Facilities Manager Kaiwhakahaere Whakaurunga

Facilities managers co-ordinate the strategic and operational management of buildings and facilities to ensure they are safe, healthy, sustainable, productive and fit-for-purpose.

Facilities managers may do some or all of the following:

  • manage health and safety risks
  • oversee building maintenance and check that it's compliant with the latest regulations
  • create strategic plans for future growth and new ways of working
  • manage the sustainable use of energy and water resources
  • business continuity planning
  • be involved in the negotiation of the purchasing and leasing of buildings
  • project management of construction, engineering, workspace design, or landscaping work
  • monitor the building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning
  • use technology to manage and monitor how buildings operate.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for facilities managers includes work in:

  • administration
  • construction and trades
  • engineering
  • management.

Personal Qualities

Facilities managers need to be:

  • able to coordinate different people and tasks
  • accurate, with an eye for detail
  • critical thinkers
  • good problem solvers
  • organised, proactive and flexible
  • strong communicators.

Skills

Facilities managers need to have knowledge of:

  • how a facility operates optimally
  • how a building needs to comply with laws and regulations
  • how to use technology to improve a building’s performance
  • creating management plans
  • health and safety regulations
  • project and asset management
  • procurement management, including contract administration
  • environmental conservation and sustainable practices.

Conditions

Facilities managers:

  • usually have to be on-call after hours for emergencies
  • usually work in offices
  • may have to travel for work if they manage a number of facilities.

Subject Recommendations

There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a facilities manager. However, construction and mechanical technologies, English, maths and business studies are useful.

Facilities Managers can earn around $55K-$100K per year.

Pay for facilities managers varies depending on skills and experience.

  • New facilities managers with one to two years’ experience usually earn between $55,000 and $70,000 a year.
  • Mid-level facilities managers with three to four years’ experience usually earn between $70,000 and $100,000.
  • Senior facilities managers can earn between $100,000 and $150,000.

Source: FMANZ, 2020.

Facilities managers may specialise in:

  • asset management
  • design and construction
  • environmental stewardship
  • health and safety
  • procurement and contract management
  • project management.

Years Of Training

There are no specific requirements to become a facilities manager as you gain skills on the job.

You can enter the role in a variety of ways, including through:

  • learning on the job and working your way up from an entry-level position
  • having a tertiary qualification in facilities management or a related field
  • a trade
  • getting into a training programme or internship.

Trade qualifications or tertiary qualifications in facilities management, engineering, building science or project management are often useful for career progression.

Facilities Manager