The Facilities Management Career Path: A Viable Career

The facilities management career path is diverse and in demand. Integrated property management careers are growing, and with new technology continuing to change the workplace landscape, facility managers are highly sought after.

It’s a lesser-known career path, full of variability and opportunity. Facility management combines integrated property management careers with move management, facility planning, HVAC monitoring, and real estate, making this a varied profession with excellent earning potential. According to Salary.com, the average facility manager in the United States makes roughly $96,798 per year, with a range from $82,986 to $110,742 annually.

In this article, we discuss everything you need to know to kickstart your career in facilities management.

The facilities management career path: What is a facility management professional, and what do they do?

A facility manager is responsible for making sure office buildings meet the needs of employees, encompassing technology, communication, and company culture standards. They ensure building operations are running smoothly at all times.

Facility managers work to make the workplace as efficient as possible, collaborating with other departments, assessing space usage data, and gathering employee feedback. As the boomer generation retires, more opportunities are becoming available, with an expected 40% of current facility managers retiring within the next eight years.

Primary responsibilities include:

• ​Ensuring building operations are up to standard
• ​Addressing emergencies like breaches in security or usability of the building
• ​Forecasting building plans concerning company growth
• ​Overseeing maintenance and repair efforts
• ​Facilitating vendor agreements
• ​Making informed recommendations that impact office design

Facility managers use space and occupancy data from technology like sensors and space management software to make decisions that impact employees and the company. They collaborate with departments such as HR and IT to create a great employee experience and optimize company operations.

How can I kick-start my facilities management career path and become a facility management professional?

If you’re interested in integrated property management careers and starting your role as a facilities management professional, here are some tips to get ahead.

Education

There are several avenues to start your career as a facility management professional. Most jobs require a bachelor’s degree (typically in business, facility management, or information management), along with the proper licenses and certifications.

The International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) offers programs designed to prepare new facility management students for a successful career:

• ​Facilities Management Professional certification (FMP):
  • ​Typically leads to a $6,000 USD salary increase within the first year
  • ​No prerequisites or recurring costs for FMP courses
  • ​Backed by the International Facilities Management Association
• ​Certified Facility Manager (CFM) certification:
  • ​Globally recognized program
  • ​Varying coursework, competencies, CEUs, and final assessments
  • ​The average five-year ROI is 15:1 for those who are certified

The IFMA World Workplace Expo is another opportunity to keep up with required credits, network, and learn about the latest developments and trends in facility management technology.

There are also post-secondary options across North America, such as Brigham Young University’s Construction and Facilities Management program, CUNY New York City College of Technology, Fitchburg State University, and Missouri State University at Springfield.

Potential career niches

There are many career paths within the facility management professional field. Some areas to consider include:

• ​Property management: Overseeing building operations like collecting rent and maintaining the building.
• ​Sustainability management: Helping companies be more environmentally friendly, reducing waste, and improving energy usage.
• ​Project management: Developing work scopes, budgets, timelines, coordinating workloads, and facility tours.
• ​Building automation system management: Ensuring systems like HVAC or lighting are running as they should.

Qualities of a successful facility manager

Facility management is a challenging job. Individuals pursuing this field should have the following qualities:

Organized and detail oriented

Facility managers are responsible for various components within the workplace and must keep operations running smoothly. Workplace management software can be a huge help.

Analytical with the ability to interpret data

A significant part of the job is analyzing and translating data like occupancy information to optimize the building or company. Facility managers use resources such as space management software, sensors, and inventory tracking software.

Excellent communication skills

Facility managers work with different departments frequently. Strong communication skills are vital for making a case for investments and helping employees with workplace tools.

Anticipate problems before they happen

Being able to foresee issues, perform preventative maintenance, and ensure technology works as it should are critical components of this role.

Up-to-date on facility trends and technology

A savvy facility manager keeps up with the latest industry trends and can recommend what works best for their company.

A career in facility management is viable, exciting, and valued

Facility management practitioners have a unique path with a bright outlook. Facility managers contribute to cutting costs, optimizing operations, and creating a great environment for employees. It’s a career that bridges companies, technology, and employee experience. Those interested should research different career opportunities within this field, as there are many paths to choose from.

A facilities manager’s job is never done.