Facility Manager

Education and Training: Degree in accounting
Average Salary: $200,000 per year
Job Outlook: Excellent

Facilities Management is known by various titles and is a long-standing profession. A facility manager has a long list of important responsibilities to take up in the ever-changing market place. The job of facility manager is quite profitable and stable and the position itself has received professional accreditation recently.
The day to day duties and responsibilities of a facility manager can vary depending on the size of the company, estate holdings, and market segment. A normal day for any facility manager may include overseeing construction subcontractors, vendor contract negotiation, mechanical equipment repair, scheduling/maintenance, acting as an adviser to the CEO, and the like. The facility manager must assume numerous roles throughout the day and it is possible to track their performance with the help of customizable FM software. Most of the duties of a facility manager are related to cost control and thereby come under great scrutiny. They must be ready to support their decisions with adequate data.

Education and Training Requirements

Construction management and accounting graduates can easily get appointed as a facility manager. Some universities also offer FM-related degrees today. A facility manager should have a strong understanding or background of local regulations and customs, construction practices, project management, purchasing, accounting experience or account management, HR experience, and a good understanding of real estate law and principles. The job of a facility manager can be quite rewarding.

Getting the Job

Those who are willing to work as facility managers can move into this job from another related role, especially if they have qualification in fields such as accountancy, surveying, and estate management. It is easy for those with some sort of office management/administration or building services/engineering background to enter facilities management. The position of a facility manager is one that is filled with great responsibility. This means you will have total control over many different aspects including operations, security, and maintenance. Although it can be a stressful job, it can also be very rewarding. You can get trained by working your way to the top from the entry level.

Job Prospects, Employment Outlook and Career Development

Facility management is a field that is expected to grow rapidly. The projected growth in this sphere is around 12 percent by 2016. Another 29,000 jobs will be made available in this field as per a survey conducted by the US Department of Labor. However, employment opportunities in this sphere may vary depending on the prevailing economic conditions.

Working Conditions and Environment

Facility managers are employed in all industries and sectors and the type of work may depend on the job titles such as estates, operations, asset, technical services, etc. Duties may include hands on and practical tasks in smaller firms. In the larger firms responsibilities can cover several departments. Many facilities management professionals may be hired or contracted to manage some or all of the activities of a client organization. While the working hours are mostly 40 per week, facility managers may also have to put in longer hours during emergencies. Opportunities exist all over the world for facility managers in both the public and the private sectors. The managers may be required to travel during the working day to visit various premises and sometimes overnight travel may also be necessary. Opportunities may also arise for overseas travel.

Salary and Benefits

Senior level facility managers can earn up to $200,000 a year while mid-level facilities managers can expect a salary of $40,000-$50,000 a year. Additional benefits often include private health care, pensions, company car or car allowance, performance-related bonuses, and profit share programs.

Where to Go for More Information

APPA
1643 Prince St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone (703) 684-1446
Fax (703) 549-2772
http://www.appa.org/fmep/index.cfm

UC Berkeley Extension
1995 University Ave.
Suite 110
Berkeley, CA 94704-7000
Phone (510) 642-4111
http://extension.berkeley.edu/spos/facmgmt.html