Director of Fleet OperationsHouston, TX
Aviation Ground Services | GSE Fleet Management
Position Overview
A leading national aviation ground services provider is seeking a Director of Fleet Operations to lead a GSE maintenance operation in Houston, TX. This is a leadership and operations role - we are looking for someone who builds structure, develops teams, and drives consistent execution across a shop of 20-25 personnel.
The ideal candidate is not necessarily the most technically deep person in the building. They are the person who creates the environment where the right things happen - supervisors diagnose equipment, technicians execute, and the operation runs with discipline every day. Strong operations leaders from aviation, logistics, industrial, fleet, or facilities backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
ResponsibilitiesTeam Leadership- Lead a team of 20-25 maintenance personnel and supervisors across multiple locations
- Build accountability, professionalism, and development at every level of the team
- Empower supervisors to own diagnostics and execution - elevate, don't replace them
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement and operational discipline
Fleet & Shop Operations - Stand up and sustain consistent shop processes, maintenance standards, and workflows
- Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance across the GSE fleet
- Manage CMMS utilization to track work orders, PM schedules, and fleet health
- Ensure equipment availability and readiness supporting active flight operations
Business Management - Own the operational budget - parts, vendors, labor, and facility costs
- Manage vendor and procurement relationships with a focus on cost control
- Report on operational performance, KPIs, and improvement initiatives to senior leadership
QualificationsExperience - 8+ years leading operations or maintenance teams in a fast-paced, asset-intensive environment (aviation, logistics, industrial, fleet, or facilities backgrounds all considered)
- Demonstrated success developing and holding accountable a multi-person team
- Proven ability to bring structure and discipline to a shop or field operation
- Familiarity with CMMS systems - any platform qualifies
Leadership Profile - A people-first leader who elevates their team rather than working around them
- Business acumen: budget ownership, vendor management, performance reporting
- Stability - someone who can assess a struggling operation and build it into a consistent one
- Ability to be present on the floor and credible to technicians and supervisors alike
Not Required - FAA or technical certifications are not required
- Ground charter experience is not required
