Whether it’s managing day to day operational procedures for the safety and efficiency of the business or on a wider level, contributing to strategic and operational objectives for the company as a whole, the role of the facilities manager is vital, whatever a company’s size. Duties include managing office space, communications infrastructure, supplier contracts and general administration.

Job description

A Facilities Manager is responsible for ensuring an organisation's work environment runs smoothly and efficiently. The essence of the role is to increase employee productivity by providing an ergonomic work space for the minimum cost possible.

It can be a diverse and rewarding role - candidates can be involved in all aspects of running the office including its design and layout, the organisation of cleaning and security, ensuring all health and safety regulations are adhered to, making sure there are sufficient catering facilities on the premises and co-ordinating all aspects of communication, from IT to telephone connections. Essentially, you need to be super-organised. It's also necessary for a facilities manager to source all office supplies and equipment at the best possible rates so sound negotiation skills are essential.

In smaller-sized companies, the facilities manager will be very much hands-on, taking a leading role in all areas. However, in much larger companies, the role can be more detached, basically ensuring all departments follow company guidelines and procedures whilst ensuring that all central services are provided. Many facilities managers are self-employed and provide consultancy services to various different companies at one time.

Your daily duties could include:

• Preparation of contracts to be put out to tender to external suppliers
• Change management - ensuring that any change implemented in the office runs smoothly and causes minimum disruption
• Ensuring all standards are met by external suppliers
• Preparation of Agreed Service Level contracts with external suppliers
• Sourcing company supplies in the most cost effective manner possible
• Ensuring all health and safety procedures are monitored and adhered to
• Planning future change to the working environment
• Liaising with other internal departments to ensure central services are provided

Hours-wise, you're looking at the usual 35-40 hour week though, due to the nature of the job, you need to be flexible as quite often you'll have to work longer hours to oversee the completion of certain projects. It's also possible that you could be the main point of contact for the emergency services, so if a fire alarm goes off outside of office hours for example, you could well be expected to show your face at the office.

Quite often you'll be required to have a degree at entry level, though generally you will work your way into the role via another job, for example an office manager may well graduate into the role after several years of managing the administration side of the business. You could also benefit from attending one of the relevant courses available, such as the NVQ in Facilities Management offered by the likes of City and Guilds and Edexcel. Whatever your route into the job, future employers will be looking for some, if not all, of the following skills:

• Superb organisational skills
• The ability to multi task
• A strong negotiator
• A working knowledge of relevant health and safety procedures
• Excellent interpersonal skills, both written and verbal
• The ability to interpret complex diagrams and plans
• A strong eye for detail

Salary Information

London and the South East will generally be the highest paying areas and as a graduate, on entry you can expect to earn anything between £18-24k a year. Once you've gained some experience you could command up to £45k in certain industries. The top earners can hit the £70k mark, though this is usually for much more senior roles with multi office responsibilities.

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