What Does a Facilities Manager Do? (Skills, Salary & Benefits)

A facilities manager oversees the operations and maintenance of a facility, whether it be a school, government building or manufacturing plant. Different types of facilities require specialized skill sets and processes, but experience is key when stepping into this multifaceted role.

So, what are the skills you need to be a good facilities manager, and how can you learn them? What kinds of facilities operations could you potentially manage? And what benefits can you gain from this type of job? Read on to see if being a facilities manager is the maintenance job for you.

What Does a Facilities Manager Do?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 131,400 facilities managers employed in the United States, a majority of which are in local government. The demand for facilities manager jobs in this billion-dollar industry is only expected to grow with the continued development of American infrastructure. As for the actual nitty-gritty details of the job description of a facilities manager, they oversee facility maintenance, day-to-day operations and budget. They also typically manage the utilities of a building as well as its employees.

Take the example of a facilities manager at a food manufacturing plant. The manager is in charge of managing the space in which the production equipment is situated as well as ensuring all the facility’s building systems meet legal requirements and health and safety standards. This is especially crucial for the food industry, in which critical control points like temperature monitoring need to be precise to avoid food safety hazards.

4 Key Functions of a Facilities Manager

Facilities managers have a very large role in building maintenance, but their job typically consists of several smaller tasks. From contract management to staying up-to-date with the aforementioned safety codes and regulations, there are all kinds of tasks that a facilities manager oversees. These can be organized into four distinct categories:

Facilities upkeep and improvement: These tasks ensure that the facility is safe and does not have any defects. Upkeep can be accomplished through regular inspections of plumbing, electricity and infrastructure of a building as well as routine cleaning to keep the space sanitary. Improvement entails possible renovations and upgrades to the functionality of the building so that it can be more sustainable and efficient.
Establishing efficient processes: Efficiency can mean many things to a facilities manager, but one key element is overseeing the building maintenance budget to provide everything that the building needs and may need in the future. It also means being able to manage the building contract as well as forming relationships with other contractors and suppliers to make sure the facility will have access to the services it needs. Of course, setting up maintenance strategies and preventive maintenance schedules to ensure everything is running as smoothly as possible is also paramount to facilities maintenance success.
Supporting people: A facilities manager typically manages employees, too, so leadership skills combined with the ability to mentor and support team members is also important. This support can be achieved through ensuring the safety and security of all employees on the job, facilitating a healthy stream of communication and being cognizant of employee wellbeing.
Strategizing and integrating technologies: Implementing technology in a facility infrastructure can be a key player in enhancing efficiency and productivity. It can make key building systems more environmentally friendly and sustainable, improving not only the lifespan of the systems but also the building itself.

What Skills Do You Need to Be a Facilities Manager?

The role of a facilities manager requires certain skillsets that allow them to interact with other companies and services, manage employees and a budget, and have an intricate knowledge of the facilities they oversee. But what exactly do these skills entail, and how do they apply to the facilities manager job title?

Communication skills: To be a facilities manager requires being a people person. You are going to be coordinating efforts between multiple external services while also managing employees. When delegating tasks and presenting new ideas, clear and direct communication is required to ensure everything goes smoothly in the workplace.
Organizational skills: Overseeing facility operations requires organization and seamless time management, whether it’s related to maintenance scheduling or ensuring specific parts are delivered on time to repair an HVAC system. Project management is an essential skill for this line of work.
Problem-solving skills: When issues arise (and they most certainly will), a facilities manager must be able to find solutions quickly. Effective decision-making in high-stress moments — for instance, if a factory’s HVAC system fails in the middle of summer — can make or break a company’s ability to deliver a product on time.
Strategic planning skills: Facilities maintenance includes efficient care and preventive measures, both of which require the ability to plan for the future. One specific aspect of strategic planning could be the incorporation of sustainable equipment into the building’s infrastructure to reduce energy consumption. Another aspect could include creating mechanical maintenance safety measures to ensure that, in the event of emergency, everyone is protected.
Management skills: While most of the aforementioned skills can fall under this category, the more specific skills of being a manager include strong leadership, especially when coordinating the efforts of multiple team members. New employees should also receive proper guidance, usually facilitated or done by the operations manager.
Budgeting skills: Facilities managers need to create annual budget plans that ensure there is no overspending and that the budget is being used wisely. This means planning ahead and foreseeing any costs that require money to be set aside and also monitoring the budget throughout the year in order to make adjustments as necessary.

How to Become a Facilities Manager

Now you know everything about the job of a facilities manager, from the skill sets, the roles they perform in the work environment, and the types of buildings or sites that require one. So, how can you become one?

Well, this career typically requires a certificate or a bachelor’s degree in facility management, which you can obtain at any four-year institution. There are also some jobs that only require an associate’s degree, which can be obtained in two years.

Then, you need to acquire some experience in facilities management or a related field, whether that be through an internship during your time in school or afterwards in a lower-level position. As you’re looking, you may want to hone in on one of the different industries that require a facilities coordinator:

Local government (typically the highest paid roles)
Enterprises
Elementary and secondary schools
Higher education facilities
Healthcare
Real estate
Facilities support services
Museums & historical sites

Note: When interviewing for a new job in this position, you want to be able to answer any relevant facilities manager interview questions, especially ones that highlight how you can increase production efficiency and your proficiency in interpersonal negotiation and leadership.

Salary Range for Facilities Managers

Like most jobs, the salary of a facilities manager will vary based on your experience, the type of facility and where you’re located in the U.S.

According to Salary.com, the average salary for a full-time facilities manager is $97,370 a year, which is about $46 an hour. The most experienced facilities managers can make around $122,000 a year, and the average pay range is from $86,237 to $110,781. If you’ve earned a Certified Facility Manager (CFM) designation or have undergone other maintenance training programs, this can also increase your potential for salary growth.

Benefits of Becoming a Facilities Manager

If you’re still wondering whether or not a job in facilities management is worth it, consider these benefits that you won’t see on your average job posting:

Diversity in work: A facilities manager has a wide range of responsibilities. From budget planning, to delegating tasks, to negotiating contracts, to interacting with different teams of people, every day looks a little different, which keeps the job engaging. And, depending on the type of building you are managing, whether it be a school, hospital or government facility, you will have different tasks and responsibilities.
Satisfaction from the role’s impact: By overseeing the upkeep and improvement of a facility, you are bettering the environment of the building and, therefore, the lives of the people who walk inside every day. The job can be extremely fulfilling because of its direct impact on everyday people.
High demand: As you know by now, a facilities manager needs to be well versed in many skills and areas of facility maintenance, leading to it being a specialized job that is in very high demand. High demand offers job security as well as opportunities to advance to higher positions, which can turn it into a very fulfilling career.