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Job profile

Facility Manager (m/f/d)

Facility managers take care of building maintenance and the management of buildings and real estate. They play an extremely important role in ensuring a functioning and pleasant infrastructure for everyone in the building. 

You can find out exactly what your tasks are, what earning opportunities there are and what skills you need here. 

Are you looking for a job as a Facility Manager? (m/f/d) 

A new challenge as a facility manager is already waiting for you. Rely on our professional support in your job search and start your new job without any worries. We have the right companies for your expertise. 

Are you looking for a Facility Manager (m/f/d)? 

We support you in your search for qualified facility managers with the right specialists. We have the professionals with experience, strong communication skills and the right technical knowledge that you are looking for for your company. 

Are you looking for an exciting facility management project? 

Have you already managed various facility management projects and, as a freelancer, are always on the lookout for interesting properties and real estate that require your support? We can help you with project acquisition. 

What is a facility manager? Definition and overview

Buildings and their equipment must be supervised and kept in optimum condition - this is exactly what facility managers do in their job. Their employers are companies that specialize in building management or service providers and property managers. Facility managers ensure that the technical building equipment works and that the building is managed efficiently.

Importance of facility management: an expertise that should not be underestimated

Facility management translates as property management or building management. 

Facility management (FM) therefore refers to all processes and services that ensure the safety and functionality of buildings and facilities. We humans spend around 87% of our time in buildings, which is why facility management is so important for our everyday lives. 

In many cases, the facility manager has a technical, business or construction management background. Knowledge from these areas is important in facility management in order to overcome challenges such as energy efficiency, maintenance work, project management and personnel deployment.  

There is often a misconception that a facility manager is the same as a janitor. However, the role of facility manager is usually much broader and often refers to a management position that requires specific training or a degree. Rather, the janitor is a component of facility management, while FM itself is an umbrella term that covers many different topics. In addition, as a facility manager you are often responsible for several properties or construction projects at the same time. 

Facility management should not be underestimated, as it covers a broad range of tasks and therefore requires knowledge from a wide variety of areas. This is why a degree in facility management provides an excellent basis for a career and is also a prerequisite for a position in FM in many companies. 

Facility manager salary: a comprehensive overview  

The average facility manager salary in Germany is around €47,000 gross per year. The best salaries are usually paid in larger cities such as Munich, Stuttgart or Cologne. As with all professions, it is important to note that other factors such as your own experience, academic degree and the size of the employer also play a significant role in the level of your salary. 

Starting salary as a facility manager: Junior facility manager salary  

As a facility manager, you can expect an annual starting salary of around €25,000 gross. Graduates with a bachelor's degree can expect a salary starting at € 30,000. As you gain experience, your salary will also increase, as will your salary if you take on a management position. 

Facility management tasks: What does a facility manager do? 

The tasks of facility managers are varied and range from coordinating janitors and cleaning staff to materials management and IT activities. They plan the optimal management of individual or several buildings and their infrastructure and monitor the operation of systems such as the heating system or energy supply. 
You therefore spend most of your time coordinating staff and liaising with various people, processing invoices and keeping an eye on the big picture. After all, as a facility manager, you are the interface between the client or owner and the people who take care of the various maintenance measures. The aim is always to keep large buildings, facilities, plants or factories in perfect condition and to enable efficient management. 

As a facility manager, you ensure order in and around the building, organize and manage the winter service, calculate the costs for your client, communicate with the tenants, take care of the heating and air conditioning systems and ensure that problems are rectified as quickly as possible. You also have to be quick, polite and efficient. 

Specific facility management tasks can be 

  • Commercial planning and optimization of building management
  • Planning and monitoring of renovation projects
  • Maintenance of systems, commissioning of repair work
  • Supervise the construction and planning phase of a building
  • Planning and management of investment projects
  • Purchase of materials
  • Office services (e.g. organizing catering)
  • Planning the deployment of personnel
  • Communication with tenants
  • Record and document management data

In some cases, the broad field of facility management is divided into three areas: infrastructural, technical and commercial management. This means that your tasks may differ depending on the focus or may only relate to one of these fields. 

How do you become a facility manager? - Training, studies & further education  

Vocational training or a degree is usually required to become a facility manager. Nevertheless, there are various ways to start a career in facility management. Although senior facility managers usually have an academic background, specialists can train to become facility management specialists and work in this field. Career changers often have many years of technical work experience or also have an academic background. 

Facility Management studies: the academic path

For a career in facility management, a facility management degree is recommended, as this professional field is more complex than many people initially think. The Facility Management course combines business, social and technical aspects of building management and should therefore not be underestimated. 

Some universities and, in particular, universities of applied sciences offer courses in this field. A Bachelor's degree in Facility Management usually lasts six semesters and can also be completed in the form of a dual course of study. 

The course covers important topics such as construction informatics, financing, building technology and much more. 

