Fleet Director

Major Duties Classification: Exempt/Non-bargaining Position may be located remote. We're growing! At Fidium, we serve business and residential customers across a 23-state area, providing advanced communications solutions across our fiber-rich network. We offer a wide range of services including commercial solutions for businesses of all sizes with our Data & Internet, Voice, Managed & Hosted, Cloud Services and IT Services The Fleet Director is a senior operations leader responsible for managing Fidium's fiber broadband field service fleet. This role oversees all aspects of fleet maintenance, repair, and optimization across a multi-million-dollar P&L. The Fleet Director leads an in-house mechanics team, negotiates and manages third‑party vendor relationships, ensures regulatory compliance and safety standards, and drives continuous improvement in fleet efficiency and cost management. This is a strategic leadership position that directly impacts field service productivity, customer satisfaction, and operational profitability. The Fleet Director is a hands‑on operator who combines mechanical expertise with financial acumen, vendor management skills, and team leadership ability. Success requires balancing vehicle uptime (critical for field service delivery) with cost optimization, safety compliance, and preventive maintenance strategies that reduce downtime and extend asset life. Responsibilities Fleet P&L management: Own and optimize the multi‑million-dollar fleet budget. Forecast maintenance costs, parts inventory, fuel consumption, and capital expenditures. Identify cost reduction opportunities, negotiate better terms with vendors, and track ROI on fleet upgrades or technology investments. Provide monthly variance reports to leadership. In‑house mechanics team leadership: Manage in‑house mechanics team. Set performance standards, conduct performance reviews, ensure technical certifications remain current. Establish and maintain maintenance schedules, quality standards, and safety protocols. Foster a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement. Third‑party vendor management: Identify, qualify, negotiate contracts, and manage 3rd party service providers (transmission shops, tire services, diesel specialists, body shops, inspection centers). Monitor service quality and compliance, manage claims and disputes, ensure competitive pricing. Build strategic partnerships where cost and service align with company needs. Fleet maintenance strategy: Develop and execute preventive maintenance schedules to maximize uptime and minimize emergency repairs. Decide between in‑house vs. vendor repair for each vehicle type and situation. Track maintenance metrics (mean time between failures, uptime %, cost per mile). Implement improvements based on trends and data. Vehicle uptime & availability: Ensure fleet availability meets field service demand. Coordinate with field operations on vehicle needs and downtime windows. Minimize unplanned outages. Manage backup vehicle inventory for emergency situations. Report daily/weekly fleet availability metrics to operations leadership. Compliance, safety & regulatory: Maintain OSHA compliance, DOT regulations, vehicle inspection standards, and company safety protocols. Manage vehicle inspections, emissions testing, insurance, and licensing. Investigate and document vehicle incidents or accidents. Ensure mechanics maintain required certifications. Stay current on regulatory changes. Fleet technology & systems: Evaluate and implement fleet management systems (telematics, maintenance tracking, parts inventory software). Use data to optimize routes, monitor fuel consumption, track vehicle diagnostics. Integrate with field service scheduling to improve dispatch efficiency. Capital planning & asset management: Plan multi‑year fleet replacement cycles. Evaluate vehicle purchases, equipment additions, and technology upgrades. Balance cost, capabilities, and warranty terms. Track asset depreciation and manage vehicle retirements/disposals. Inventory & supply chain: Manage spare parts inventory, tools, and supplies. Forecast parts demand based on fleet maintenance schedules. Negotiate supplier pricing and delivery terms. Minimize excess inventory while preventing shortages that cause downtime. Performance measurement & reporting: Track KPIs: fleet availability %, maintenance cost per vehicle, cost per mile, mechanic productivity, vendor SLAs, safety incidents, compliance status. Provide weekly/monthly dashboards and quarterly business reviews to senior leadership. Strategic improvements: Identify and drive initiatives that reduce maintenance costs, improve uptime, increase mechanic efficiency, or extend vehicle life. Lead projects like transitioning to preventive maintenance models, fleet right‑sizing, or adoption of electric vehicles where applicable. Qualifications 7+ years of fleet management, maintenance operations, or field service management experience Demonstrated experience managing multi‑million‑dollar P&L and making capital/operational trade‑offs Experience managing mechanics teams, conducting performance management, and developing technical talent Proven vendor negotiation and relationship management skills Strong technical knowledge of vehicle maintenance, repair, and diagnostics (or willingness to deepen expertise quickly) Experience with fleet management systems, telematics, or maintenance tracking software Proficiency with Excel, data analysis, and creating performance dashboards OSHA, DOT, or vehicle safety compliance knowledge (preferred) Experience in telecommunications, broadband, construction, or field service industries (preferred) Key competencies Operations leadership: Directs complex, multi‑functional operations. Holds teams accountable to KPIs and safety standards. Drives execution and continuous improvement. Financial acumen: Understands P&L responsibility. Makes data‑driven decisions balancing cost, quality, and risk. Optimizes spend without sacrificing service. Vendor management: Negotiates favorable terms, manages expectations, resolves disputes. Builds long‑term partnerships when advantageous. Team development: Recruits talent, invests in training, provides constructive feedback, and creates growth opportunities. Problem‑solving: Diagnoses root causes of operational issues. Develops and implements solutions quickly under pressure. Strategic thinking: Balances short‑term execution with long‑term planning (fleet cycles, capital budgets, technology adoption). Communication: Translates technical issues for non‑technical leaders. Influences across functions (field ops, finance, HR, safety). Compliance & safety mindset: Prioritizes compliance, safety and risk management. Maintains focus on regulatory and legal obligations. Benefits Offered We are proud to offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package: 401(k) matching Medical, Rx, Dental and Vision insurance Disability insurance Flexible spending account Health savings account Life insurance Tuition reimbursement Paid vacation and personal days Paid holidays Employee Assistance Program Annual bonus program to eligible employee's based upon organization performance Salary Pay range (commensurate with skills and experience): $95,000 - $150,000 annual salary Equal Opportunity Employer All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, familial status, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr Fidium