General Maintenance Foreperson

DEPARTMENT:

JOB SUMMARY:

The General Maintenance Foreperson reports to the designated General Maintenance leader and coordinates daily field maintenance operations across assigned retail locations and all three shifts. The role directs trade technicians, leads, and union-represented personnel; prioritizes work orders; assigns labor according to skill, operational need, and collective bargaining requirements; troubleshoots complex facility systems; and mentors staff. By maintaining safe, reliable facilities and equipment, the position supports food safety, store uptime, customer service, and efficient company operations.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Evaluate, prioritize, and assign routine and emergency maintenance calls to minimize downtime and preserve operational continuity
• Plan, organize, and schedule service work, matching union technicians, leads, and general laborers to workload demands based on trade skill sets and labor agreement guidelines
• Partner with Facility Planners to optimize scheduling effectiveness, establish work priorities, and streamline field routing
• Provide technical assistance to troubleshoot complex electrical systems and equipment
• Administer maintenance safety and education programs and lead weekly tailgate safety meetings to promote a safe work environment
• Set clear job expectations, evaluate individual performance for technicians, and provide ongoing coaching and mentorship
• Maintain open communication with store managers, corporate departments, and leadership to assess facility needs and provide work order updates
• Monitor preventive maintenance schedules and completion across assigned stores; conduct or coordinate facility and equipment inspections; identify recurring failures and deferred work; and initiate corrective actions that improve asset reliability, regulatory compliance, and store uptime
• Assist in designing, fabricating, and assembling specialized components or custom structural solutions for store and facility needs
• Coordinate maintenance coverage across all three shifts, including shift assignments, scheduled absences, callouts, and emergency staffing
• Conduct and document shift handoffs covering open work orders, equipment status, safety hazards, parts constraints, and priority follow-up to ensure continuity of service
• Coordinate approved vendors and contractors by communicating job scope, site conditions, safety requirements, access needs, and scheduling constraints. Review completed work for quality and completeness, document deficiencies, and escalate vendor performance or compliance concerns
• Consistently enforce company policies, standard operating procedures, safety rules, and collective bargaining agreement provisions
• Use the company’s computerized maintenance management system to assign and track work orders, verify labor hours and parts usage, document failure and repair details, monitor backlog and response times, and prepare reports on workload, repeat failures, preventive maintenance completion, vendor activity, and service performance
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the efficient operations of the General Maintenance Department

REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required; trade school certification or vocational training in commercial electrical, HVAC, plumbing, or building maintenance preferred.
• Valid Driver’s License with a clear driving record in accordance with company fleet policy.

Experience

• Minimum five (5) years of hands-on commercial construction or facility service experience, including working knowledge of commercial restaurant equipment and electrical distribution systems.
• Minimum 1-2years in a lead worker, foreperson, or supervisory capacity overseeing maintenance personnel, field crews, or trade technicians
• Experience working with or leading unionized trade personnel, general labor, and craft leads is highly preferred but not required

Key Competencies & Operational Knowledge

• Ability to assign work, manage schedules, and direct union technicians and laborers in accordance with collective bargaining agreement guidelines and company standards
• General knowledge of metal fabrication and light construction trades
• Strong ability to troubleshoot commercial building systems, mechanical components, and restaurant equipment on-site or remotely
• Proficiency in evaluating job priority, partnering with Facility Planners, and balancing daily manpower against emergency and routine maintenance queues
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and conflict-resolution skills to coach technicians, enforce safety protocols, and maintain clear communication
• Ability to work a flexible schedule and provide after-hours support as business needs require, including nights, weekends, holidays, emergency callouts, and temporary coverage across all three shifts

Certifications:

• Current CPR/First Aid Certificate required, or ability to obtain upon hire; trade-related certifications such as OSHA 10/30 or EPA Universal are a plus