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Become a Facilities Manager!

A branch of administrative management, facilities management deals specifically with physical spaces. As a facilities manager, you will be responsible for the supplies, equipment, grounds, and the building’s function as well as renovation and construction projects, residential or workspace design, and cost-efficient energy sources. You will need to be competent in areas such as information technology, engineering, and architecture. Some of your responsibilities will likely include:

• Budgeting
• Architectural planning and design
• Space/workplace planning
• Real estate and lease management
• Directing staff – custodial workers and maintenance and grounds crews

You will also, as a facilities manager, need to keep tabs on workplace safety at all times to ensure the workspace meets all maintenance and security standards. You, like many others, will probably divide your time between your home office, a branch office, vendors’ offices, construction sites, and property sales sites. A hands-on profession, working as a facilities manager will require regular supervision of parking, construction, landscaping, security, and grounds keeping. Typically, you will work a 40-hour week, but may be required to make yourself available during non-work hours as well if you are needed to address unforeseen problems.

Most facilities managers earn their online bachelor’s or master’s degrees in architecture, business administration, construction management, or facilities management. A focused degree in the field will offer you career-specific training that is found to be attractive by most employers. Employers also appreciate excellent managerial skills, effective leadership skills, the ability to be decisive, and great communication skills. You should also be a good multi-tasker; you will often be asked to coordinate several activities at once while staying on top of impending deadlines.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for facility managers in the near future should continue to remain strong. Median annual salaries for administrative services managers in 2006 were approximately $68,000; the federal government often employs facilities managers at a slightly higher rate of pay than average.