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Maintenance Supervisor

Generac · Belvidere, IL · $78,200–$117,000 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 18, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you built or improved a preventative maintenance program from scratch. What did you prioritize first and why?

What they are checking: whether the candidate can structure a PM system rather than just react to breakdowns

Tell me about a time you had to discipline or manage out a direct report who wasn't performing. How did you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they address poor performance directly and fairly instead of avoiding it, since one weak technician affects the whole maintenance team.

Describe a situation where you disagreed with a decision from your own manager or from operations about equipment repair or capital spending. How did you push back?

What they are checking: managerial courage and ability to advocate under pressure without burning relationships

Tell me about a time you coached someone on your team who was struggling, and it actually worked.

What they are checking: Whether they can describe a specific coaching success, which shows they develop people rather than just talking about leadership in general terms.

Tell me about a time you had to explain a technical problem, like a mechanical or electrical failure, to someone without a technical background. How did you make it clear?

What they are checking: communication skill across audiences, since the role spans shop floor and reporting

What would you do

Walk me through how you'd set up preventative maintenance at a brand new facility like this one in Belvidere, where there's no existing history on the equipment.

What they are checking: ability to build maintenance infrastructure from zero rather than inherit someone else's system

A production line goes down in the middle of a shift and three different operators are telling you three different things about what happened. What do you do first?

What they are checking: Whether they stay calm and gather facts systematically when a line is down, since panicked guessing extends costly production downtime.

An outside contractor you rely on for scheduled PM work keeps missing deadlines and it's putting your equipment at risk. How do you handle that relationship?

What they are checking: Whether they can hold an outside contractor accountable without direct authority, since missed preventive maintenance puts equipment and production at risk.

If you had two urgent equipment failures at the same time and only enough people to handle one properly, how would you decide what gets your attention first?

What they are checking: Whether they weigh safety and production impact clearly when choosing between failures, since the wrong call can cost the plant heavily.

About the work

What's your hands-on experience with welding and fabrication, and can you give an example of a machine guard or fixture you designed or built yourself?

What they are checking: Whether they have real hands-on welding and fabrication skills, since this supervisor is expected to build and fix things, not only manage.

Have you used SAP or a similar ERP system like Oracle or JD Edwards for maintenance management? What did you actually do in it day to day?

What they are checking: Whether they have genuinely used an ERP for maintenance work orders and parts, rather than listing it on a resume without real experience.

How do you estimate the cost of a repair or new equipment install, including labor, materials, and downtime? Walk me through an example.

What they are checking: Whether they can estimate repair and installation costs realistically, including downtime, because leadership relies on those numbers for spending decisions.

What Lean or Demand Flow principles have you applied on a maintenance floor, and what changed as a result?

What they are checking: Whether they have actually applied Lean principles and seen measurable results, rather than only knowing the vocabulary from training sessions.

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? We are seeking a Maintenance Supervisor to join the team at our new manufacturing facility in Belvidere, IL! The Maintenance Supervisor is responsible for preventative maintenance, property, plant, and equipment. This role ensues the infrastructure provides a safe workplace environment, delivering efficient services, and high customer service levels. Success in this role is defined by optimizing preventative maintenance, property, plant, equipment, environment, health, safety, and capital expenditure. This will be measured by the ability to optimize growth efficiencies – synergies, scale and scope. Essential Duties & Responsibilities: • Senior machine operator of all equipment in maintenance shop. • Repair or replace in-process production equipment, in response to requests. • Welding and fabrication of machines, guarding, structures and holding mechanisms. • Develop machine design. • Recommend incorporation of new technology for company application where feasible and practical. • Develop, Review and estimate design costs including equipment, installation, labor, materials, preparation, and other related costs. • Collaborate with outside contractors for servicing/repair of all maintenance shop machines that are on a scheduled PM program. • Manage all consumables needed for maintenance shop use. • Act as SAP Super User within functional area as assigned. • Supervise and coordinate activities of team. • Develop written programs/procedures for maintenance shop activities. • Select, coach and develop staff. Set clear expectations to inspire and motivate the team. Manage performance-- recognizing achievement, providing feedback and administering progressive discipline when necessary Minimal Qualifications: • Bachelor’s or equivalent experience • 2 years of maintenance experience in an operational environment • 2 years of experience leading teams, developing people or organizing tasks. Preferred Qualifications: • Previous experience using SAP or equivalent ERP system (Oracle, JD Edwards, Microsoft Dynamics) and Microsoft Office. • Formal leadership or team development training. • Experience in Lean or Demand Flow principles. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: • Accountability – Demonstrated skill in Drive for Results, Action Oriented, and Perseverance. • Transparent Communication – Demonstrated skill in Written Communications and Presentation Skills. • Inspire, Motivate and Recognize - Demonstrated skill in Motivating Others, Negotiation, Building Effective Teams, and Managing Vision and Purpose. • Conflict Management & Resolution – Demonstrated skill in Conflict Management, Managerial Courage, Standing Alone, Confronting Direct Reports, and Command Skills. • Giving Feedback – Demonstrated skill in Developing Direct Reports, Delegation, Directing Others, and Informing. • Change Management – Demonstrated skill in Process Management, Managing Through Systems, Lean/Re-Engineering, Sizing Up People, Hiring and Staffing. • Demonstrated skills to understand mechanical and electrical principles, machine functionality, drawings and schematics. • Relationship Building & Trust – Demonstrated skill in Approachability, Interpersonal Savvy, Caring about Direct Reports, Compassion, Fairness to Direct Reports, Listening and Ethics & Values. Generac is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The salary range for this role is based in Belvidere, IL is $78,200 - $117,000 USD. This compensation will ultimately be in line with the location in which the position is filled. Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate's relevant work experience, skills, certifications and geographic location. This role is eligible for variable compensation including short-term and long-term incentives. Physical Demands : While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. On occasion the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 - 50 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision and ability to adjust focus. “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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