What Does a Facilities Manager Do?

The role of a facilities manager is a varied one. From strategic planning and maintenance, to managing staff and third parties. No two days are the same. Facilities managers help ensure that buildings provide and safe and healthy working environment for all its occupants.

There has been a renewed focus on staff wellbeing in recent months. The HSE reported that in 2019/20 38.8 million working days were lost due to a work-related illness or workplace injury! Therefore, the role of a facilities manager is an increasingly important one.

Maybe you’re considering a change in career. Or maybe you’re looking for your next step in facilities management. Our expert recruiters share their insight into the role of a facilities manager.

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The role of a facilities manager

As a facilities manager you are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of a company’s buildings. Additionally, you are key in ensuring that legal requirements and health and safety standards are adhered to.

Therefore, the range of duties you can expect are –

• supervising a multi-disciplined team. This includes cleaners, security, maintenance and grounds
• managing contracts with suppliers. Services include security, technology, cleaning and more
• scheduling and planning proactive maintenance
• overseeing renovations and refurbishments
• managing budgets and ensuring the cost effective running of the department
• leading on environmental projects
• ensuring effective waste management

Overall, the main objective of all these tasks is to ensure that the occupants are getting the most from their built environment.

What qualifications do you need to become a facilities manager?

There are several different qualifications that can start you on your journey to become a facilities manager. These range from

• degree in facilities management
• higher national diploma
• foundation degree (or equivalent) in management, business studies or engineering

Additionally, to become a facilities manager you’ll need the required technical skills, alongside some experience of management. However, you can also work your way up in a company with in-house training or even an apprenticeship.

Next Steps

If you are looking for your dream facilities management job, we’d love to help. With so many recruiters out there, we know that it can be difficult to know who is the right one to work with. Find out how we work and read our reviews to see why we are a facilities recruitment agency you can trust.