Know about a career in facility management

Facility managers are in demand because of growth in multinational IT/ITES giants and BFSI sector in India.

All buildings need maintenance and care. Facility managers are responsible for managing various technical and non-technical operations within building premises.

Every building premise needs maintenance, so facility managers are much in demand in cities with malls and commercial spaces. (IStock)

From managing day-to-day operations to planning and budgeting for offices and enhancing the emergency preparedness of a building, facility managers play a crucial role.

Facility managers also need to initiate and supervise repair and renovation of any building. They need to negotiate contracts with vendors for all these works and ensure that the work is done within the given budget.

With the growth in the number of multinational IT/ITES firms and companies in the BFSI sector, there has been a consistent rise in demand for facility managers, who can ensure that buildings function in a hassle-free manner. Residential complexes, shopping malls, hospital, retail, healthcare, manufacturing units, airports, public places, and stadiums, too, have facility managers to manage the buildings. There is, however, no formal education training available for such mangers and they learn on the job.

“Apart from the appropriate training which needs to be imparted, a professional needs to be self-motivated and strong on time management and relationship-building skills. Due to the demands which can arise on the job, good managerial competence and the ability to resolve conflicts and find solutions to problems at the workplace form the key to career growth in this field,” says Sandeep Sethi, managing director – integrated facilities management (West Asia), JLL India.