Facilities manager job description

Facilities managers look after the buildings, equipment and supplies belonging to a business or organisation.

They make sure that all facilities are well-maintained, fit for their purpose and meet the required health and safety standards.

This detailed guide includes a full facilities manager job description and everything you need to know about the role of a facilities manager, including typical salaries, key skills, career progression and more.

 

Guide contents

• Facilities manager job description
• How much do facilities managers earn?
• What does a facilities manager do?
• Requirements, skills and qualifications
• Who employs facilities managers?
• Which junior jobs progress to facilities manager roles?

 

Facilities manager job description

 

How much do facilities managers earn?

The average salary of a facilities manager in the UK is £32,500.

 

Facilities manager salaries in the UK

• Low: £25,000
• Average: £32,500
• High: £42,500

Source: TotalJobs

 

Facilities manager salaries can vary hugely depending on:

• The industry of the employer – Facilities management is required across numerous industries and sectors, each of which brings their own variations in salary
• The size and scale of the organisation – Typically, bigger businesses have larger and more complex buildings, equipment and facilities, meaning a facilities manager role would require responsibility and therefore offer a higher salary
• General salary factors – As with most jobs, the level of candidate experience and location can have a huge impact on salary

For example, a facilities manager working for a business with several buildings and complex, expensive equipment will typically earn more than a facilities manager who works for a smaller business with a single building and minimal equipment.

The average figures listed above are taken from job advert samples, so do not include extra benefits such as bonuses, overtime and non-financial benefits such as healthcare.

 

What does a facilities manager do?

Breaking down the job description, a facilities manager will typically carry out a variety of the following duties, tasks and responsibilities:

• Managing services and suppliers – Hiring/outsourcing and managing the required support services for each building, such as reception, cleaning, catering, security or parking
• Inspecting buildings – Inspecting and monitoring the structures and conditions of buildings in order to pinpoint the need for repairs or renovations
• Monitoring health and safety – Ensuring all facilities and buildings meet the required health and safety standards at all times
• Maintenance and repairs – Overseeing and even personally delivering repair and maintenance work to buildings and equipment
• Managing budgets – Creating and managing budgets for various facility needs and expenses and ensuring that the running costs of buildings are within budget
• Negotiating with suppliers – Negotiating costs for required products and services to maximise the cost-effectiveness of each facility
• Planning new developments – Planning for future developments, such as new buildings, facilities or equipment, in line with the wider business goals
• Maximising space – Ensuring that all buildings and facilities use their space and resources in the most efficient way possible by re-organising or developing them
• Managing contractors – Hiring and coordinating contractors and checking that their work is satisfactory
• Dealing with emergencies – Being the first port of call for emergencies or urgent issues relating to buildings or equipment and dealing with them as they arise

 

What do facilities managers need?

Facilities managers require a wide range of skills and experience in order to secure a job and succeed within the role. Some employers also ask for specific qualifications, but this varies between jobs.

Generally speaking, here is what is needed to get started within facilities management:

 

Experience

Graduate facilities manager jobs are often open to graduates or college leavers with no prior experience, though some pre-entry experience (such as a placement year or temporary role within a relevant industry) can be a huge advantage for the more competitive schemes and jobs

Assistant facilities manager jobs typically ask for some relevant experience, such as working in engineering, building services or construction. However, roles at this level do typically provide on-the-job training, so employers will sometimes hire candidates with minimal experience providing they can showcase transferable skills and the desire to learn.

Intermediate to senior facilities manager roles will normally require candidates to have gained previous experience as an assistant facilities manager or facilities manager and have proven experience of managing, up-keeping and developing facilities and buildings for an organisation.

 

Facilities manager skills

The role of a facilities manager requires a highly varied skillset, including:

• Interpersonal: Building strong working relationships with people at all levels, from cleaners and contractors to company directors
• Technical building knowledge: understanding how buildings are constructed, and the workings of utilities such as electricity, gas, water, elevators etc.
• Organisation: Effectively juggling numerous (and often time-sensitive) tasks and priorities
• Project management: Co-ordinating the work of numerous teams and contractors and ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget
• Leadership: Leading, managing and motivating large teams and taking the lead in projects
• Problem-solving: Resolving building, facility or equipment problems and issues with minimal disruption to business operations
• Health and safety: Understanding all the rules, regulations and legislation surrounding health, safety and environment in the built environment

 

Facilities manager qualifications

While holding a relevant degree or higher qualification can help candidates to land a facilities manager role, it’s possible to work up into the job without them. However, employers will always expect a good general level of education — such as GCSEs and/or A-Levels — as a minimum.

In addition to a degree, there are numerous additional vocational qualifications that can help facilities managers to perform well in their roles, progress within the industry and achieve higher salary potential:

 

Degree

While it’s by no means the only route into the industry, gaining a relevant degree or HND is typically an essential requirement for facilities management graduate roles or schemes.

