what is a maintenance manager?
As a maintenance manager, you are the company's maintenance department leader. Your job revolves around maintaining the company's facilities and equipment to ensure your co-workers have the best resources to complete their daily tasks. Your primary role is supervising operations and activities within the department, and you are in charge of technical employees.
The job of a maintenance manager is quite different from other managerial roles. The scope of your responsibilities is broader than standard administrative manager tasks. Besides knowing the technical issues and equipment your team has to work on, your main challenge is creating a motivated workforce. As a maintenance manager, you are a senior supervisor and facilitator. It is important to ask your workers whether they need help, more training, or specialised tools to manage their tasks better. You also help with other tasks within your department, like budget creation and expense tracking.
As a maintenance manager, you work in electrical plants, manufacturing companies or commercial buildings. Hence, you require a basic understanding of electrical systems, plumbing, carpentry and other crafts. You should be well-versed in maintenance regulations and safety procedures, too. In small institutions, you do some maintenance tasks yourself. However, in large enterprises, the main job is to supervise operations.
find your jobaverage salary of a maintenance manager
According to Payscale, maintenance managers earn an average salary of ₹918,937 per year. The earnings fluctuate based on various factors. For instance, a maintenance manager in their first year is likely to earn a starting salary of ₹369,000. However, experienced maintenance managers take home over ₹2m annually. Your area of specialisation may also influence your earnings. According to Payscale, plant maintenance managers receive a median salary of ₹925,112 annually. In an entry-level position, the starting salary is ₹518,000 per year, while experienced plant maintenance managers take home over ₹2.2 million annually.
how to increase your salary as a maintenance manager
Your earnings as a maintenance manager vary depending on various factors. For instance, experience determines your level of skills and expertise. Hence, entry-level maintenance managers earn a lower salary than those with experience. Senior maintenance managers also earn more due to the skills they have and their level of expertise.
The location may also affect your earnings based on the demand and cost of living in the area. Working in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Bangalore, Karnataka, or Pune increases your earning potential as a maintenance manager.
types of maintenance managers
Different industries require specific types of maintenance managers. Some of these include:
- plant maintenance managers: your job is to ensure smooth plant systems and equipment operations. For this job, you oversee new equipment installation, repairs and preventive maintenance to ensure timely and effective production.
- facilities maintenance managers: as a facilities maintenance manager, you take charge of all servicing and engineering tasks within a facility. You often work with plumbers and mechanical or electrical engineers to ensure the facility is safe for its intended purpose.
- public works maintenance managers: your work is to lead and guide maintenance supervisors in government institutions. Some roles include overseeing landscaping or maintenance of roads, parks and recreation facilities.
- building complex maintenance managers: you are responsible for residential complexes and commercial offices. You manage maintenance procedures and supervise daily upkeep operations like cleaning.
working as a maintenance manager
If you want to start a career as a maintenance manager, it is important to understand the scope of the work. Read on to learn more about the job's duties, responsibilities and expectations.
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maintenance manager job description
As a maintenance manager, the nature and number of responsibilities vary from one organisation to another based on company size and the industry. Some typical tasks include:
- supervising maintenance activities: the central role of a maintenance manager is to oversee and supervise staff. Your job involves planning daily work schedules and assigning responsibilities depending on each employee's abilities. Therefore, you should clearly understand the organisation's goals to match the right individual with the right skills to meet the objectives. You also inspect the progress of each project based on its schedule.
- training employees: as a maintenance manager, you coach and mentor employees to meet organisational goals. You identify employees' weaknesses and train them to improve their skills. You work as a counsellor to build better relationships with your workforce. If your team faces any problems, you resolve them or hand over the issues to the responsible parties within the organisation.
- implementing health and safety procedures: maintenance involves high-risk activities that expose workers and other employees to hazards. As the maintenance manager, it's your responsibility to ensure your team conducts all activities following occupational safety and health guidelines. The best way to implement such procedures is by providing every worker with the right equipment and choosing well-trained staff for their tasks.
- managing budgets: as a maintenance manager, you manage your department's budget. The company expects you to manage its resources and expenses well by ensuring best practices. Your job also involves monitoring equipment inventory and placing orders when necessary. As the manager, you develop better ways to improve productivity and cut costs within your department.
