What does a director, facilities & operations do?

Directors of facilities operations plan, organize and maintain the operations of an organization's infrastructure systems and facilities. They hire, evaluate, train, discipline, and recommend staff dismissal. These professionals develop, recommend and administer processes, procedures, and policies that support building maintenance operations and grounds maintenance operations. Besides monitoring and overseeing the external contractors' work to ensure the project runs smoothly, these professionals also collect and analyze several complex information and data, such as utility usage and utility costs.
Director, facilities & operations responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real director, facilities & operations resumes:
- 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.
- Implement CMMS system tracking to document service requests, staff time and materials for accurate customer invoicing and cost recovery.
- Align various trade inspections to ensure conforming infrastructure (septic, rough plumbing, electrical, excavation and structural adherence).
- Negotiate logistics contracts to decrease transportation costs.
- Evaluate and review OSHA guidelines and investigate safety incidents.
- Enhance hall productivity with introduction and implementation of computerize POS.
- Develop maintenance programs for all mechanical and electrical systems including HVAC.
- Provide master planning, facility management, building operation, purchasing, and safety/security oversight.
- Absorb OSHA/safety compliance responsibilities in addition to risk management oversight to foster safe and compliant operations.
- Create processes to determine usable square feet requirements, HVAC and infrastructure suitability, and post-occupancy operations.
- Convert computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) from in-house proprietary software to a web-base, commercially available system.
- Develop an all-inclusive logistics solution for outbound material domestically and abroad to curtail wasteful spending and enforce timing and efficiency.
Director, facilities & operations skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Directors, Facilities & Operations are proficient in Customer Service, Preventative Maintenance, and HVAC. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Detail oriented, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Directors, Facilities & Operations that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 14%
Worked with university customers to improve project oversight and management of customer service, scheduling and team management.
- Preventative Maintenance, 10%
Direct the implementation and administration of a computer-aided maintenance management system to report daily and preventative maintenance tasks to government authorities.
- HVAC, 7%
Created processes to determine usable square feet requirements, HVAC and infrastructure suitability, and post-occupancy operations.
- Plumbing, 7%
Aligned various trade inspections to ensure conforming infrastructure (septic, rough plumbing, electrical, excavation and structural adherence).
- Facility Operations, 4%
Produced 8% savings to facility operations budget through the implementation of Preventive Maintenance Inspections and renegotiating vendor contracts.
- Project Management, 4%
Implemented corporate project management processes for successful portfolio management and project gating practices for improved return on project investment.
Most directors, facilities & operations use their skills in "customer service," "preventative maintenance," and "hvac" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential director, facilities & operations responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a director, facilities & operations to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "administrative services managers must be able to review an organization’s procedures and find ways to improve efficiency." Directors, facilities & operations often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "lead the evaluation, analysis, and performance of facilities management programs involving operations, maintenance, repair, and construction. "
Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling director, facilities & operations duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "administrative services managers must pay attention to details." According to a director, facilities & operations resume, here's how directors, facilities & operations can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "develop and maintain detailed budgets relating to renovation projects, facility and equipment upgrades. "
Communication skills. directors, facilities & operations are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to director, facilities & operations responsibilities, because "much of an administrative services manager’s time is spent working with other people." A director, facilities & operations resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "direct daily operations for facilities, plant operations, security, safety, emergency preparedness, and communications. "
Leadership skills. director, facilities & operations responsibilities often require "leadership skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "in managing workers and coordinating administrative duties, administrative services managers must be able to motivate employees and deal with issues that may arise." This resume example shows what directors, facilities & operations do with leadership skills on a typical day: "provide leadership and guidance for facilities management technology and day-to-day operational services. "
The three companies that hire the most director, facilities & operationss are:
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Director, facilities & operations vs. Manager of environmental services
Although the duties will depend on one's place or industry of employment, a manager of environmental services is primarily responsible for overseeing the environmental programs in a company to ensure efficiency and execution. They are also responsible for examining a company's existing policies and regulations to ensure sustainability in particular areas, devising programs and strategies, coordinating departments across the company, and maintaining an active communication line within the workforce. Furthermore, as a manager of environmental services, it is essential to adhere to the vision, mission, and goals of the company.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between directors, facilities & operations and manager of environmental services. For instance, director, facilities & operations responsibilities require skills such as "preventative maintenance," "hvac," "facility operations," and "ladders." Whereas a manager of environmental services is skilled in "healthcare," "patients," "infection control," and "payroll." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Managers of environmental services tend to make the most money working in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $65,419. In contrast, directors, facilities & operations make the biggest average salary, $62,031, in the manufacturing industry.The education levels that managers of environmental services earn slightly differ from directors, facilities & operations. In particular, managers of environmental services are 3.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a director, facilities & operations. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Director, facilities & operations vs. Engineering/maintenance manager
Engineering and maintenance managers are skilled executive professionals who manage the daily activities of the engineering department while directing the maintenance of all types of machinery in a manufacturing plant. These managers are required to develop preventive maintenance procedures and inspections for all manufacturing equipment so that they can reduce machine downtime. They must ensure that contractors are trained to respond to emergencies and follow all the processes that are documented within the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Engineering and maintenance managers must also create a budget to manage the expenditures related to plant equipment upgrades.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real director, facilities & operations resumes. While director, facilities & operations responsibilities can utilize skills like "customer service," "facility operations," "cleanliness," and "oversight," engineering/maintenance managers use skills like "plant maintenance," "predictive maintenance," "lean manufacturing," and "process improvement."
Engineering/maintenance managers earn a higher average salary than directors, facilities & operations. But engineering/maintenance managers earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $98,678. Additionally, directors, facilities & operations earn the highest salaries in the manufacturing with average pay of $62,031 annually.engineering/maintenance managers earn similar levels of education than directors, facilities & operations in general. They're 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Director, facilities & operations vs. Administrative services manager
An administrative services manager is primarily in charge of overseeing the performance of different offices within a company, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They typically set objectives and guidelines, manage schedules and budgets, conduct regular assessments and inspections, procure and allocate supplies, and monitor the workflow of offices and departments, creating progress reports as needed. Furthermore, as an administrative services manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from director, facilities & operations resumes include skills like "preventative maintenance," "plumbing," "facility operations," and "cleanliness," whereas an administrative services manager is more likely to list skills in "payroll," "provides administrative support," "administrative services," and "patients. "
Administrative services managers earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $72,898. Directors, facilities & operations earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $62,031.Most administrative services managers achieve a similar degree level compared to directors, facilities & operations. For example, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Director, facilities & operations vs. Chief administrative officer
A chief administrative officer's responsibilities revolve around overseeing the company's daily operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They typically devise strategies to improve workforce performance, perform research and analysis to identify new business opportunities, prepare progress and financial reports, delegate tasks to department managers, and set objectives for them to uphold. Furthermore, as a chief administrative officer, it is essential to lead and encourage different departments to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations, recommending new ones as needed.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between directors, facilities & operations and chief administrative officers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a director, facilities & operations might have more use for skills like "customer service," "preventative maintenance," "hvac," and "plumbing." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of chief administrative officers require skills like "financial management," "payroll," "risk management," and "strategic direction. "
The health care industry tends to pay the highest salaries for chief administrative officers, with average annual pay of $168,819. Comparatively, the highest director, facilities & operations annual salary comes from the manufacturing industry.In general, chief administrative officers hold higher degree levels compared to directors, facilities & operations. Chief administrative officers are 7.9% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 4.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of director, facilities & operations
Updated January 8, 2025











