{"id":3403,"date":"2019-08-01T17:26:00","date_gmt":"2019-08-01T21:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eptura.wpengine.com\/discover-more\/blog\/what-is-a-facilities-manager\/"},"modified":"2024-09-10T00:34:49","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T04:34:49","slug":"what-is-a-facilities-manager","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eptura.com\/discover-more\/blog\/what-is-a-facilities-manager\/","title":{"rendered":"Facility Managers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Facilities manager isn\u2019t an ambiguous title\u2014at least at face value. In the same way a zookeeper is someone who \u201ckeeps the zoo\u201d or an air traffic controller \u201ccontrols air traffic,\u201d a facilities manager \u201cmanages facilities.\u201d It\u2019s not rocket science or brain surgery, which also have apt titles.<\/p>\n

But what exactly does it mean to manage facilities? Especially in today\u2019s fast-paced work environment, the question \u201cWhat is a facilities manager?\u201d is a broad one. It spans real estate, personnel, budgeting, safety, technology, and business operations. Any business aspect that touches facilities also involves the facility manager.<\/p>\n

The traditional role of a facility manager<\/h2>\n

To understand the role of a modern facility manager we need to ask a different question first: What are a facilities manager\u2019s traditional responsibilities?<\/p>\n

Upkeep and management of the physical facilities are at the top of the list. Facility managers make sure the workplace is a welcoming, safe, well-maintained operation. This includes everything from hiring landscapers, utility budgeting, asset management, and vendor coordination.<\/p>\n

These core responsibilities touch so many aspects of the workplace that it immediately extrapolates a facility manager\u2019s responsibilities. Consider jobs like coordinating safety processes, managing the company\u2019s personnel directory, or helping new workers get accommodated at their desks. All fall into the facility manager\u2019s lap.<\/p>\n

The breadth of traits necessary to be a facility manager is just as diverse. Facility managers need a broad assortment of skills\u2014everything from budgeting, project planning, data analysis, and problem-solving. Facility managers face challenges across a wide spectrum, at varying levels of complexity. They need a broad skill set to meet them.<\/p>\n

Integrated facilities management<\/h2>\n

The traditional nature of a facility manager is still deeply ingrained in the position. But thanks to the evolution of the workforce and contemporary offices, their role now harbors even more responsibility.<\/p>\n

What does a facilities manager do today that they didn\u2019t a decade ago? Namely, coordinate technology and the vast quantities of data derived from it. The digital component of facilities management is arguably now the biggest part of the job. Everything from vendor management, space planning, facility upkeep, and beyond takes place in cyberspace. And, because every action is quantifiable, facility managers are constantly tasked with streamlining their work. The title \u201cfacilities manager\u201d might be better renamed \u201cworkplace data scientist.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mix in the office Internet of Things (IoT) and there\u2019s even more on a facility manager\u2019s plate. Thankfully, much of the IoT can be automated and integrated\u2014but that\u2019s still an initial job for the facility manager. When everything is up and running, data collection and analysis still looms.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all building to the concept of integrated facilities management. Facility managers are still responsible for keeping the workplace welcoming, safe, and well-maintained, but it\u2019s more quantitative than ever before. Integrated facility management provides these answers only after a facility manager has taken the appropriate steps to digitize their workplace, aggregate the data, and interpret the trends.<\/p>\n

The expectations of modern managers<\/h2>\n

New job duties aren\u2019t the only shift in the facility management career field. Facilities manager qualifications are also evolving. Look at online job postings for forward-thinking companies and the skills section of the advertisement spells out the search for a highly competent, tech-savvy individual. In addition to education and training, you\u2019re likely to see skill requests that include:<\/p>\n