Facilities Management
Facilities Management is the department or function responsible for maintaining and managing all physical aspects of an educational institution. This includes taking care of buildings, grounds, equipment, and various campus services. Think of it as running the physical operations of a campus - everything from making sure buildings are clean and well-maintained, to managing space usage, overseeing construction projects, and ensuring systems like heating and cooling work properly. It's similar to property management but on a larger, more complex scale specifically for educational institutions. You might also see this referred to as "Campus Operations," "Physical Plant Management," or "Campus Facilities Services."
Examples in Resumes
Supervised maintenance team of 15 staff members in Facilities Management division
Led sustainability initiatives as Assistant Director of Facilities Management
Coordinated with Physical Plant department on $2M renovation project
Managed annual budget of $5M for Campus Facilities operations
Typical job title: "Facilities Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Facilities Managers
Professional Associations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle a major campus-wide facility emergency?
Expected Answer: Should discuss emergency response protocols, communication plans, vendor relationships, budget management for unexpected issues, and coordination with various departments including security and administration.
Q: How do you approach facilities budget planning for a large university campus?
Expected Answer: Should explain experience with creating and managing large budgets, prioritizing projects, preventive maintenance planning, and balancing immediate needs with long-term facility goals.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you manage multiple maintenance projects simultaneously?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of project management, scheduling, vendor coordination, and how to minimize disruption to campus activities.
Q: What experience do you have with sustainability initiatives in facilities management?
Expected Answer: Should discuss implementing energy-saving measures, recycling programs, green building practices, and experience with sustainability certifications.
Junior Level Questions
Q: How do you prioritize maintenance requests?
Expected Answer: Should explain basic understanding of urgency levels, safety considerations, and how to manage multiple competing requests.
Q: What experience do you have with facility management software systems?
Expected Answer: Should show familiarity with work order systems, basic maintenance scheduling, and record keeping practices.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic maintenance coordination
- Work order management
- Safety protocols
- Vendor coordination
Mid (2-5 years)
- Project management
- Team supervision
- Budget monitoring
- Environmental systems management
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic planning
- Large budget management
- Capital project oversight
- Policy development
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with large-scale building operations
- Lack of knowledge about safety regulations
- Poor understanding of preventive maintenance
- No experience managing service contracts or vendors