Some schemes and employers will take keen graduates from any degree area, but the following subjects are a significant advantage when trying to break into the industry:

• Facilities management
• Construction management
• Engineering
• Building services
• Business management
• Business studies
• Quantity surveying
• Property

Several universities also offer postgraduate qualifications in facilities management, building services and construction project management which are not essential for entry, but can definitely allow for faster progression into senior roles.

 

Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM)

The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management is the professional body for workplace and facilities management professionals. As well as offering progressional membership, they run a range of training courses and internationally-recognised qualifications. According to the IWFM, their qualifications enable career progression and improve earning potential.

The three main facilities management qualifications on offer are:

• Entry-level – Level 2 – for those just starting out in facilities management
• Supervisory level – Level 3 – for those working in a supervisory, first-line or single service manager role in facilities management
• Management level – Level 4 – for those working at an operational management level or with several years’ experience in facilities management

 

Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM)

The Institute of Leadership & Management is the UK’s top leadership qualifications specialist. As facilities management involves managing teams and projects, leadership and management skills are essential to succeed within the role.  Their qualifications range from level 2 (team leader/supervisor level) to level 7 (senior leaders) and offer a clear route to career progression.

 

What is expected of facilities managers?

Facilities managers will typically be expected to commit the following:

• Full-time hours – Facilities management typically requires a full-time level of responsibility (35 – 40 hours per week), so part-time roles are hard to come by
• Regular evening or weekend work – While core working hours are likely to be between 9 and 5, buildings, facilities and services often run on a 24/7 basis, meaning hours can be varied – and emergencies will need to attended to, no matter what the time of day
• Physical work – Depending on the role, some facilities managers will be required to carry out physical repairs, maintenance and buildings work
• Location – Normally based between an employer’s office and the facilities being managed
• Regular travel to visit different buildings and facilities, as well as to meet suppliers or clients. Long-term projects may demand temporary relocation.

 

Facilities manager benefits

Facilities managers generally receive a good benefits package, which often includes perks like:

• Bonuses – based on performance within the role
• Profit share schemes
• Pension scheme
• Private healthcare
• Company car or car allowance
• Company discounts

 

 

Who employs facilities managers?

Facilities managers can work at any type of business that has buildings, facilities or equipment across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

Larger organisations are more likely to employ facilities managers. Roles might also be titled property manager, operations manager, estates manager or asset manager.

Smaller companies may not be able to afford — or have a need for — a dedicated facilities manager. In these cases, the responsibility is likely to fall on the general manager.

Typical facilities manager employers include:

• Shops
• Business parks
• Factories
• Warehouses
• Hotel chains
• Large public buildings, such as libraries
• Local government and councils
• Offices
• Prisons
• Hospitals
• Colleges and universities
• Stadiums
• Facilities management companies

 

Which junior jobs progress to facilities manager roles?

Aside from apprenticeships, trainee roles and graduate schemes, there are numerous junior roles that can eventually lead into a facilities manager job. Some common starting points including:

 

Building caretaker

Building caretakers maintain and upkeep a property or building. As facilities managers must be knowledgeable with the fundamental parts of a building’s construction, such as heating and cooling systems, security systems and plumbing, working as building caretaker or maintenance manager is a great way to start out and gain essential skills to move up within the industry.

Assistant facilities manager

Assistant facilities managers report to the facilities manager and help to oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of a building or facility. This role can often be gained without prior experience and makes a great way to learn the ropes of the job and demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and manage others.

Operations assistant

Operations assistants provide administrative support to operations and facilities managers to support the daily business operations of an organisation, as well as office/building and employee management. This is an entry-level role and offers the chance to learn numerous skills that could eventually transfer into the role of a facilities manager.

 

Which senior jobs do facilities managers progress to?

While facilities management is a great job in its own right, the role also offers plenty of opportunity for progression. Many facilities managers eventually move into the role of:

 

Area/Regional facilities manager

Area or regional facilities managers oversee and co-ordinate numerous facilities or buildings across a certain area, and in some instances, the whole of the UK. They will typically manage several facilities managers and ensure that their company is consistently providing the most suitable environment for its employees and its operations.

Operations manager

Operations managers oversee the day-to-day operations of businesses as a whole and tend to work closely with facilities managers. Operations managers require good leadership and managerial skills, as well as strong organisation and time-management abilities — making experienced facilities managers great candidates for the job.

 

Facilities manager job description – conclusion

A job as a facilities manager pays well and offers a varied and challenging work-life.

Facilities managers typically develop strong managerial and leadership capabilities, meaning promotion into senior management roles is common.

As facilities managers are required in any business with large buildings and facilities, jobs are available all over the UK in industries and sectors of all shapes and sizes.