Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Facilities Manager
What facilities managers actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a facilities manager?
Walk the building. From there, the day usually includes oversee building maintenance, manage contractors, and plan budgets. Full time, with on-call duty for building emergencies.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a facilities manager working full time.
- Walk the building.
- Review work orders.
- Meet an HVAC contractor.
- Review energy bills.
- Plan a floor renovation.
- Inspect the fire system test.
- Update the capital plan.
Where facilities managers work
Facilities managers work in offices, mechanical rooms, roofs and grounds of buildings and campuses.
Hours and schedule
Full time, with on-call duty for building emergencies.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Oversee building maintenance
- Manage contractors
- Plan budgets
- Ensure code compliance
- Manage energy use
- Plan renovations and space
- Lead emergency response
Tools you’ll use every day
- CMMS software
- Building automation systems
- Work order systems
- CAD floor plans
- Energy dashboards
- Spreadsheets
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Good pay
- Hands-on and office mix
- Every building needs one
- Variety
What’s hard
- On-call emergencies
- Budget pressure
- Aging equipment
- Contractor problems
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I like how buildings work
- I solve problems fast
- I can manage contractors
- I don’t mind on-call duty
- I like a mix of office and field
- I care about safety
Not sure? Take the free Facilities Manager fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Maintain fire and life safety systems
- Follow lockout/tagout for repairs
- Manage asbestos and hazards
- Keep emergency plans current