Facilities manager
Make sure that buildings are well-maintained and meet the needs of the people who work there.
Also known as: support services manager
About the job
What it's like
You would make sure that buildings are well-maintained and meet the needs of the people who work there.
If the building is clean and the services are efficient then the people who work there can easily get on with their jobs.
You would organise services such as cleaning, security and parking. You’d be responsible for the maintenance of equipment like heating and air conditioning systems.
You would:
Manage the general upkeep and maintenance of the building
Organise refurbishments, renovations and office moves
Advise on energy efficiency
Oversee services such as cleaning, waste disposal, catering and parking
Look after budgets and keep records of payments
Negotiate the best deals with contractors and suppliers
Manage security
Manage office systems including information technology and office equipment.
You’d need to make sure that the building meets health and safety standards and legal requirements. You’d work with a wide range of people and have to deal with lots of tasks at once.
There are roles as facilities managers in the public and private sector.
You could work for a facilities management company that is contracted to manage facilities for a number of organisations.
In small companies, facilities management may be part of a general management role.
Hours
You would work around 40 hours a week, usually 9am to 5pm, but you may sometimes need to do extra hours, for example to deal with emergencies.
Environment
You would be office-based but might need to visit other sites if you work for a large, multi-site company.
Travel
You would probably need to do some travelling, particularly if you work for a large, multi-site company.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- facility management
- renovation
- facility operations
- space planning
- ohsas 18001 standard
- variance reporting
- invoice approval
- space allocation problem
- goods receipt note
- smart buildings
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking responsibility
- making decisions
- delegating
- developing a plan
- working with numbers
- innovative
- verbal communication
- building relationships
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Practical Craft Skills
Foundation Apprenticeship: Engineering
Skills for Work: Building Services Engineering
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You would need a Higher National Diploma (SCQF level 8) or a degree (SCQF level 9) in facilities management or other relevant subject such as engineering, management or business studies.
You can also enter a job without these qualifications and study part-time to gain professional qualifications such as The Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) offers a Level 3 Award, Certificate (SCQF level 7) and Diploma (SCQF level 8) in Facilities Management.
You can enter a Higher National Certificate (SCQF level 7) or Higher National Diploma courses (SCQF level 8) with National 4/5 qualifications and one to two Highers or equivalent qualifications.
To enter a Facilities Management Degree (SCQF level 9/10) usually requires National 5 qualifications and a minimum of four Highers or above or a relevant HNC/HND.
A postgraduate qualification (SCQF level 11) would be useful but is not essential.
You may require a driving licence for some jobs.
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