Building Maintenance Director: Job Description, Duties and Outlook

Building maintenance directors supervise maintenance staff in the upkeep of residential or commercial buildings. A wide range of repair and management skills are necessary for this management position. Job prospects are good in this field, and building maintenance directors with a bachelor's degree, several years of work experience and certified facility manager status have a better chance of obtaining higher-level positions.

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Job Description for Building Maintenance Directors

Building maintenance directors ensure that maintenance staff perform the proper repairs and preventative maintenance needed to keep a building's infrastructure running smoothly. They may be found working for senior retirement homes, apartment complexes, industrial warehouses, hotels, college campuses, healthcare facilities or office buildings. Directors' daily tasks can vary based on employer needs and the building's type and function.

Most director positions require a high school diploma, at least two years of maintenance experience and an understanding of building codes and regulations. Larger companies with multiple buildings may require a bachelor's degree in a related area, such as engineering, architecture or facility maintenance. Directors usually have an office, but their schedules will often include frequent building site visits.

Building maintenance directors must be detail-oriented and possess leadership, communication and problem-solving skills. A working knowledge of electrical, plumbing and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems is typically necessary for this position.

Duties of Building Maintenance Directors

In addition to scheduling maintenance worker shifts and managing building operations, directors will need to make sure that maintenance and repair costs stay within budget. This can range from utilizing energy efficient light bulbs to interacting with contractors on large renovation projects. Besides making sure that buildings are in compliance with local building and safety codes, they may also be responsible for directing housekeeping and grounds staff in keeping the interior and exterior of the building looking clean and presentable.

Building maintenance directors should be able to read blueprints as they will need to monitor the upkeep of electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems. To some extent, directors must be proficient in many trades since they also oversee common repair tasks, such as patching drywall, fixing leaks, painting and re-keying locks. They are often responsible for interviewing, hiring and training maintenance staff. Most directors will need to be always on-call, so they can be contacted at any time in case of an emergency with one of their buildings.

Career Outlook for Building Maintenance Directors

According to SimplyHired.com, building maintenance directors had an annual average salary of $52,000 in 2010. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that the entire administrative services manager profession would grow by 12% between 2008 and 2018. Demand for building maintenance directors would be especially strong as businesses realize the need for maintaining and efficiently operating their infrastructures (www.bls.gov).

Higher-level director positions often involve managing multiple building sites, and individuals seeking these positions may want to consider becoming a certified facility manager (CFM). This globally recognized certification is offered by the International Facility Management Association. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree and at least three years of work experience to take the CFM exam (www.ifma.org).

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  • ITT Technical Institute

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  • Ashworth College

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  • North Dakota State University

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    Areas of study you may find at North Dakota State University include:
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  • 4 South University

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  • 5 North Dakota State University
  • 6 Iowa State University
  • 7 New England Institute of Technology
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