What are the roles of facility managers?
Essentially, facility managers are entitled to take care of all services that enable an organisation or business to function well. Some of their responsibilities can include;
- Supervising several disciplinary teams of staff such as; security, maintenance, grounds and cleaning. For instance, they use a company like Cleanhire UK or scrubber dryer hire for the ideal machine hire services.
- Managing budgets and ensuring money is used properly.
- Making sure basic facilities such as heating and water are well taken care of.
- Agreeing on contracts and overseeing service providers like technology, parking, security, cleaning, catering and much more.
- Allocating and taking care of space between buildings
- Offering businesses advice on cost-effectiveness and increasing energy efficiency.
- Drafting reports and doing written recommendations
- Making sure that facilities are adhering to government regulations and health, security and environmental standards.
- Assisting businesses to move to new premises and make leasing decisions.
- Taking charge of building projects or renovations.
Facility management can be categorised into four pillars; people, processes, buildings and technology.
What Are The Roles of a Facility Manager
1
Day to Day Operations & Upkeep of Facilities
The Facility Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a facility and oversees all maintenance, safety, security and environmental concerns. This includes inspections, budgeting, purchasing materials and equipment as well as training staff members on how to respond in emergencies (e.g., fires or floods).
Addressing upkeep and improvement in the facilities, it is a common perception that Facility Managers are concerned primarily with keeping buildings clean and orderly. While this can be an important part of their work, there’s much more to being involved as well. For example, they might need to commission contractors for building maintenance; liaise with engineers or architects.
2
Budgeting & Expenditure
The Facility Manager is responsible for developing an annual budget and managing expenditures within that budget. They are also responsible for reducing the costs of operations by taking advantage of opportunities to lower energy bills, maintain a clean facility and reduce wasteful spending.
3
Proactive in Problem Solving
A Facility Manager must be proactive in anticipating potential problems before they arise. When a problem does occur, the Facility Manager needs to work with staff and supervisors to develop an effective response plan. One example of this is, if there is an excess of water after a storm has hit, then emergency pumps need to be placed at strategic locations so that flooding can be minimised as quickly as possible.
4
Good Communication
It’s important for a facility manager to have a good relationship with your employees. If they are happy and feel well-supported, then it is much more likely that they will be producing their best work on the job. A Facility Manager can also use these relationships as an opportunity to learn about what motivates individual staff members and how this might affect the day to day running of the building.
A Facility Manager should also be a good communicator, with strong communication skills on both sides of the equation; knowing how to listen and being able to speak objectively are two important parts of this. Communication can happen in many ways – for example, it could be done through formal meetings or informal chats while walking around the facility.
5
Technology Integration
Facility managers need to understand the importance of using technology. Management systems in the workplace need to aggregate data which is essential for running a business. Therefore, facility managers need to identify and implement the necessary technology.
A successful facility management strategy needs to ensure that the right systems are in place and working efficiently. Technology integration is an integral component of this process, as it provides a wide range of benefits for both business owners and employees
A Day in the Life of a Facility Manager
What does a Facility Manager do all day? What is an average day like for this profession? A facility manager manages the physical aspects of a business, such as maintaining property and facilities. This includes structural repairs, landscaping, pest control and security. An average day for a facility manager can include;
Morning Routine
The first thing a facility manager will do in the morning is looking at the calendar of events for the day. This will help them figure out what they need to do in order to prepare for any upcoming events. If there is a night shift at the facility, the first task will be to liaise with the night shift supervisor about any issues.
A morning meeting will be held to review the day with all staff members. The facility manager will review any issues and make sure everyone is on the same page on how to address them.
From there, a facility manager will go to their office and check on messages from other staff members or clients. They may also have to do some paperwork such as sorting out the budget for upcoming events. Another task they might need to complete is taking care of any pending maintenance requests from the previous day.
Afternoon
After lunch, there may be another staff meeting if there is anything to discuss. If not, here are some of the day to day tasks the facility manager might be doing:
Meeting with event organizers or meeting planners to review the schedule and plan for upcoming events.
Reviewing any reports from staff members about their days, such as accidents that occurred or tasks completed.
If they’re on site while something’s going on, they’ll need to help with overseeing how things go and make sure everything runs smoothly
General walk around the building – checking in on the building and making sure everything is running smoothly.
Visit the building’s emergency plan – make sure it’s up to date and in order.
Checking with cleaners about their progress on cleaning tasks
Checking in on any staff members who are busy – making sure they have everything they need (coffee, water & safety equipment)
Meeting with architects and building contractors about their progress
Check the security cameras for any sign of unusual activity
Evening
As the day is winding down the building manager will need to wrap up their tasks for the day.
Checking in with cleaners on what they have left to do
Finishing any paperwork or reports that’s needed
Working out how many hours staff members got done, and if there are any gaps where work wasn’t completed
- Stock Levels – The facility manager might take stock of supplies, such as materials or tools that need to be ordered in order to complete tasks for the next day.
- Prioritising issues for the night team to action which can include anything from crime reports to lighting problems.
- They might also calculate the evening team’s shift hours to ensure they are paid correctly and cover any gaps that need filling.
Conclusion
The role of the facility manager is an important one, managing everything from cleaning to maintenance. When you see a building with pristine floors and toilets that work well without any fuss or hassle, it’s likely thanks to this highly trained professional. Cleanhire UK can help make your daily life in facilities management easier by providing high-quality floor care equipment for affordable prices. Let us know what kind of services you need today!
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