Are you happy with change? Can you keep calm in a crisis? Do you like dealing with people on a day to day basis? If so, then have you ever considered a career in facilities management? With more and more businesses expanding and even more buildings requiring someone to run then efficiently and keep the employees happy, the demand for competent and efficient facility managers is certainly growing.
But what is a facilities manager? What do they do exactly? Read on to find out whether a career in facilities management could be for you.
Essentially as a facilities manager, you manage the facility that you’re in! It sounds simple in theory, but there usually is a lot more to it. You’ll be in charge of managing essential services around the building. Your responsibilities may vary from location to location, but as a concept they’re usually quite similar. Your biggest responsibility is:
Health and safety management
From a remove your shoes sign, to reducing the risk of hazards. The work varies. Some of your duties will include:
- Conducting health and safety risk assessments
- Putting appropriate safety measures in place
- Keeping staff informed of safety measures and procedures
- The conduction of fire safety risk assessments
- Electrical safety
- Ensuring the proper use of dangerous substances
- Asbestos surveys and awareness
- Management of water supply
- Ensure correct equipment is provided and used
- Reducing and removing risk
What are the benefits of the job?
As a facilities manager, your work adds value to the business you’re working for. Not only do you ensure the smooth running of the building and its facilities on a daily basis, but this allows it’s employees to work in a safe and protected environment. It allows work to be done and completed on time, without risk and by keeping employees and visitors safe. Your levels of responsibility are high, and the rewards and salary reflect this.
What skills do I need to be a facilities manager?
The role of a facilities manager requires you to take an interest in the wellbeing of others. You also need to have the passion and drive needed to solve problems and find solutions to these issues. You need extremely competent organisational skills and work well in an environment that requires logical and methodical thinking. If you like to keep busy and enjoy a job where no two days are the same then you’ll enjoy the role of a facilities manager.
Being a facilities manager means that from the break room to the post room, to the office of CEO you get to meet and converse with employees and professionals from all walks of life. You get to see the inner workings of the business and help drive it to succeed. And in doing so, you help to guarantee employment and work for years to come. Depending on your employer, you could also be given the opportunity to travel to new locations and even travel overseas. Job satisfaction is high within facilities management.