Director of Maintenance

Director of Maintenance and Engineering

Reports To:

Park President

At Michigan's Adventure, we create fun-filled memories that last a lifetime. From thrilling rides to immersive water attractions and unique resort experiences, our park brings together excitement, connection, and tradition for families and guests.

The Director of Maintenance leads all Ride, Waterpark, Facility, Construction, and Landscaping/Grounds Maintenance activity at the property, with accountability for guest and associate safety, asset reliability, and financial performance. This role translates enterprise strategy into local execution and works in close partnership with Park Operations to ensure the safe and proper operation of every ride and attraction.

This is a leadership role in a unionized environment. The Director will be a key management voice in labor relations and is responsible for administering the collective bargaining agreement consistently while building a productive, businesslike relationship with the union.

• Directs all maintenance work across the park – division employees, other divisions, and contractors.
• Ensures compliance with state, federal, and manufacturer requirements for ride and waterpark maintenance; owns inspection readiness and timely resolution of findings.
• Resolves complex maintenance problems in partnership with sister parks and ride manufacturers.
• Enforces safety standards and drives continuous improvement in division safety performance.

• Serves as the property's day-to-day operational authority on the collective bargaining agreement, applying it consistently across trades, shifts, and supervisors, and partnering with HR and labor counsel on questions that shouldn't be answered on the shop floor.
• Builds and maintains a professional, harmonious working relationship with union stewards and business representatives, resolving issues at the lowest level without conceding management rights or creating unintended past practice.
• Acts as the management decision-maker at the first step of the grievance procedure, and holds supervisors accountable for investigating documenting, and issuing discipline consistently and within contractual time frames.
• Supports contract negotiations with operational data, cost impact analysis, and proposals grounded in how the division actually runs, communicates with represented employees consistent with the NLRA and company guidance.

• Owns the associate experience in the division, building a culture of communication, ownership, accountability, and recognition for represented and non-represented associates alike.
• Selects, develops, and evaluates division leadership; manages staffing levels, seasonal ramp-up, and certification currency across the trades.

• Owns the division operating budget and capital project portfolio, controlling operating costs, overtime, and contractor spend.

Performs other duties as assigned by the Park President.

Required

• Bachelor's degree, relevant certification, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 8+ years of progressive maintenance leadership experience, including direct supervision of supervisors.
• Demonstrated experience leading a represented workforce, including day-to-day contract administration, participation in the grievance procedure, and partnership with union representatives.
• Proven project management record - delivering capital and seasonal projects on time and on budget.
• Strong written communication skills, with the documentation discipline a grievance or arbitration record demands.
• Valid driver's license.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends, holidays, and peak operating periods.

Preferred

• Experience supporting or participating in collective bargaining, including first-contract negotiations.
• Experience in a skilled trades environment (Operating Engineers, IBEW, UA, or comparable).
• Amusement industry experience; AIMS and/or NAARSO certification.
• Formal supervisory training in labor relations, investigations, or progressive discipline.
• Data-driven mindset with experience in analytics, reporting, and reliability/performance optimization.

• Labor relations judgment - consistency, credibility, and composure under pressure
• Accountability: willing to have the hard conversation and document it
• Strategic thinking and execution
• Project management
• Leadership and team development
• Data analysis and…