Shop Manager in Training

Lakeshore Recycling Systems • Morton Grove, IL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Shop Manager in Training (SMIT) is a structured, six-month development role that prepares high-potential technicians and emerging leaders to independently run an LRS fleet maintenance shop. The SMIT works alongside an assigned Shop Manager mentor to learn every function of shop operations — preventive maintenance planning, technician supervision, DOT and OSHA compliance, parts and inventory control, vendor and warranty management, budget accountability, and fleet uptime performance. This is a working leadership role. The SMIT spends time on the shop floor, in the parts room, in the office, and on the road, progressively taking on decision-making authority under supervision. Upon successful completion of the program and evaluation milestones, the SMIT is placed as a Shop Manager at an LRS location, which may require relocation within the assigned region.

Requirements

• Demonstrated technical proficiency in diesel engine, air brake, hydraulic, and electrical system diagnosis and repair.
• Valid driver’s license with an acceptable motor vehicle record.
• Ability to obtain a Class B commercial driver’s license (CDL) with air brake endorsement within the program period, if not already held.
• Working knowledge of DOT and OSHA regulations as they apply to a commercial vehicle maintenance facility.
• Basic computer proficiency — fleet maintenance software, email, and spreadsheets.
• Ability and willingness to relocate within the assigned region upon program completion.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment background check, drug screen, and physical.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum three (3) years of hands-on heavy-duty diesel or heavy equipment maintenance experience, or equivalent military maintenance experience; OR an associate degree / technical certificate in diesel technology plus two (2) years of relevant experience.

Nice To Haves

• ASE Master Medium/Heavy Truck certification, or T-series certifications in progress preferred.
• DOT federal annual inspector qualification under 49 CFR 396.19 and brake inspector qualification under 396.25 preferred.
• Experience in waste, recycling, trucking, transit, construction, or another high-utilization fleet environment preferred.
• Familiarity with refuse body and hydraulic packer systems, and with CNG fuel systems preferred.
• Experience with budget ownership, KPI reporting, or continuous improvement methodologies (5S, Lean, root cause analysis) preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Prior lead technician, shop foreman, or supervisory experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Learn to plan, schedule, and dispatch preventive maintenance (PM) and repair work across collection vehicles, roll-off trucks, front-load and rear-load packers, containers, and support equipment.
• Assist in managing shop workflow and work-order throughput to meet daily route-readiness requirements and minimize road calls.
• Diagnose and troubleshoot heavy-duty diesel systems — engines, aftertreatment, transmissions, air brakes, hydraulics, electrical, and body/packer systems — and validate the quality of completed repairs.
• Monitor fleet availability, PM compliance rates, repeat repairs, and mean time between failures; identify root causes and recommend corrective action.
• Coordinate outside vendor and warranty repairs, including towing, mobile service, and dealer work; verify invoices against work performed.
• Support fleet asset planning — capital replacement recommendations, spec review, new equipment commissioning, and end-of-life disposition.
• Learn to supervise, coach, and schedule a team of diesel technicians, welders, tire techs, and shop support staff across multiple shifts.
• Conduct and participate in shift huddles, toolbox talks, and shop safety meetings.
• Practice performance management under mentor guidance — setting expectations, delivering feedback, documenting coaching conversations, and supporting corrective action.
• Assist with technician recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, skill assessment, and certification tracking (ASE, DOT brake inspector, welding, refrigerant handling).
• Build technician capability through hands-on training, cross-training rotations, and OEM/vendor-led instruction.
• Model and reinforce LRS values, professional conduct, and a culture of accountability and mutual respect.
• Learn and enforce all federal, state, and local regulatory requirements applicable to shop and fleet operations, including FMCSA/DOT, OSHA, and EPA standards.
• Administer DOT annual inspections, driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIR), out-of-service criteria, and maintenance recordkeeping requirements under 49 CFR Part 396.
• Support OSHA compliance programs — lockout/tagout, hazard communication, respiratory protection, personal protective equipment, hot work permits, confined space, fall protection, and machine guarding.
• Manage shop environmental practices including used oil, coolant, and solvent handling, waste manifests, spill response, SPCC requirements, and aboveground storage tank compliance.
• Participate in incident and near-miss investigations, complete root cause analyses, and implement preventive countermeasures.
• Conduct shop safety audits and housekeeping inspections; maintain a clean, organized, and hazard-free work environment.
• Learn to read and manage a shop maintenance budget, including labor, parts, outside repair, tires, fuel, and cost-per-mile / cost-per-hour metrics.
• Assist with parts inventory control — min/max levels, cycle counts, obsolescence, core returns, and shrink prevention.
• Support purchasing and vendor negotiation within delegated authority; evaluate supplier performance on price, quality, and turnaround.
• Review and approve work orders, invoices, and purchase orders for accuracy and cost justification.
• Identify and quantify cost-reduction opportunities such as in-house versus outsourced repair decisions, warranty recovery, and PM interval optimization.
• Become proficient in the fleet maintenance management system, telematics platforms, and LRS reporting tools for work orders, PM scheduling, parts, and labor tracking.
• Maintain accurate and audit-ready vehicle history, compliance, and personnel documentation.
• Prepare and present shop performance reporting to operations and fleet leadership.
• Partner with Operations Managers, route supervisors, drivers, and Human Resources to align maintenance activity with service commitments.
• Complete all assigned phases, coursework, competency signoffs, and evaluation checkpoints of the six-month Shop Manager in Training Program.
• Meet regularly with the assigned mentor and program sponsor; maintain a training log and documented progress against objectives.
• Complete a capstone improvement project delivering measurable results in safety, uptime, cost, or quality.
• Travel to assigned shops and training sites; accept placement at an LRS location upon program completion.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED