Fleet Maintenance Manager Job Northern Kentucky USA,Maintenance/Cleaning

Location: Northern

Senior Fleet Maintenance Manager - Utility Vegetation Management Riggs Tree Service, LLC

This is not a traditional shop manager position.

Riggs Tree Service is searching for an accomplished Senior Fleet Maintenance Manager with the leadership experience, technical expertise, and operational mindset to lead the maintenance and reliability of a specialized Utility Vegetation Management (UVM) fleet
.

We're looking for a rare combination: a proven leader who understands fleet strategy AND knows the equipment.

The ideal candidate has led mechanics and technicians, managed heavy-duty or specialized equipment fleets, built effective preventive maintenance programs, reduced equipment downtime, controlled maintenance costs, and understands how fleet reliability directly impacts field production.

Experience with utility vegetation management, tree care, forestry, utility contracting, or comparable specialized heavy-equipment operations will immediately get our attention.

What You'll Lead

Reporting directly to the CEO
, you will provide leadership over fleet maintenance, repair, reliability, compliance, and operational readiness.

You will be responsible for:

Leading, mentoring, and developing mechanics and technicians
Developing and improving preventive maintenance programs
Overseeing maintenance, inspections, diagnostics, complex repairs, and emergency repairs
Driving equipment uptime and reducing preventable downtime
Prioritizing repairs based on safety, field operations, crew needs, and equipment availability
Monitoring fleet performance, repair trends, maintenance costs, and fuel consumption
Managing maintenance budgets, parts, vendors, rentals, and outside repair services
Evaluating repair-versus-replace decisions and total cost of ownership
Advising leadership on fleet purchases, specifications, equipment suitability, and disposal
Maintaining accurate, audit-ready maintenance and compliance records
Promoting a strong safety and accountability culture throughout fleet operations

The Experience We're Looking For

Strong candidates will bring:

Proven leadership experience in fleet maintenance, heavy-equipment maintenance, or a closely related operation
Experience successfully leading and developing mechanics and technicians
Strong hands-on mechanical and diagnostic knowledge
Extensive knowledge of diesel and gasoline engines, hydraulics, electrical systems, and heavy-duty equipment
Experience developing and managing preventive maintenance programs
Experience managing fleet reliability, repair scheduling, and equipment lifecycle
Strong understanding of maintenance costs, budgeting, and repair-versus-replacement decisions
Experience using fleet-management systems, maintenance records, reporting, and performance metrics
Strong knowledge of fleet safety and regulatory compliance

UVM / Specialized Equipment Experience

Candidates with direct experience maintaining fleets supporting Utility Vegetation Management, tree care, forestry, right-of-way, utilities, or similar field operations are strongly encouraged to apply.

Experience with equipment such as:

Aerial bucket trucks and aerial devices
Wood chippers
Stump grinders
Commercial trucks
Hydraulic equipment

Specialized tree-care and vegetation-management equipment is highly desirable.

This Role Is for a Leader Who Still Knows the Equipment

We're not looking for someone whose only experience is managing spreadsheets and work orders.

And we're not simply looking for the best mechanic in the shop.

We're looking for someone who can lead the entire maintenance operation.

You understand that when a critical piece of equipment is down, the impact reaches far beyond the maintenance shop. It affects crews, production, customers, safety, and the company's bottom line.

You know how to identify recurring failures, improve preventive maintenance, develop technicians, establish accountability, manage costs, and make sound decisions about when equipment should be repaired, replaced, or retired.

At the same time, you have enough technical depth to walk into the shop, understand a difficult mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical issue, ask the right questions, and earn the respect of experienced mechanics.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in utility vegetation management, arboriculture, forestry, utilities, construction, or specialized heavy equipment
Associate degree or technical certification in Heavy-Duty Diesel, Fleet Management, or a related field
Experience with aerial devices, bucket trucks, chippers, crane trucks, and other specialized…