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work environment
The day-to-day work activities of a maintenance manager vary based on the industry. You may work in the private or public sectors and different environments and locations. Whether you work indoors or outdoors, expect to spend much of your time walking around the facility to provide proactive solutions when needed. If you work in a manufacturing company, you spend most of the time within the facility solving hydraulic, mechanical and electrical problems.
In commercial or residential buildings, you spend most of your time evaluating, maintaining and repairing systems within the premises. However, if you are a maintenance manager working for a mining or construction company, you move from one place to another. Maintenance managers working in a transportation company also supervise corrective maintenance tasks on vehicles and equipment, wherever they are. Those who maintain electrical systems spend most of their time in the field.
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who are your colleagues?
As a maintenance manager, you work with professionals from different industries depending on your area of expertise. You work alongside maintenance engineers, mechanical technicians and mechanical engineers. You are also in charge of various maintenance professionals, including electrical technicians, HVAC technicians and maintenance technicians.
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work schedule
The supervisory demands of a maintenance manager role require you to work long hours. You're likely to work full-time, but you will also work overtime or irregular shifts in some cases. Expect to work at a standard rate of 40 hours a week. However, if you are in demanding sectors like construction, prepare for emergency calls. In some cases, you work evenings, weekends and holidays. Most plants also operate 24 hours a day. As a maintenance manager, you should be available at the worksite to supervise tasks.
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job outlook
Companies have realised that maintenance is an integral contributor to business success and are rapidly adopting the predictive maintenance principle. Today, most enterprises don't wait for equipment to fail to seek repair services. Instead, they employ a maintenance team to keep their equipment and systems in working order and prevent disruptive breakdowns. You can specialise in specific maintenance tasks like railways and roads. If you work in manufacturing facilities, you can become the facilities manager or a consultant on maintenance issues.
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advantages of finding a maintenance manager job through randstad
Finding your maintenance manager job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid on a monthly basis
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a maintenance manager is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
To work as a maintenance manager, you require extensive knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems. While you may work in a corporate office, your knowledge is essential for guiding workers in their roles and developing maintenance procedures. Hence, you should complete a relevant degree or specialised diploma course like engineering.
Most employers require at least a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering (BTech). You can enrol for engineering courses after completing your higher secondary and passing the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) or Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test. Some employers also expect you to have an MBA to gain leadership and management skills. You may also require a professional engineer licence recognised by the Government of India.
maintenance manager skills and competencies
You need the following qualities to become an effective maintenance manager:
- leadership skills: as a maintenance manager, you supervise various workers to ensure tasks are completed on time. You need exceptional leadership skills to inspire and motivate workers toward a particular goal. Management skills also help you delegate tasks and multi-task effectively.
- technical knowledge: you need basic computer skills to order stock, hold educational programs and create schedules. A maintenance manager also needs knowledge of engineering concepts to perform tasks if a worker is unavailable.
- problem-solving skills: as a maintenance manager, you need problem-solving skills to resolve issues swiftly and avoid interfering with other business operations.
- people skills: as a maintenance manager, you deal with many colleagues, from cleaning staff to engineers and managers. You need great people skills to build effective relationships and communicate professionally with everyone.
FAQs about working as a maintenance manager
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a maintenance manager.
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what is the main role of a maintenance manager?
Maintenance managers lead maintenance-related processes and supervise maintenance personnel. You also track expenses and create budgets associated with maintenance. Sometimes, you inspect machinery manually.
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what are the qualities of a maintenance manager?
As a maintenance manager, you require knowledge of machinery and maintenance protocols. You also need leadership skills to motivate and guide a team of maintenance professionals.
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what is the salary of a maintenance manager in India?
Maintenance managers take home an average salary of ₹918,937 per year. In an entry-level position, you start with a salary of ₹369,000 annually, while senior maintenance managers take home over ₹2 million yearly.
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how do you get promoted to maintenance manager?
Maintenance managers start their careers in junior-level positions that require technical expertise. While technical abilities are useful, behavioural skills take you to the top. You require leadership and problem-solving skills to boost your career advancement.
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is maintenance manager a good career?
Working as a maintenance manager is a great career. After honing your leadership and management skills, you can progress to senior management roles.
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how do I apply for a maintenance manager vacancy?
Applying for a maintenance manager job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
