Director of Maintenance and Engineering

Join our team as the Director of Maintenance and Engineering and take full ownership of ride, waterpark, facility, construction, and landscaping and grounds maintenance at Michigan's Adventure. Reporting to the Park President, you will lead guest and associate safety, asset reliability, and financial performance, translate enterprise strategy into local execution, and partner with Park Operations to keep every ride and attraction operating safely and properly.

This role is ideal for a maintenance and engineering leader who has run a unionized operation, administered a collective bargaining agreement, and wants a high-impact leadership role with broad operational scope at a stable amusement and waterpark destination.

Director of Maintenance and Engineering What You Will Do

• Direct all maintenance work across the park, including division employees, other divisions, and contractors
• Ensure compliance with state, federal, and manufacturer requirements for ride and waterpark maintenance, and own inspection readiness and timely resolution of findings
• Resolve complex maintenance problems in partnership with sister parks and ride manufacturers
• Enforce safety standards and drive continuous improvement in division safety performance
• Serve as the property's day-to-day operational authority on the collective bargaining agreement, applying it consistently across trades, shifts, and supervisors, and partner with HR and labor counsel on questions that should not be answered on the shop floor
• Build and maintain a professional working relationship with union stewards and business representatives, resolving issues at the lowest level without conceding management rights or creating unintended past practice
• Act as the management decision-maker at the first step of the grievance procedure, and hold supervisors accountable for investigating, documenting, and issuing discipline consistently and within contractual timeframes
• Support contract negotiations with operational data, cost impact analysis, and proposals grounded in how the division actually runs, and communicate with represented employees consistent with the NLRA and company guidance
• Own the associate experience in the division, building a culture of communication, ownership, accountability, and recognition for represented and non-represented associates
• Select, develop, and evaluate division leadership, and manage staffing levels, seasonal ramp-up, and certification currency across the trades
• Own the division operating budget and capital project portfolio, controlling operating costs, overtime, and contractor spend
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Park President

Director of Maintenance and Engineering What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree, relevant certification, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 8 or more 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 and the ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, holidays, and peak operating periods
• Ability to maintain regular on-site presence, climb ladders, stairs, and ride structures, work at heights and outdoors, access confined and elevated areas, lift and carry up to 50 pounds, and remain on foot for extended periods
• Preferred: experience supporting or participating in collective bargaining, including first-contract negotiations
• Preferred: experience in a skilled trades environment such as Operating Engineers, IBEW, UA, or comparable
• Preferred: amusement industry experience and AIMS and/or NAARSO certification
• Preferred: formal supervisory training in labor relations, investigations, or progressive discipline
• Preferred: a data-driven mindset with experience in analytics, reporting, and reliability and performance optimization

Director of Maintenance and Engineering What You Get

• Full-time leadership role reporting directly to the Park President
• Ownership of ride, waterpark, facility, construction, and grounds maintenance across the property
• A lead management voice in labor relations and collective bargaining agreement administration
• Direct accountability for guest and associate safety, asset reliability, and the guest experience at Michigan's Adventure
• Equal opportunity employment. Michigan's Adventure does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law

JOB ID 181995#post

Brett Hume