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SUPERVISOR, FLEET MAINTENANCE
Job Title: SUPERVISOR, FLEET MAINTENANCE
Job Code: 1715
FLSA: E
Job Level: 89
Revised Date: 05/01/2026
Job Family: JF 28
Occupational Summary
Plan, coordinate, and supervise maintenance activities for the Duke Transit Fleet, including buses, shuttle vans, cutaway vehicles, minivans, and support vehicles. Oversee preventive maintenance programs, repair workflows, parts procurement, and vendor services to ensure fleet availability, safety, regulatory compliance, and cost-effective operations. Exercise supervisory authority over maintenance staff and serve as a primary point of coordination between maintenance, transit operations, vendors, finance, union representatives, environmental partners, and internal University departments to support reliable daily transit service and fleet readiness.
Work Performed
Plan, schedule, and supervise preventive maintenance and repair activities for transit buses, shuttle vans, cutaway vehicles, minivans, and support fleet vehicles to ensure fleet readiness and service continuity, and maintain accurate maintenance, repair, and compliance records to support operational oversight and monthly reconciliations.
Supervise maintenance staff by assigning work, approving and inputting timecards, and providing corrective guidance as needed to support performance, accountability, and adherence to maintenance standards.
Coordinate with union representatives and maintenance staff regarding work assignments, scheduling considerations, and operational issues in accordance with applicable agreements and established procedures.
Review vehicle write-ups and maintenance needs; assign work to mechanics, inspect completed work, and monitor progress to ensure repairs and preventive maintenance are completed accurately, safely, and in a timely manner.
Determine vehicle service status by placing vehicles in and out of service based on maintenance findings, safety considerations, and operational readiness, and communicate vehicle availability, anticipated return-to-service timelines, and fleet constraints to Transit Operations to support service continuity.
Establish and maintain working relationships with vendors and service providers; coordinate vehicle repairs and services across the transit fleet, negotiate pricing, and monitor vendor performance to ensure quality, timeliness, and cost effectiveness. Coordinate with vehicle manufacturers, equipment suppliers, and maintenance service vendors to identify, schedule, and support technical training opportunities for maintenance staff; ensure training aligns with fleet needs, new equipment, and evolving maintenance requirements.
Provide technical input to leadership and procurement partners regarding vehicle purchases, specifications, and vendor options; assist with evaluation of vehicle suitability, maintenance considerations, and lifecycle impacts for transit fleet acquisitions.
Manage parts sourcing, purchasing, and inventory activities, including researching cost effective parts and vendors, recommending new vendors, balancing inventory levels, and removing surplus or obsolete parts to control costs and support maintenance needs.
Coordinate purchasing activities using purchase orders; work with Finance to initiate vendor setup, provide required documentation, track expenditures by account, monitor available balances, and request adjustments to general ledger allocations as needed.
Coordinate fleet intake and release for vehicles purchased by other Duke departments; receive new vehicles at the transit maintenance facility, coordinate with internal partners to complete required administrative, compliance, and readiness steps, and release vehicles to departments once requirements are met.
Coordinate with Duke Environmental, Occupational and Environmental Safety, and related partners to support compliance with environmental and stormwater requirements, including assisting with inspections, sampling activities, placement of containment measures such as booms, and documentation related to fleet maintenance operations.
Provide oversight and coordination for specialized maintenance initiatives, including electric bus maintenance, charging equipment coordination, and related infrastructure activities; work with manufacturers, vendors, and internal project teams to address technical issues and support fleet development.
Use maintenance software systems to track work orders, monitor inventory, and maintain maintenance records. Monitor maintenance- related costs, vendor activity, fleet condition, and project status.
Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein
Required Qualifications at this Level
Education/Training
Work requires technical, organizational, and communication skills generally acquired through completion of a high school diploma or equivalent. Additional technical training or coursework in vehicle maintenance, fleet management, or a related field is preferred.
Experience
Work requires three years of progressively responsible experience in fleet maintenance or transportation maintenance operations, including supervisory experience, vendor coordination, vehicle repair oversight, parts procurement, financial tracking, environmental coordination, and management of preventive maintenance programs.
OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF EDUCATION, SPECIALIZED TRAINING, AND/OR EXPERIENCE
Skills
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Duke University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions
Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
