15 Maintenance Manager Interview Questions & Answers

Hiring the right maintenance manager is an important decision that can have far-reaching impact on a maintenance department’s operations, safety and productivity. Those serving in this upper management role are tasked with everything from making sure equipment and operations are functioning properly to hiring the best maintenance staff to work under their guidance and carry out the necessary maintenance tasks at hand.

There are many different types of maintenance managers, but a large majority of them fall into three main categories: facilities maintenance management, plant maintenance management and public works management. We spoke with maintenance and operations expert Greg Offner, who works in the justice facilities industry, to help us compile a list of interview questions and answers for maintenance manager candidates.

What to Look for in Maintenance Manager Candidates

Not surprisingly, managerial leadership skills sit front and center as the traits needed in a successful maintenance manager. After all, confidently and competently supervising an effective team of maintenance supervisors and maintenance technicians is at the heart of this position. “They should be a down-range leader with an up-range approach,” Offner describes. “The best solution is a win-win.”

Organizational skills are invaluable as well, especially the candidate’s ability to juggle not only their staff but the myriad elements tied to the ongoing upkeep and oversight of maintenance operations. Offner surmises that organizational skills here should have the emphasis to “plan, plan, plan,” taking a “Six Sigma approach to organizational management.”

Another key insight Offner advises is the importance of backup plans and the readiness for ever-fluctuating industry trends. “It’s a ‘Tip Jar’ culture,” he says, “and ‘change’ is a constant philosophy.”

Problem-solving and decision-making skills are also key. While a solid preventive maintenance program can minimize issues, they’re bound to occasionally arise — and of course, must be handled promptly and professionally. Analytical skills can play a part in these situations and are also helpful in countless other ways when it comes to maintenance oversight.

As managing staff (often during challenging and stressful tasks) is a regular part of the job, conflict resolution is a skill that can’t be overstated. Finding a “people person” with interpersonal skills who keeps their head and is able to de-escalate arguments is a decision few hiring managers will come to regret.

And since maintenance managers often take part in staff hiring as well as supervision, character judgement is another helpful trait for the role. When hiring new employees or making choices for key promotions or tough tasks, maintenance managers need to pick reliable, honest and dedicated individuals who will always make an honest effort and be accountable for their work.

“Character is difficult,” remarks Offner, suggesting a forward-thinking approach when apprising a potential new manager.  “I don’t really care what you’ve done, only care about where you want to go.”

Offner adds that strong communication skills are another invaluable trait to look for when selecting the ideal maintenance manager. And that includes not doing all the talking and being an “active listener.” 

With all of this in mind, here’s our comprehensive guide to the best maintenance manager interview questions, tips and insights to help upper management seeking a qualified candidate to oversee their operations. Additionally, we include several sample answers to help those candidates preparing for that next big interview.

Project Management & Problem-Solving Questions

1. What is the most significant maintenance project you’ve overseen to date, and what was the key to its success?

• What to look for: Crucial management skills and project experience that relates closely to the work required in the new maintenance manager position.
• Sample answer: “The most substantial maintenance manager role I’ve held so far was for a student residency village within a large university that housed about 1,500 students. I led a team that maintained the plumbing, electricity, HVAC, security and all the other key systems within the living community.”

2. What was the biggest curveball or unexpected issue you faced during a project, and how did you troubleshoot the situation? 

• What to look for: The candidate’s adaptability and ability to think quickly and calmly during tough situations. 
• Sample answer: “An office building I managed the maintenance for suffered an HVAC systems failure during a winter cold spell — and our lead HVAC technician was away dealing with a family situation. I called the entire team together for an urgent early morning meeting and discovered two of our electricians had extensive HVAC backgrounds as well as certification. They were able to step in and quickly resolve the problem.”

3. What is your overall philosophy when it comes to efficient project management?

4. What are some keys “do’s and don’ts” when it comes to problem-solving during a challenging project?

Managerial Experience Questions

5. What’s the largest team you supervised, and what was your management approach?

6. When managing a maintenance team, what do you think is the most crucial aspect of showcasing effective communication skills?

• What to look for: As Offner advises, look for a communicator who realizes being a good listener is vital, as good interaction should be a two-way street. Another point here is that team communication should be an ongoing, regular occurrence — not just an occasional meeting at the start of a project.
• Sample answer: “My philosophy is to maintain an open, two-way flow of communication and an ‘open-door’ policy, letting team members know I’m receptive to their input and feedback anytime.”

7. Do you have a secret to success at getting the most out of your maintenance team?

8. What takeaway do you have from past experiences or previous roles that you think will apply to the one we’re seeking to fill here? 

Technical Skills & Analytics Questions 

9. How has your technical knowledge grown since you started in the maintenance field, and have any specific jobs or training played a role in this growth? 

• What to look for: Direct answers specifying explicit training or candidate experience rather than general comments or claims of overall growth.
• Sample answer: “My skills with electrical systems are much stronger when I first joined the maintenance management field, and I began as an apprentice electrician and now hold certified status as a master electrician in California.”

10. How do you know when something is about to break? Are there symptoms?

11. Is there a particular utility or piece of equipment you consider yourself an expert at? Why?

• What to look for: Specific feedback that will be directly applicable to the position you’re seeking to fill. 
• Sample answer: “I consider myself one of the best in the industry when it comes to conveyor belt systems used at countless factories and production plants. This comes from my 22 years of experience as a plant maintenance manager, including a decade supervising the maintenance for a Ford Motors auto plant in Detroit.”

12. What do you consider the most revolutionary, game-changing maintenance project you’ve seen in your lifetime as a maintenance manager?

Character & Conflict Resolution Questions 

13. What do you think is your greatest character strength as a manager, and what trait would you like to improve upon?

• What to look for: Honesty and vulnerability, especially in their response to a possible area of improvement.
• Sample answer: “My greatest strength is probably my ability to set a good example for the rest of the team — always arriving on time and working hard, setting high standards for myself and simply asking for everyone’s best efforts every day. One thing I could improve upon is looking at the bigger picture instead of being a perfectionist with details.”

14. When hiring someone for your team or choosing someone to take the lead on a challenging project, what personality traits do you look for? 

15. Describe a conflict you’ve had between yourself and a team member, or between two workers you were supervising, and what problem-solving skills you used to navigate the problem.

• What to look for: A proactive approach that seeks actual solutions paving the road for future success, rather than just finger-pointing and casting blame.
• Sample answer: “Two members of my maintenance team in a previous role were having a heated argument about the best approach to a plumbing breakdown at a high school stadium. I had them each take 15-minute breaks apart from each other and then asked them separately for their take on the situation. A compromise that incorporated both their approaches was not only the best solution, but also de-escalated the conflict entirely.”

How Coast Can Help

Of course, a maintenance manager that uses a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to help keep operations running smoothly is almost guaranteed to have more success. That’s because CMMS software like Coast is designed to streamline asset management and work order tracking to give managers a complete overview of their maintenance operations.

Sign up for Coast’s free trial today.