Possible degree programs in Facility Management in Germany are: 

In many cases, the respective university also requires internships or an internship semester in order to gain the necessary experience for later professional life. 

However, there are also other fields of study that will prepare you for a career in facility management. These include architecture, business administration, real estate management and others. 

Facility manager training: a practical alternative 

Facility manager training enables you to work as a building and property manager even without an academic background. The Facility Management Specialist course is suitable for this in accordance with the quality standards of GEFMA, the German Association for Facility Management. Over several days, you will learn all the important knowledge and skills you need for a career as a facility manager. 

Possible facility management training courses are 

Further training: Facility Management 

There are many different further and advanced training courses in the field of facility management and building management. For you as a facility manager, further training is very important to keep up to date with the latest developments, such as smart homes and security. 

Such courses and facility management training are available at various locations, in person or online. 

Possible topics for further training in facility management are: 

  • Smart Home
  • Building security and property protection
  • Energy efficiency and sustainability
  • Facility management for janitors
  • Facility Management Basics

Facility Manager lateral entry  

Facility management career changers are also advised to complete a facility management course. When selecting personnel, employers look for a strong academic background or several years of professional experience in a similar field. Therefore, an absolute lateral entry as a facility manager is unlikely. 

Skills of a facility manager: hard and soft skills 

Suitable vocational training is a prerequisite for working as a facility manager. This includes specialist training and a bachelor's or master's degree in facility management. The latter paves the way to the management level of a property manager. There you will also have management responsibilities. An eye for craftsmanship will make it easier for you to deal with service providers who work on your behalf. Commercial knowledge is an important basis for planning refurbishment measures or plant construction, which every facility manager needs on the job. You should also be familiar with the IT programs commonly used in the industry. 
  • (Construction) technical understanding
  • IT skills (GEFMA-certified CAFM systems, MS Office)
  • Affinity for numbers and statistics
  • Business management knowledge
  • Strong communication skills and ability to work in a team
  • Further education certificates from an academy or vocational school
  • Leadership qualities
  • English language skills
  • Assertiveness
  • Outstanding reliability

The FM associations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland cite the following points as important components of a facility manager's mindset:  

  • Critical and analytical thinking
  • Creativity
  • Problem solution
  • Resilience

Locations: Where are facility managers deployed? 

Facility managers can be deployed in any type of building. Whether it's an apartment building, company headquarters, swimming pool, factory or hospital, facility managers ensure that these facilities are optimally maintained and managed. 

They are largely responsible for ensuring that the people who spend time in the respective locations feel comfortable and safe there. 

As a facility manager, you can be employed directly by the companies whose buildings you look after or work for a facility management service provider. The locations and sectors in which facility managers are needed are extremely diverse. 

Facility manager career: opportunities on the job market 

Both specialists and graduates of facility management courses have a good chance of finding a job quickly. The real estate industry is booming and therefore offers many jobs for facility managers. If you specialize in sustainability, you have particularly good career prospects in facility management. This is because planning energy-efficient renovations or optimizing buildings is an important topic for many companies in the course of the energy transition. 

Digitalization is also playing an increasingly important role in facility management: smart homes, building networking, data management and much more are among the daily challenges in this area. Skills and knowledge of digital tools and digitalization are therefore particularly advantageous. 

 Top vacancies for facility managers: jobs throughout Germany  

FAQ

How much do you earn as a facility manager?

As a facility manager in Germany, you will earn an average of €47,000 gross per year, although higher pay is very possible depending on location and company size. After a bachelor's degree, you can expect a starting salary of around €30,000.

As a facility manager in Germany, you will earn an average of €47,000 gross per year, although higher pay is very possible depending on location and company size. After a bachelor's degree, you can expect a starting salary of around €30,000.


What exactly does a facility manager do?

A facility manager is responsible for the maintenance and efficient management of large buildings and facilities. They coordinate the deployment of personnel, carry out calculations and manage all the work that takes place in the building.
A facility manager is responsible for the maintenance and efficient management of large buildings and facilities. They coordinate the deployment of personnel, carry out calculations and manage all the work that takes place in the building.

Is a janitor a facility manager?

While janitors usually take care of maintenance in buildings, facility managers look after entire properties and ensure optimal management. The tasks of janitors are usually part of facility management, but they are not the same profession.
While janitors usually take care of maintenance in buildings, facility managers look after entire properties and ensure optimal management. The tasks of janitors are usually part of facility management, but they are not the same profession.

Who can call themselves a facility manager?

There are various ways to become a facility manager. Nowadays, it is common to complete a Bachelor's degree in Facility Management. However, you can also pursue this profession with a technical or business management qualification.
There are various ways to become a facility manager. Nowadays, it is common to complete a Bachelor's degree in Facility Management. However, you can also pursue this profession with a technical or business management qualification.

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