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Fleet Maintenance Manager

Location: San Francisco, CA (Onsite)
Salary: $95,000–$115,000

About the Company

Our client is a leading provider of airline catering, onboard hospitality, and aviation logistics services, supporting major airlines across North America. Operating in a fast-paced airport environment, the company is committed to safety, operational excellence, and delivering the critical services that keep flights operating on schedule.

About the Role

We're seeking an experienced Fleet Maintenance Manager with a strong technical maintenance background leading commercial vehicle maintenance shops or service operations.

This is not a transportation, logistics, or fleet operations management role. The ideal candidate has experience leading maintenance teams, overseeing mechanics or technicians, evaluating repair recommendations, managing outside repair vendors, and making technical maintenance decisions that maximize fleet reliability and control costs.

You'll oversee approximately 65 commercial vehicles throughout the San Francisco market while partnering with more than 100 third-party repair vendors to ensure vehicles remain safe, compliant, and operational for a 24/7 airport operation.

Although this is not a hands-on mechanic position, you'll serve as the organization's technical fleet maintenance expert, making repair-versus-replacement decisions, reviewing vendor recommendations, and ensuring preventative maintenance programs are executed effectively.

Key Responsibilities

Fleet Maintenance Leadership

• Lead all fleet maintenance operations supporting approximately 65 commercial vehicles, including box trucks, catering trucks, vans, and other commercial vehicles.
• Oversee preventive maintenance programs to maximize vehicle uptime and reliability.
• Evaluate repair recommendations and determine appropriate maintenance actions while balancing cost, safety, and operational needs.
• Make repair-versus-replacement decisions based on vehicle condition, maintenance history, and lifecycle costs.
• Coordinate inspections, licensing, registrations, and regulatory compliance for all fleet assets.
• Track maintenance activity, work orders, inspections, and vehicle performance using Fleetio or similar fleet management software.
• Monitor GPS, telematics, and fleet technology to improve maintenance planning and fleet performance.

Vendor & Shop Management

• Manage relationships with more than 100 third-party repair vendors, dealerships, and maintenance providers.
• Review repair estimates, negotiate costs, approve repairs, and monitor vendor quality and performance.
• Partner with maintenance technicians, shop managers, and vendors to ensure repairs meet company standards.
• Develop and maintain strong vendor partnerships while controlling maintenance costs and minimizing downtime.

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure compliance with DOT, OSHA, TSA, USDA, FDA, EPA, GMP, and company maintenance standards.
• Maintain fleet inspection schedules, licensing, maintenance records, and audit documentation.
• Support internal and external audits and drive continuous improvement initiatives related to fleet safety and compliance.

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead maintenance planning, budgeting, and process improvement initiatives.
• Analyze maintenance trends, downtime, repair costs, and vendor performance to improve operational efficiency.
• Partner with regional fleet leadership and operations teams to improve fleet reliability and service levels.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and support to maintenance personnel and operational partners.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5–7+ years of experience leading a commercial vehicle maintenance shop, service department, or fleet maintenance operation.
• Experience supervising mechanics, technicians, foremen, shop personnel, or maintenance teams.
• Strong technical understanding of commercial vehicle maintenance with the ability to evaluate repair recommendations and make sound maintenance decisions.
• Experience managing third-party maintenance vendors, repair facilities, and service providers.
• Experience overseeing preventive maintenance programs, inspections, fleet compliance, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience using Fleetio or similar fleet management/CMMS software (Fleet Complete, Samsara, Geotab, MaintainX, EBIS, etc.).
• Strong knowledge of commercial vehicle maintenance operations and DOT compliance.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and vendor management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Willingness to obtain a CDL within 90 days of hire if not currently licensed.

Candidates should have at least ONE of the following:

• ASE certification, OEM/dealer certification, or another recognized automotive or diesel technical certification.
• Medium-duty or diesel truck repair background.
• Formal automotive, diesel, or truck maintenance technical education.

Preferred

• Experience supporting commercial truck, airport, food distribution, transit, or similar fleet environments.
• Experience managing fleet maintenance budgets and repair-versus-replacement decisions.
• Experience working with regional or corporate fleet leadership teams.
• Experience implementing preventive maintenance and continuous improvement programs.
• Familiarity with telematics, GPS, and fleet analytics tools.

Why Join?

• Competitive salary of $95,000–$115,000
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Sick Time
• Opportunity to lead a critical fleet maintenance operation supporting a major aviation services provider
• Stable organization with long-term career growth opportunities