Career

Facilities Manager

Specialized Construction

Keeps a building running well after the construction crew leaves, maintenance, repairs, and the small renovation projects that never really stop.

What is a Facilities Manager?

A Facilities Manager oversees the ongoing maintenance, repair, and small renovation work in an already-built facility, an office building, a hospital, a school, a manufacturing plant. Where every other role on this site focuses on getting a project built, a Facilities Manager picks up where construction leaves off: keeping building systems running, managing vendors and in-house maintenance staff, and planning the capital improvement projects that eventually bring construction crews back in.

What they do

Oversee preventive maintenance schedules for HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and life-safety systems
Manage vendor and contractor relationships for repairs and small renovation projects
Respond to and prioritize facility issues (leaks, equipment failures, life-safety concerns)
Plan and budget capital improvement projects (roof replacement, HVAC upgrades, renovations)
Ensure the building stays compliant with fire, safety, and accessibility codes
Manage in-house maintenance staff and coordinate their work with outside contractors

A typical day

7:30 AMReview overnight maintenance tickets and prioritize anything urgent
9:00 AMWalk the building with a mechanical contractor bidding on an HVAC replacement
11:00 AMReview quotes for a roof repair against the facility's capital budget
1:00 PMCoordinate a fire alarm inspection with the testing vendor and building occupants
3:00 PMMeet with in-house maintenance staff to plan next week's preventive maintenance tasks

Skills

Building systems knowledge (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, life safety)Vendor and contractor managementBudgeting for capital and operating expensesCode and compliance knowledgeProblem-solving under time pressure

Software

Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) softwareProcore

Education

Required:: High school diploma or equivalent
Preferred:: Bachelor's degree in facilities management, construction management, or engineering
Helpful:: Certified Facility Manager (CFM) credential
Not necessary:: A specific facilities degree; many facilities managers come up through building maintenance, engineering, or property management rather than starting in this role

Career progression

1.Maintenance Technician or Coordinator
2.Assistant Facilities Manager
3.Facilities Manager
4.Director of Facilities

Who hires for this role

Building OwnersProperty Management CompaniesInstitutions (hospitals, schools, universities, corporate campuses)