In a service with over 100 employees, every day is unique. This is the exciting part for me. I typically meet with the hospital management to wrap up any loose ends from the previous day. I would then meet with my supervisors to discuss activities occurring in the coming weeks. We cover budgets, construction, design, environmental management, maintenance and repair of a 60 acres, 153 year old historic facility. Planning for the future allows us to calmly react to the emergencies of the day.
CAREER
Facilities Managers
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$102,340
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+6.9% (as fast as the average)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Facilities Managers Do
Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.
Other Job Titles Facilities Managers May Have
Building Maintenance Superintendent, Building Services Supervisor, Facilities Coordinator, Facilities Director, Facilities Engineer, Facilities Maintenance Manager, Facilities Manager, Facilities Operations Manager (Facilities Ops Manager), Facilities Operations Specialist (Facilities Ops Specialist), Maintenance Superintendent
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
There's a lot of coordination and communications with volunteers, planning with team members, and stragegizing on how to best reach our shared goals.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Monitor the facility to ensure that it remains safe, secure, and well-maintained.
- Oversee the maintenance and repair of machinery, equipment, and electrical and mechanical systems.
- Oversee construction and renovation projects to improve efficiency and to ensure that facilities meet environmental, health, and security standards, and comply with government regulations.
- Plan, administer, and control budgets for contracts, equipment, and supplies.
- Participate in architectural and engineering planning and design, including space and installation management.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Facilities Managers
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Associate's degree (57%)
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Associate's degree
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Construction Engineering
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
BA, International Affairs
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
School provided me with the basic knowledge and concepts needed for engineering. My service in the Marines is what taught me leadership and extreme ownership. Beyond that, is making affordable mistakes to learn from. My job as a service chief means I spend most of the time direct and coordinating personnel and resources. My years in the construction industry taught me that even the best plans can fail. You need to be able to evaluate and react without making the problem any worse.
This job involves a lot of soft skills - learning how to work with people, how to read people and how to get them to respond to your messaging and ideas.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
College Students
Find a college with strong ties to industry leaders in construction. Also ensure they have an internship program with local companies. This is valuable to gain experience and learn from others and any mistakes they have seen.
Get exposure to volunteer management - work with a non-profit or other group that relies heavily on volunteers. And become a volunteer yourself! Pick a cause you care about and become active in it.
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
