The world as we know it changes very quickly, but never has Facilities Management grabbed so many headlines, as it has in the past year. How we move forward post-pandemic with work spaces, buildings, malls and public venues, is changing at such a rapid pace. The demand for Facility Managers is expected to grow exponentially by 2026. But what does a Facilities Manager actually do?
The Roles and Responsibilities of a Facilities Manager
A quick Google search will tell you a vast array of responsibilities of a Facility Manager, including:
- Maintaining Facilities, including grounds, engineering drawings and building maintenance
- Overseeing contractors and staff
- Ensuring the building is up to code with health and safety regulations
- Creating a budget for the facilities operational costs
- Improving operations and building functions
Maybe you’re thinking, that sounds up my alley. I’d like to be a Facilities Manager. Perhaps you’re interested in the future of healthy buildings, including overseeing the infrastructure and maintenance of a given environment. At the same time, you love organizing and ensuring a facility is running smoothly.
Is that all a Facilities Manager does?
The IFMA – International Facility Management Association, wanted to find out the answer to that very question. They recently posed this tongue and cheek inquiry on their LinkedIn account, asking the following:
Tell us you’re a facility manager, without telling us you’re a facility manager.
IMFA – International Facility Management Association
Facility Managers everywhere replied. In other words, they told in their own words, what their job really entails.
Not only were they accurate, they were creative and funny! At the same time, they were honest.
Here are some of our favorites:
“I manage chaos.”
– Jermain DeFreeze, Facilities Process Manager
“I have 2 people complaining in the same work space. One is too cold the other is too hot.”
– Corvin Dozier, Facilities Manager at JLL
“I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you.” – How I respond to busted pipes, broken security gates, it being too hot/cold and when the coffee maker doesn’t work.
Michael Porter, Facilities, Maintenance and Construction Manager at Aflac
“I go to bed every snow storm praying my generators do not have to get woken up either. My wife also tells me to stop pointing out OSHA violations while we are out shopping.”
– Danny Moore, Facility Manager
Are your lights are on, and the the heat or air conditioning is going at work? Is your access card working? You can thank your Facility Manager for that peace of mind.
“The lights are on, its warm in winter and cool in summer, magically your access card works everyday, the coffee machines are full and the dishes done and packed away, your bins are empty and clean and the bathrooms sparkle in every building on every floor, the numerous plant rooms and chillers chug away without any weird noises and the access gates let you in and out all day and night long. The lawns and grounds are green and lush and the walking path weed and leaf free….. silent magic…..”
Heather Walker-Broose, Facilities Manager Snowy Hydro Limited
“A magician wearing superman costume, walking with my family in weekends looking out for any defects in any place we visit, specially toilets”
Heba Kamal PMP, FMP Instructor CEM, General Manager at Enova
Their work never stops. Weekends? What’s a weekend?
*gets phone call at 2am* “Hey Will, everything is broken”
– Will Richeson, Project Manager at Ameritech Facility Services
“It’s February and it’s hot in your room? You’re welcome.”
– Daniel Pego, FMP, Facilities Operations Manager at NYU Langone Health
“I can help you find a mop, tell you if the conference room is available, activate your badge to give you access to the garage, inform you when the window cleaners are coming, and make sure your office is at the right temperature. On top of all of that, if I don’t know how, I surely know who!”
– Arie Baker, CPRP FMP MBA Certified Post-Crisis Leader
They’re always there to save the day. Again.
“The Phantom who serves at low profile round the clock without seeking any attention to ensure no disruption to normal Operations in the Facility .. sometimes we have to reveal our identity and go public to contain emergencies :)”
– Adnan El Cheikh Mohamad, Facilities Management, Project Operations
As a result, needless to say, we are truly grateful for all Facilities Managers out there. As well as their sense of humor!. If this sounds like a career you’d like to purse, get to know them on LinkedIn by following the hashtags: #FacilitiesManagement, #FacMan and #FMTech.
For the full thread and many, more amazing comments from talented Facilities Managers all around, join the conversation on IFMA’s post on LinkedIn. Similarly, if you’re a Facilities Manager and need help with your engineering drawing management, have a conversation with us – we can help with you that.