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What is a director, facilities & operations and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A director of facilities & operations manages and oversees the physical infrastructure, maintenance, and operations of a facility or organization. This includes managing budgets, staff, vendors, and contractors to ensure the smooth operation of buildings, equipment, utilities, and services. A director of facilities & operations must also ensure compliance with safety and regulatory requirements while also identifying opportunities for cost saving measures and facility improvements.

ScoreDirector, Facilities & OperationsUS Average
Salary
4.5

Avg. Salary $57,665

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.0

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.48%

Asian 4.36%

Black or African American 10.21%

Hispanic or Latino 14.05%

Unknown 4.33%

White 66.57%

Gender

female 19.22%

male 80.78%

Age - 51
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 51
Stress level
8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a director, facilities & operations?

Pros

  • Opportunity to make significant improvements to facility operations

  • Competitive salary and benefits

  • Chance to mentor and develop staff members

  • Potential for career advancement

  • Ability to oversee a wide range of departments and functions

Cons

  • Long hours and high stress levels

  • Frequent interruptions and unexpected issues that must be addressed immediately

  • High level of accountability for all aspects of facility operations

  • Need to balance multiple priorities simultaneously

  • Difficulty maintaining work-life balance due to on-call responsibilities

Director, facilities & operations career paths

Key steps to become a director, facilities & operations

  1. Explore director, facilities & operations education requirements

    Most common director, facilities & operations degrees

    Bachelor's

    55.8 %

    Associate

    16.3 %

    Master's

    12.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific director, facilities & operations skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service13.62%
    Preventative Maintenance10.41%
    HVAC7.24%
    Plumbing6.59%
    Facility Operations4.32%
  3. Complete relevant director, facilities & operations training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New directors, facilities & operations learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a director, facilities & operations based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real director, facilities & operations resumes.
  4. Gain additional director, facilities & operations certifications

    Director, facilities & operations certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific director, facilities & operations certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for directors, facilities & operations include Certified Facility Manager (CFM) and OSHA Safety Certificate .

    More About Certifications
  5. Research director, facilities & operations duties and responsibilities

    • Finance and billing accountability across Medicaid, manage care commercial insurance, insurance verification, contract management, and benefits administration.
    • Create, update, implement and maintain all safety policies and procedures to comply with OSHA.
    • Coordinate the general maintenance of the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, recycling and fire safety programs.
    • Create business plans and programs for dealers, updating POS material every quarter and launch new marketing strategies.
  6. Get director, facilities & operations experience

    Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a director, facilities & operations. The most common roles before becoming a director, facilities & operations include facilities manager, director of facilities team lead and project manager.
  7. Prepare your director, facilities & operations resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your director, facilities & operations resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a director, facilities & operations resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable director, facilities & operations resume templates

    Build a professional director, facilities & operations resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your director, facilities & operations resume.
    Director, Facilities & Operations Resume
    Director, Facilities & Operations Resume
    Director, Facilities & Operations Resume
    Director, Facilities & Operations Resume
    Director, Facilities & Operations Resume
    Director, Facilities & Operations Resume
    Director, Facilities & Operations Resume
    Director, Facilities & Operations Resume
    Director, Facilities & Operations Resume
  8. Apply for director, facilities & operations jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a director, facilities & operations job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first director, facilities & operations job

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Average director, facilities & operations salary

The average director, facilities & operations salary in the United States is $57,665 per year or $28 per hour. Director, facilities & operations salaries range between $33,000 and $99,000 per year.

Average director, facilities & operations salary
$57,665 Yearly
$27.72 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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