Lead and direct the execution of outsourced vehicle maintenance, repair, inspection, and upfitting activities across an assigned geographic region with 24/7 operational responsibility. Manage best practices in safety, quality, compliance, and cost control, while identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and cost avoidance. Ensure all work is performed safely and in accordance with company policies, Department of Transportation (DOT) standards, FRA, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Serve as the field-based approval authority and technical expert, responsible for validating repair scope, enforcing standards and specifications, and ensuring repairs are necessary and appropriate prior to cost being incurred. Act as the primary liaison between repair vendors and internal departments, maintaining accountability for sound technical decisions while coordinating financial ownership with departmental budget leaders. Develop and coach cross-functional partners and drive accountability across vendor networks and field operations.
Primary Activities and Responsibilities
- Execute and communicate safety expectations and compliance requirements across all fleet maintenance activities, ensuring adherence to company policies and regulatory standards.
- Conduct field inspections, safety observations, and operational reviews to verify compliance, identify risks, and ensure work quality meets company and manufacturer standards and specifications.
- Review, evaluate and approve, modify, or reject vehicle repair estimates prior to execution, ensuring repairs are necessary, cost-effective, and aligned with operational needs and budget considerations.
- Validate completed repairs through field inspections to confirm work matches approved scope, correct parts and procedures were used, and quality standards are achieved while identifying discrepancies, warranty opportunities, or billing issues.
- Manage vendor and upfitter performance by serving as the primary field interface, enforcing contract standards, evaluating pricing and labor expectations, and addressing performance gaps, safety or quality issues, or compliance concerns.
- Identify, investigate, and escalate potential fraud, overbilling, unnecessary repairs, and systemic vendor issues while driving corrective action and accountability.
- Monitor overall fleet condition, readiness, and compliance through routine and unplanned inspections across fleet locations, ensuring alignment with preventive maintenance standards and identifying misuse, neglect, or damage.
- Enforce preventive maintenance programs by validating required maintenance is completed at appropriate intervals and meets company standards, addressing gaps in execution or compliance.
- Respond to vehicle damage events by assessing root cause, defining appropriate repair scope, and ensuring repair strategies align with cost, operational, and reliability objectives.
- Coordinate across field operations, fleet management, Procurement, and departmental budget owners to communicate repair decisions, align on impacts, and ensure transparency in cost and operational outcomes.
- Analyze and report on vendor performance, fleet condition trends, and cost anomalies, providing actionable insights to leadership to drive improved reliability, cost control, and operational performance.
- Forecast and prioritize field activity, travel, and vendor/upfitter oversight efforts based on risk, spend, and operational impact to ensure effective coverage of assigned territory.
- Miscellaneous activities and responsibilities as assigned by manager.
Knowledge and Skills
- Strong technical knowledge of vehicle systems including powertrain, brakes, suspension, electrical, HVAC, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems
- Understanding of preventive maintenance practices and inspection standards (DOT, ANSI, FRA, or equivalent)
- Ability to evaluate repair estimates, labor and parts pricing, and vendor invoices for accuracy and necessity
- Knowledge of vendor management practices, contract enforcement, and cost control strategies
- Financial and analytical skills with ability to identify cost trends, savings opportunities, and performance gaps
- Microsoft Office skills
Leadership
The CSX Leadership Model is the foundation of our Talent Strategy and is what drives performance. Leaders are expected to produce results, create change, and inspire excellence by maintaining strong technical judgment, accountability, and a disciplined approach to cost and operational execution.
Job Requirements
- Extensive travel required across assigned region (up to 60–80%)
- Work may include irregular hours, including nights and weekends, based on operational needs
- Frequent field work in outdoor environments and active job sites
- Must be able to work in varying weather and environmental conditions
Minimum Qualifications
- High School Diploma/GED
- 5 or more years’ experience in vehicle maintenance (light, medium, and heavy duty), heavy industrial equipment, outsourced repair operations, vendor management, and the review and audit of repair estimates, invoices, billing, and workmanship
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree/4-year Degree
- 7 or more years of experience in vehicle maintenance (light, medium, and heavy duty), heavy industrial equipment, outsourced repair operations, vendor management, and the review and audit of repair estimates, invoices, billing, and workmanship