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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  

Reference number: 813861/1

Plant Manager for New Production Facility in India (m/f/d)

Permanent employment with our customer
Düsseldorf
  • Establish and lead the new production facility with up to 80 employees
  • Ensure adherence to production goals and quality standards
  • Implement and optimize production processes and technologies
  • Plan and control the budget for the facility
  • Lead and develop the team, including training and performance evaluations.
  • Collaborate with other departments and external partners to ensure smooth operations
  • Report to the executive management on progress, challenges, and successes of the facility
Online since: Mon Mar 24 16:17:27 CET 2025
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Reference number: 806527/1

Manager for Operations (m/f/d)

Permanent employment with our customer
Struer
As Manager for Operations, you will step into a position with the responsibility of producing next-generation technology and solutions contributing to greater quality of life for end-users. You will be responsible for facility management, and you will be heading the entire Operations setup in Struer and be accountable for setting the direction as well as driving and further developing Operations in alignment with the overall strategy and targets.

As Manager for Operations, you will become a part of the Management Team. You will have three people in direct report who oversee each of their own area, i.e., Production, New Product Introduction (NPI), and Supply Chain. All three leaders who will be reporting to the Manager for Operations are independent functions but as Manager for Operations it will be your responsibility to ensure continuous improvement, facilitate organizational changes to support the business, take ownership of financial performance for Operations, and drive the business area for profitable growth while ensuring that client expectations are met, and agreements are delivered upon in relation to manufacturing of commercial, clinical medical devices.
 
As a leader, you will be responsible for promoting collaboration across the organization, contributing to good corporation, and developing best practises across the 26 global production sites meanwhile creating a healthy work environment. You will be responsible for ensuring a high level of communication with stakeholders, and it will be upon you to build and maintain customer relationships.

Responsibilities:
  • Defining and implementing the operations strategy and leading towards it 
  • Setting KPIs in alignment with the overall strategy and ensure weekly follow-ups at board meetings
  • Internal stakeholder management (QA, sales, product development) and external stakeholder management (customers, suppliers, consultancies)
  • Building and strengthening relationships with key customers
  • Accountability for P&L for Operations with the objective of establishing a profitable production
  • Responsibility for Global Innovation & Development, EU sign-off on product agreements for commercial manufacturing and late-stage projects (NPI), customer budgets as well as delivery timelines
  • Driving and ensuring full GMP/GDP compliance in operations as well as monitoring and maintaining installations/facility to operate in compliance
  • Responsibility for sourcing and approval of components from suppliers and delivery of products in compliance with requirements and forecast
  • Design transfer and upscale
  • Supporting sales and customer facing activities (capability presentations, new orders etc.)
  • Responsibility for potential recall issues as legal manufacturer of certain products and accountability for resolving and reporting deviations
  • Leading, developing and mentoring the management team in Operations and responsibility for project/manufacturing execution according to QMS
  • Participation in GID-EU leadership meetings every second week
Online since: Mon Feb 24 13:43:49 CET 2025
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Reference number: 799708/1

Global Category Manager (m/f/d)

Permanent employment with our customer
Denmark
Xellia Pharmaceuticals is looking for a Global Category Manager for Indirects, MRO & CAPEX to take on a strategic leadership role in the Global Procurement & External Supply department. This position will oversee the MRO and CAPEX procurement activities across multiple manufacturing sites in Copenhagen, Budapest, and Oslo. You will lead a team of Category Specialists and coordinate sourcing activities globally, implementing cohesive category strategies to meet business objectives.

This is a high-impact role where you will act as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for CAPEX procurement, particularly in relation to large-scale expansion projects, positioning yourself as a key partner within the global procurement team. You will drive strategic leadership through collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders and senior management, ultimately helping shape procurement strategy for the future.

Your Key Responsibilities
• Strategic Procurement Leadership: Develop and implement procurement strategies in line with Xellia's global company strategy, collaborating with senior stakeholders to align business objectives with sourcing activities.
• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of procurement professionals, fostering a high-performance culture while providing guidance and performance management.
• MRO & CAPEX Procurement: Oversee global and regional MRO & CAPEX procurement activities, including engineering services, OEM process equipment, construction, and CQV services.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Manage supplier KPIs, performance evaluations, disputes, supplier visits, and ensure a strong supplier network that meets Xellia’s goals.
• Risk & Compliance Management: Identify and mitigate risks, enforce compliance with Xellia’s Procurement Policy and process, and ensure adherence to GxP regulations.
• Savings & Efficiency Projects: Initiate and manage cost-saving and efficiency projects to optimize procurement processes and achieve financial objectives.
• Reporting: Monitor spend and savings, report on performance metrics and relevant activities, ensuring the achievement of KPIs.
• Supply Chain & OTIF (On Time In Full): Act as an escalation point to ensure CAPEX & MRO projects follow defined timelines, contributing to maintaining supplier OTIF in line with Xellia's target.

You will report directly to the Head of Procurement. The office location is in Copenhagen, but you should expect regular travel—approximately 4 to 5 days per month—for onsite visits to the manufacturing facility in Budapest, as well as occasional events, meetings, supplier visits, and training.
Online since: Thu Mar 20 15:44:02 CET 2025
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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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