What Do Directors of Facilities Operations Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for directors of facilities operations?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what directors of facilities operations do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Directors of Facilities Operations Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about directors of facilities operations by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Directors of Facilities Operations plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization’s campus.
Popular Job Titles For Directors of Facilities Operations
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Facilities Managers
- Facilities Coordinators
- Facilities Technicians
- Directors of Facilities
- Facilities Supervisors
- Facilities Project Managers
- Facilities Specialists
- Security Managers
- Facilities Assistants
- Facility Administrators
- Assistant Facilities Managers
- Skilled Nursing Facility Registered Nurses
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for directors of facilities operations can be found.
Best Industries for Directors of Facilities Operations
Directors of Facilities Operations Jobs By Industry
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 7.7%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 5.9%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 5.7%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 4.1%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 3.9%
- Traveler Accommodation: 3.8%
- Other: 68.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of directors of facilities operations can be found working in the Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals sector. In 2023, about 7.7% of all jobs for directors of facilities operations were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (5.9%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (5.7%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (4.1%), General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (3.9%) and Traveler Accommodation (3.8%).
What Do Directors of Facilities Operations Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what directors of facilities operations do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work directors of facilities operations do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that directors of facilities operations tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for directors of facilities operations, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Directors of Facilities Operations
Based on 102,942 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Directors of Facilities Operations
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Facility Management | 30,154 | 29% |
| Project Management | 18,786 | 18% |
| Construction | 17,469 | 17% |
| HVAC | 17,437 | 17% |
| