Maintenance supervisor jobs may carry over into many different areas of expertise. Maintenance in the job sector might mean working on certain kinds of equipment within a factory setting or maintenance on aircraft at an airport terminal. To supervise in a maintenance capacity one must have knowledge in that sector. Factories normally have equipment that produce a product. The equipment must function properly or it could put a halt to an entire plant. Each person in a maintenance crew must know how to repair the equipment when it breaks down. The maintenance supervisor directs the crew on how to get the job done by assigning duties to each crew member. Without a maintenance supervisor the crew has no one to lead them on how to repair a certain piece of equipment. When searching for maintenance supervisor positions, knowledge of how the machinery works in a certain factory helps you when applying for a job. The maintenance supervisor must know how to fix the equipment so he can direct his team efficiently. A maintenance supervisor must also have leadership qualities. Working with a crew or team of people you must be able to assign roles to each individual. Over time you may learn who is better at which task and assign them accordingly. You must also possess people skills so you may communicate easily with your maintenance crew. A maintenance supervisor must also keep equipment running smoothly and should assign their crew jobs to make sure equipment is greased, examined and checked for any kind of operating problem. A company will expect the supervisor to maintain their equipment without numerous breakdowns. When looking for a maintenance supervisor position scour your local newspaper for ads. A local online community board may also offer job listings. Visit your local chamber of commerce to inquire about any businesses in the community that need a maintenance supervisor. You may be able to find a job locally rather than having to drive long distances for a maintenance position. Mail in resumes and fill out applications at local factories and businesses outlining your experience in working as a maintenance supervisor.