Ride Maintenance Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Ride Maintenance Manager - Full Time

Department: Maintenance
Reports To: Maintenance Director

Position Type: Full-Time

About the Job

The Ride Maintenance Manager is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation, maintenance, inspection, and repair of all rides and attractions at Worlds of Fun & Oceans of Fun. This position provides leadership to the Ride Mechanical and Ride Electrical maintenance teams and ensures all rides and attractions are maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications, company standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

The Ride Maintenance Manager plays a critical role in protecting the safety of guests and associates while maximizing ride availability, operational efficiency, and asset longevity.

Why Work at Worlds of Fun?

• Free park admission
• Team member ride nights and special events
• Uniforms provided
• Gain unique Maintenance/Manager experience

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, develop, and supervise the Ride Mechanical and Ride Electrical maintenance teams.
• Establish performance expectations and hold team members accountable for safety, quality, productivity, and professionalism.
• Recruit, train, coach, and develop maintenance staff and future leaders.
• Ensure adequate staffing levels to support daily operations, planned maintenance, and capital projects.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Foster positive labor-management relationships and ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), work rules, and applicable labor policies.
• Partner with Human Resources to administer contract provisions, address employee relations matters, and support grievance resolution processes.

Ride & Attraction Maintenance

• Oversee preventative, predictive, corrective, and seasonal maintenance programs for all rides and attractions.
• Ensure all rides and attractions are maintained and inspected in accordance with manufacturer requirements and company standards.
• Direct troubleshooting and repair efforts for mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and control systems.
• Review ride downtime trends and implement solutions to improve reliability and operational performance.
• Ensure ride maintenance records, inspections, and work orders are accurate, complete, and properly maintained.

Safety & Compliance

• Maintain full compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and industry standards.
• Support ride inspections conducted by regulatory agencies, third-party inspectors, and manufacturers.
• Partner with Safety, Operations, and Public Safety leadership to identify and mitigate risks.
• Investigate ride-related incidents, equipment failures, and safety concerns and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure all lockout/tagout, fall protection, confined space, electrical safety, and other safety programs are followed.

Operations Support

• Partner with Operations leadership to maximize attraction availability and guest satisfaction.
• Participate in daily operational planning and decision-making regarding ride readiness and maintenance priorities.
• Coordinate after-hours, emergency, and seasonal maintenance activities.
• Support park events, seasonal openings, ride commissioning, and attraction upgrades.

Financial & Administrative Management

• Develop and manage departmental operating and capital budgets.
• Monitor labor, materials, and equipment expenditures.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs without compromising safety or quality.
• Manage contractor and vendor relationships related to ride maintenance services and projects.
• Assist with capital planning, ride rehabilitation projects, and equipment replacement strategies.

Minimum Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Maintenance Management, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive maintenance leadership experience.
• Minimum 3 years of supervisory or management experience leading skilled technical teams.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and control systems.
• Demonstrated experience managing maintenance programs, inspections, and regulatory compliance.
• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry Certification required.
• Experience working in a unionized environment and administering collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to respond to emergencies and work flexible schedules, including nights, weekends, holidays, and on-call situations.

Preferred

• Experience in amusement park, theme park, manufacturing, industrial maintenance, transportation, or similar high-reliability environments.
• Experience leading Maintenance teams in a seasonal or 24/7 operating environment.
• Experience with ride and attraction systems.
• Professional certifications related to maintenance, engineering, safety, or reliability (e.g., CMRP, CMRP, PMP, Six Sigma, Engineering licensure).
• Experience with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS).
• Knowledge of ASTM amusement ride standards and industry best practices.
• OSHA outreach trainer credentials or advanced safety certifications.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership and team-building skills.
• Ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong project and budget management capabilities.
• Ability to influence and collaborate across departments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to guest safety and operational excellence.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in indoor and outdoor environments in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to climb ladders, stairs, catwalks, and ride structures.
• Ability to walk long distances throughout the park.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to work at heights and in confined spaces as required.

Why Join Worlds of Fun?

The Ride Maintenance Manager must possess a strong commitment to workplace safety, demonstrated leadership in unionized environments, and the ability to effectively manage maintenance operations within the framework of collective bargaining agreements while maintaining positive labor relations and operational excellence.