Building Management Job Description

It is the building manager's job to make sure office buildings and residential complexes are operating optimally.

Every building needs to be looked after and maintained to ensure that it is inhabitable and functional. Building managers are professionals who perform and supervise a building’s maintenance, from making sure that its elevators are working properly to cleaning and stocking public restrooms. As a result, building management positions require a variety of skills, including a solid knowledge of housekeeping duties, public health, and safety and security measures.

Function

Building management workers inspect buildings and property grounds to check for and flag maintenance issues. It is the building manager’s job to report any problems that violate building safety, repair broken fixtures and equipment, coordinate building deliveries, monitor rodent and insect exterminations, and assign duties to housekeeping personnel. Other building management duties including overseeing incoming and outgoing shipments from loading dock areas, tracking lost or missing packages, managing the inventory for the distribution of keys, furniture and space, and handling audio and visual equipment requests for meeting rooms.

Work Environment

Building managers are constantly on their feet, since they must walk around and observe whether certain areas need attention or equipment requires repairs. A majority of their time is spent away from their desks and with janitorial, maintenance and housekeeping staff. Most jobs require physical work, including bending, pulling and lifting objects that weigh up to 50 pounds. For example, building managers may be required to lift and relocate equipment to a different floor or room in the building.

Skills

Most companies require that candidates possess basic computer skills such as proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet and email software applications. Since building management positions are often supervisory roles, leadership, organizational, decision-making, troubleshooting and project management skills are helpful. Building managers must be self sufficient and work well independently. In addition, candidates should be knowledgeable about general construction activities, radiation safety, environmental health, biohazard safety programs and fire safety practices and procedures.

Salary

According to Indeed.com, a building manager in the United States earned an average annual salary of $61,000 as of July 2010. Salaries for this position vary based on factors such as sector, company size and years of experience.

Potential

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that jobs for property, real estate and community association managers will increase 8 percent during the 2008 to 2018 decade. This estimation includes on-site property managers who manage the day-to-day operations and maintenance of office buildings, shopping centers and apartment complexes. U.S. population growth and growing awareness of the importance of upkeep for increasing a building's resale value are some of the trends driving job openings, according to the BLS.

References

• UCLA: Building Manager Job Description
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition
• Indeed.com: Building Manager Salary