanical breakdowns
4. Asset Management
Maintain accurate engineering asset records. Manage:
Asset inventory
Equipment tagging
Warranty records
Maintenance history
Asset lifecycle
Replacement planning
Spare parts inventory
Technical documentation
As-built drawings
Equipment manuals
Recommend replacement strategies based on lifecycle and condition assessments.
5. Vendor & Contractor Management
Manage technical service providers. Oversee contractors responsible for:
HVAC
Electrical
Generator Maintenance
UPS Maintenance
Fire Protection
Plumbing
Elevator Maintenance (if applicable)
Building Automation Systems (if applicable)
Mechanical Systems
Specialized Engineering Services
Responsibilities include:
Technical scope review
Method statement evaluation
Risk assessments
Permit-to-work compliance
SLA monitoring
Quality inspections
Vendor performance evaluations
Invoice validation
Service acceptance testing
6. Project Management
Lead engineering and infrastructure improvement projects. Examples include:
Office expansions
MEP upgrades
Generator installations
UPS replacements
HVAC improvements
Electrical capacity upgrades
Energy-saving projects
Lighting retrofits
Fire system upgrades
Data center support infrastructure
Workplace modernization
Responsible for:
Technical planning
Budget estimates
Engineering design review
Procurement support
Contractor coordination
Schedule management
Testing & commissioning
Project handover
7. Compliance & Regulatory Management
Ensure compliance with all engineering and safety regulations. Maintain compliance with:
Local Building Codes
Electrical Codes
Mechanical Codes
Fire Codes
Environmental Regulations
Occupational Health & Safety Standards
Landlord Engineering Requirements
Company Engineering Standards
Overall Local Government Permits and Licenses Coordination
Maintain all technical permits and certifications and coordinate regulatory inspections and audits.
8. Energy & Sustainability
Support sustainability initiatives through engineering optimization. Responsibilities include:
Monitor utility consumption
Analyze energy trends
Recommend energy-saving initiatives
Optimize HVAC operations
Improve power efficiency
Water conservation initiatives
Renewable energy evaluations
Carbon reduction projects
Utility benchmarking
Develop monthly utility performance reports.
9. Emergency Response & Business Continuity
Support critical facility operations during emergencies. Responsibilities include:
Emergency response
Power restoration
Equipment isolation
Emergency shutdown procedures
Generator operation
Disaster recovery support
Business continuity planning
Technical incident reporting
Participate in emergency drills and after-action reviews.
10. Documentation & Reporting
Maintain complete engineering documentation and ensure they are all audit ready. Prepare:
Daily engineering logs
Weekly maintenance reports
Monthly KPI dashboards
Equipment downtime reports
Incident reports
Root Cause Analysis reports
Utility consumption reports
Asset condition assessments
Technical recommendations
Project updates
11. Continuous Improvement
Identify opportunities to improve engineering operations. Drive initiatives focused on:
Reliability improvement
Predictive maintenance
Equipment modernization
Automation
Digital monitoring
Maintenance optimization
Cost reduction
Process standardization
Engineering innovation
Implement industry best practices and benchmark performance against leading workplace standards.
Technical Competencies
Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP)
Building Management Systems (BMS)
Preventive & Predictive Maintenance
Electrical Distribution
HVAC Systems
Fire Protection Systems
Power Generation & UPS
Asset Lifecycle Management
Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
Reliability Engineering
Energy Management
Project Management
Technical Documentation
Risk Assessment
Vendor Management
Behavioral Competencies
Analytical thinking
Attention to detail
Customer service orientation
Problem-solving
Accountability
Adaptability
Collaboration
Communication
Decision-making under pressure
Continuous improvement mindset
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
-
Engineering Operations
≥99.5% critical equipment uptime
≥98% preventive maintenance completion
Zero overdue critical maintenance activities
Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) within SLA
Reduction in repeat equipment failures
-
Safety & Compliance
100% compliance with regulatory inspections
Zero major safety violations
Zero critical audit findings
Timely closure of corrective actions
-
Financial Performance
Maintenance spend within budget
Reduced emergency repair costs
Energy and utility cost savings
Improved asset lifecycle performance
-
Vendor Management
≥95% vendor SLA compliance
Timely completion of maintenance works
High contractor safety compliance
-
Projects
Engineering projects delivered on time and within budget
Successful testing and commissioning of new systems
Minimal operational disruption during project execution
-
Continuous Improvement
Delivery of annual engineering improvement initiatives
Measurable reductions in energy consumption and equipment downtime
Increased operational reliability and system efficiency
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Licensed Professional Engineer (EBK, KETRB, IEK, or IET-K) is preferred.
3–5 years of experience in facilities engineering, building operations, or technical facilities management.
Experience supporting commercial offices, BPOs, technology companies, healthcare, manufacturing, or mixed-use facilities is preferred.
Strong knowledge of MEP systems, preventive maintenance, and building infrastructure.
Familiarity with BMS, CMMS/CAFM systems, Google Workspace, AI systems and Microsoft Office.

