The answer to the above question is tricky for maintenance and engineering managers in institutional and commercial facilities.
Why? Managers who oversee facility maintenance, engineering and operations, especially those who came up through the trades, have traditionally thought of what they do as a job — a series of tasks for pay.
In a sense, it is a job. It's a crucial job that is at the heart of whether their organizations succeed or fail. Recent challenges presented by issues such as pandemics, resilience and regulatory compliance have reminded everyone from facility executives to building occupants and the general public that a building’s condition and performance play a far greater role in their lives than they realize.
But management in facilities is far more than a job.
It has developed a central body of knowledge essential for success, managers earn credentials and certifications that demonstrate their expertise in critical areas, and they participate in crucial organizational decisions alongside their peers in finance, real estate, IT and sustainability.
Whether managers in facilities realize it or not, they are part of a profession.
When this magazine started in 1993 as Maintenance Solutions, the concept of facilities management as a profession was just that — an idea. Since then, we’ve encouraged managers to view what they do as a profession. In 2000, we helped start the National Facilities Management and Technology Conference and Expo. The annual event has given facilities directors, managers and vice presidents opportunities to learn, consult, network and support each other — in short, to build a professional community.
Where the profession goes from here is anyone’s guess. The challenges facing facilities are constantly evolving. What seems certain, though, is that managers who take a broader view of their duties and responsibilities will find a profession — one that is more rewarding than any job could ever be.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.
