Become a facilities director if you enjoy overseeing construction and grounds operations in an organization.
Become a facilities director if you enjoy overseeing construction and grounds operations in an organization. This position requires education and a lot of experience to do the job properly, as the facility can be difficult to manage because it involves so many things. Building function, construction, and safety are all things you must be comfortable with to become a facilities manager, as well as working in a varied environment. Facilities manager positions exist in places including colleges and universities, businesses, and health care institutions.
A facilities director may work closely with a construction project manager during the design and construction of an expansion.
The first step to becoming a facilities manager is to earn a bachelor’s degree in construction science, finance, or civil engineering. This type of education provides the foundation for a career, as a facilities manager must be familiar with reading blueprints, understanding building codes, and creating and executing budgets. Leadership skills are also essential, as the facility manager supervises workers and communicates frequently with upper-level management to ensure the facility runs smoothly.
The first step to becoming a facilities manager is to earn a bachelor’s degree in construction science, finance, or civil engineering.
Experience is a requirement to become a facility manager in almost all cases, as you would not understand the organization of a facility without it. Become a facilities manager by first working in the field as an engineer, construction or maintenance worker for a large organization. This provides first-hand knowledge of the many people and processes required to keep a facility running efficiently. After working for five to ten years, you’ll be prepared to apply for jobs as a facilities manager based on the organization’s specific requirements.
A facility manager working in a factory may need specific knowledge of the machinery used in their industry.
A facilities manager must be able to handle many things at once, sometimes under a lot of pressure. Work can be stressful because you are the person to call in the event of a problem or emergency. If you like to work under pressure and stay active by doing different tasks every day, this job will be a good fit for you.
Because there are such a varied number of organizations and facilities in the world, the job of a facilities manager can vary from place to place. Generally speaking, an understanding of construction best practices is required to help a business function at its optimal level. This is found through continuing education once you become a Facilities Director and will keep you up to date with the latest policies and practices in areas such as safety, standards and performance.