Golf Course Manager Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

SUMMARY
The Head Mechanic/Shop Manager is responsible for combining their mechanical expertise with their managerial responsibilities.  This position will oversee daily shop operations, manage staff, and ensure quality repairs. This role will diagnose, repair, and overhaul vehicles and equipment, while also leading the team, managing inventory, ensuring safety, maintaining accurate records and financial budget aspects of the shop.

KEY FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Technical Expertise: Diagnose, repair, and overhaul a variety of automotive systems (mechanical, electrical, etc.).
• Team Leadership: Supervise and train mechanics, manage schedules, and ensure efficient workflow. Direct workload of mechanics, ensuring they complete work orders efficiently and safely.
• Safety and Compliance: Ensures the shop and employees adheres to safety regulations and industry standards and conducts training on new equipment operation.
• Shop Operations: Oversee daily operations, including scheduling of staff and repairs, budgeting, and ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Record Keeping: Maintains accurate records of repairs, maintenance schedules, and associated costs.
• Inventory Management: Order parts and supplies, track inventory levels, and manage costs.
• Vendor Relations: Selecting vendors and negotiating prices for parts and services.
• Collaboration and Customer Relations: Interact with department contacts, address concerns, ensure smooth operations, efficient maintenance and customer satisfaction.
• Budget and Financial Management: Tracks expenses and inventories for budget purposes. Analyze financial data, make informed decisions to improve profitability, and manage budgets in relationship to overtime, parts pricing, time to repairs and expected and unexpected costs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Safe and proper operation of equipment and tools used to complete assigned tasks, (either manual or power) including reel grinder, bed knife grinder, cut off tools, power drills, hammers, pry bars, etc.
• Perform any necessary snow removal duties assigned during the winter months.
• Assist with equipment parts inventory control.
• Keep maintenance records for vehicles and golf course/grounds power equipment
• Perform routine preventive maintenance on equipment.
• Repair any equipment that is either broken or malfunctioning.
• Change oil, wiper motors, change tires, repair safety devices, grease equipment, etc. as necessary and on a regular basis.  Repair brakes, door latches, pull cords, damaged bearings and seals.
• Trouble shoot electrical systems on golf carts, vehicles, mowing equipment, tractors, dump trucks, etc.

• Welding and fabricating.
• Gather information on parts necessary to get the equipment or vehicles repaired, seek the best prices for those parts, submit purchase orders for approval of repair parts, order the needed parts and sign off on packing slips once the parts have been received.
• Schedule Vehicle Technician and Equipment Technicians to ensure equipment and vehicle repair work will be done in a timely manner.
• Complete all necessary/mandatory trainings as scheduled (annually).
• Attend any pre-scheduled/impromptu department meetings.
• Maintain open line of communication with your direct supervisor.
• Assist other departments when requested.
• Maintain good rapport with fellow employees and reflect a positive attitude.
• Complete all assignments requested of you.
• Help train other employees on certain job tasks when necessary.
• Be a self-starter and look for ways to improve staff performance on a daily basis.
• Must follow proper grooming and dress standards set forth by the Employee Handbook.
• Must understand and abide by environmental practices of the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.
• Report to work on time and complete all scheduled shifts.
• Must be able to perform maintenance tasks on golf courses or Grounds if/when necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• The Equipment Manager/Vehicle Mechanic must have previous experience as an Assistant Golf Course Superintendent, Golf Course Superintendent, or a supervisory position in either a golf course equipment repair shop or automotive repair shop with proven mechanical abilities.
• Experience: Extensive experience as a mechanic, ideally with previous supervisory or management experience.
• Knowledge: Strong understanding of automotive repair and maintenance, equipment repairs and maintenance including various systems and technologies.
• Skills: Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Certifications: State certification required. ASE may be required.
• This person must have a minimum of 2 years previous experience in the repair of golf course, grounds maintenance equipment, and or vehicle repair, as well as a minimum of 2 years (seasons) experience in a management position. 
• A mechanical background with repair of heavy equipment, (tractors, trucks, excavating equipment, etc.) preferred
• Welding and metal fabrication experience preferred 
• Must be proficient using Microsoft software. 
• Must possess a current, valid Michigan Driver’s License and be insurable under the company’s plan. 
• Must be at least 18 years of age and have a High School Diploma or GED. 
• Associate’s Degree in related field (emphasis in vehicle, small engines, and heavy equipment) from a college or university is preferred.
• Mechanics certifications (issued by the State of Michigan) in the auto repair specialties of Brakes and Braking Systems, Front End and Steering, Electrical Systems, Engine Tune-up/Performance and Engine Repair required (or must be attained within the first 90 days of employment).

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The ability to motivate others, meet deadlines and provide quality work is of utmost importance.  Guest service skills are a large part of this employee’s responsibility.  Communication with other managers in the Golf and Grounds and other departments of the resort are essential to the proper performance of this position.  The ability to have a positive attitude and to only make positive comments about any area of the Golf and Grounds Department and the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is essential to the success of the company.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES (If applicable)

Assist with interviewing, hiring, training, evaluating and disciplining employees.  Attend management meetings as requested. 

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The Equipment Manager/Vehicle Mechanic position is a “working position” and therefore will perform much of the repair work that needs to be done to keep the vehicles and equipment operating.  Record keeping of vehicle maintenance and non- routine maintenance to golf course/grounds power equipment is essential.
• Manual labor is a part of the daily job assignment.  The ability to withstand extended hours of standing, bending, and working on your knees on hard surfaces will be necessary any day while working. 
• Safety sensitive – this position will ride and test the operation of power equipment , lift awkward objects weighing  up to 60+ pounds from the ground to at least waist high, work with grease, oil and other petroleum based products, operate power  and manual tools. 
• Typical environment in a vehicle/equipment repair shop.
• Must practice all safety policies, procedures and standards as set by OSHA.

TYPICAL MENTAL DEMANDS

Must be able to effectively handle stressful and compromising situations while remaining focused and professional.  Must be able to deal with difficult people without losing perspective.  Must be able to work productively under strict time restraints with variable deadlines.  The Equipment Manager/Vehicle Mechanic must understand and accept that the company vehicles and equipment will break down either from operator error or just normal wear and tear and that the vehicles and equipment must be put back into service as quickly as possible.  This person must understand the hospitality nature of the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa and that other departments within the company depend on the work performed by the Fleet Manager/Vehicle Mechanic and equipment repair technicians in order to get their work done and meet our guests needs.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Working in outdoor conditions to the different seasons of Northern Michigan is a must.  Cold, heat, dry, wet, wind and cloudy and sunny days.  The employee must be ready and willing to work in the very early morning.  Standard start times will generally be between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m (subject to change seasonally).  The majority of the work will take place indoors in a usual equipment repair shop environment.  Part of the day will be spent cleaning equipment, or the shop and working on equipment outdoors or helping with other non-equipment repair related job tasks outdoors and indoors.  As a salaried employee it will be necessary at times to work on weekend days, and stay at work on any given day beyond what might be considered normal working hours.