What does a maintenance manager do?

A maintenance manager's role is to lead and oversee the workflow and workforce involved in the upkeep of a building or establishment. Duties include ensuring that all aspects are operational and in good condition. Some of the responsibilities of a maintenance manager are to supervise all installation and repairs in the building, arrange schedules for regular inspection, devise strategies, obtain cost-effective materials, and hire trustworthy contractors. Furthermore, maintenance managers must coordinate with all workforce involved and ensure that all operations adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Maintenance manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real maintenance manager resumes:
- Select, contract, and manage vendors for MRO supplies or specialize maintenance services.
- Maintain OEE on all equipment to achieve run performance goals and to produce 500MM pounds of finish product a year.
- Arrange and schedule preventative and predictive maintenance activities to ensure maximum plant operational effectiveness using the CMMS system.
- Reduce conversion expenses for plant maintenance by developing and implementing cost control strategies and the implementation CMMS base preventive maintenance program.
- Implement vending machines plant wide for small electronic switches and cables.
- Head of the maintenance department for a busy plastics sheeting extrusion plant.
- Comply with and prepare for HACCP, GMP and SQF audits and regulations.
- Replace defective electrical switches and other fixtures.
- Provide unit-level training and oversight for UCC/TBMCS operations.
- Perform all maintenance repairs including electrical, plumbing and carpentry.
- Develop and maintain department processes through ISO and process verification.
- Maintain and revise all ISO documentation and perform internal quality auditing.
- Develop an accident investigation process for OSHA relate and vehicle accidents adapt company wide.
- Maximize reliability of critical delivery systems, electrical, HVAC, and water to ensure availability.
- Communicate effectively with employees in troubleshooting PLC's to ensure minimal equipment downtime and peak equipment operation
Maintenance manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Maintenance Managers are proficient in OSHA, Customer Service, and Plumbing. They’re also known for soft skills such as Leadership skills, Analytical skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Maintenance Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- OSHA, 7%
Performed administrative and record keeping functions in support of the organization safety organization to support OSHA VPP elements.
- Customer Service, 6%
Researched, developed and implemented new Energy Management service operating procedures for the effective use of buildings and increased customer service.
- Plumbing, 6%
Experienced in servicing, troubleshooting and repairing various types of gasoline/diesel in/outboard engines systems, plumbing systems and electrical charging systems.
- HVAC, 6%
Complete renovation projects on rental properties Repair drywall and painting Replace flooring Plumbing Landscaping Building maintenance Chimney sweeping HVAC preventative maintenance
- Continuous Improvement, 5%
Initiate corrective/preventive and continuous improvement opportunities through defined/documented channels and actively participate in developing, implementing and verifying corrective/improvement actions.
- CMMS, 4%
Reduced conversion expenses for plant maintenance by developing and implementing cost control strategies and the implementation CMMS based preventive maintenance program.
Most maintenance managers use their skills in "osha," "customer service," and "plumbing" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential maintenance manager responsibilities here:
Leadership skills. The most essential soft skill for a maintenance manager to carry out their responsibilities is leadership skills. This skill is important for the role because "in managing workers and coordinating administrative duties, administrative services managers must be able to motivate employees and deal with issues that may arise." Additionally, a maintenance manager resume shows how their duties depend on leadership skills: "utilize infor eam cmms system to develop reporting on maintenance metrics to leadership. "
Analytical skills. Another essential skill to perform maintenance manager duties is analytical skills. Maintenance managers responsibilities require that "administrative services managers must be able to review an organization’s procedures and find ways to improve efficiency." Maintenance managers also use analytical skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "implemented a vibration analysis program which continuously monitored critical equipment and instituted routine predictive maintenance procedures for the multitude of blowers. "
Communication skills. maintenance managers are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to maintenance manager responsibilities, because "much of an administrative services manager’s time is spent working with other people." A maintenance manager resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "trained fifteen newly assigned personnel in satellite communications operations, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance procedures. "
Detail oriented. maintenance manager responsibilities often require "detail oriented." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "administrative services managers must pay attention to details." This resume example shows what maintenance managers do with detail oriented on a typical day: "developed a proactive maintenance process with predictive and preventative maintenance procedures, detailed job plans, and standardized parts kitting procedures. "
The three companies that hire the most maintenance managers are:
- Walmart72 maintenance managers jobs
- Great Wolf Resorts52 maintenance managers jobs
- Ingevity49 maintenance managers jobs
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Maintenance manager vs. Section chief
A section chief's job varies with the type of organization. In most cases, a section chief is the head of a given section in an organization that is tasked with performing certain duties. A section chief is the head of a unit and provides leadership, motivation, and management of a section of employees. Their duties and responsibilities include reviewing and overseeing budgets, expenditure, and section activities.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, maintenance manager responsibilities require skills like "osha," "customer service," "plumbing," and "hvac." Meanwhile a typical section chief has skills in areas such as "training programs," "professional development," "logistical support," and "combat." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Section chiefs tend to make the most money working in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $59,842. In contrast, maintenance managers make the biggest average salary, $81,084, in the government industry.On average, section chiefs reach similar levels of education than maintenance managers. Section chiefs are 3.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Maintenance manager vs. Technical supervisor
A technical supervisor is a leader who offers hands-on leadership for the staff members. Technical supervisors oversee employee performance in a certain department of the organization. They monitor the installation, repair, troubleshooting, and maintenance work of technicians. They supervise teams of technicians, oversee workers, and perform inspections on work orders. Their skills include leadership, confidence, problem-solving, empathy, and strong communication skills. They should also be compassionate, be able to manage time, and a problem solver.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that maintenance manager responsibilities requires skills like "plumbing," "continuous improvement," "cmms," and "maintenance procedures." But a technical supervisor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patient care," "pet," "patients," and "work ethic."
Technical supervisors may earn a higher salary than maintenance managers, but technical supervisors earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $76,171. On the other hand, maintenance managers receive higher pay in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $81,084.technical supervisors earn similar levels of education than maintenance managers in general. They're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Maintenance manager vs. Work center supervisor
A lead mechanic coordinates the teams of mechanics and ensures the timely completion of repairs. Lead mechanics supervise their subordinates, order mechanical parts, and inspect their work making sure that the standards are met. They are responsible for repairing, overhauling, and maintaining vehicles or farm equipment. It is their job to provide support and give advice on matters associated with repairs. They also conduct road tests and maintain the repair of equipment. They should also have leadership and strong communication skills.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a maintenance manager is likely to be skilled in "osha," "customer service," "plumbing," and "hvac," while a typical work center supervisor is skilled in "electrical equipment," "maintenance actions," "test equipment," and "diesel engines."
Most work center supervisors achieve a similar degree level compared to maintenance managers. For example, they're 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Maintenance manager vs. Lead mechanic
Types of maintenance manager
Updated January 8, 2025











