What are the responsibilities and job description for the Small Tools Mechanic - Manager position at Childs Landscape Contractors, Inc.?
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Diagnose, service, and repair the department's small landscape equipment — string trimmers, handheld and backpack blowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, edgers, ride on and push/walk-behind mowers etc.
- Perform routine preventative maintenance and repairs, including oil changes, spark plug and air filter replacement, fuel system service, carburetor cleaning/adjustment, blade sharpening and balancing, and belt, cable, and chain replacement.
- Diagnose engine, ignition, fuel, and electrical issues on 2-stroke and 4-stroke small engines, and test-run equipment yourself to confirm it's ready before it goes back to a crew.
- Serve as the final authority on releasing equipment and loaners from the shop and locked storage — nothing leaves without your sign-off or a documented exception.
- Develop and maintain a friendly, working relationship with our vendors and outside suppliers. If a repair needs to be done outside of our building, you will manage and track outside repairs.
- Own the Childs ID engraving and crew-color tagging standard for every piece of small equipment in the fleet, making sure anything found unmarked is identified and tagged the same day.
- Partner with Division Managers each year on assigning equipment to crews, then enter every signed assignment into the Master Equipment Assignment Log so paper and digital records stay in sync.
- Run the shop's loaner program end to end — logging equipment turned in for service, issuing loaners the same day, tracking repairs, and reclaiming or permanently reassigning equipment once work is complete.
- Control access to the locked storage room and ensure no equipment is ever tracked outside the official system.
- Monitor the Lost, Damaged & Stolen Log, identify repeat-offender crews or foremen, and report patterns to ownership and the responsible Division Manager.
- Lead year-end turn-in and reconciliation — confirming each foreman's equipment against company records, marking units present or missing, and preparing accurate numbers to support leadership's decisions.
- Celebrating 50 Years of Service | 1976 – 2026 • 491 College Parkway, Arnold, MD 21012 (410-974-0528).
- Keep the shop's parts inventory, tools, and equipment organized and audit-ready, and flag reorder needs to Purchasing.
- Bring open loss, damage, or theft issues — and any equipment stored outside the tracking system — to Division Managers' attention during their periodic inspections.
- Maintain clear, current, defensible records so that every piece of equipment can be traced to a crew, a condition, and a date at any time. All of the record keeping and administrative tasks can be done in our existing company workbook.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:
Required:
- Minimum 3–5 years of hands-on experience repairing small engines/outdoor power equipment, with working knowledge of 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines, fuel, ignition, and electrical systems.
- Prior experience in a shop, fleet, tool room, or equipment/inventory management role, ideally in landscaping, construction, or a related trade.
- Proven experience managing an inventory or asset-tracking system, with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
- Demonstrated leadership experience, with the ability to hold crews and foremen accountable to a process, even while doing the repair work yourself.
- Strong organizational and recordkeeping skills; proficiency with Microsoft Excel/Office and the ability to learn company tracking systems quickly.
- Own a basic hand tool set (specialty and diagnostic tools provided by the shop).
- Valid driver's license.
- Trustworthy with high-value company property and comfortable being the final word on who has access to it.
Preferred:
- Formal training or certification in small engine repair (technical school, vocational program, or manufacturer certification — e.g., Stihl, Toro, Exmark, Honda Power Equipment).
- Prior experience as a shop manager, tool room manager, fleet coordinator, or small engine service manager.
- Experience with commercial landscape equipment brands such as Stihl, Echo, Toro, Exmark, Scag, or Honda.
- Spanish Speaking.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Ability to lift 50 lbs. and work in a shop environment with regular exposure to noise, fuel, and oil.
- Frequent standing, bending, and use of hand tools for extended periods.
- Occasional travel between the shop and job sites to support inspections, equipment audits, in-season field repairs or parts pickups.
WHAT WE OFFER:
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
- Company vehicle or vehicle allowance.
- Medical, dental & vision insurance.
- 401(k) retirement plan.
- Paid time off and holidays.
- Ongoing training and professional development.
- A stable, family- and employee-oriented culture — 50 years strong — with real advancement opportunity; many of our current executives and leaders started out in similar positions.
Salary : $55,000 - $70,000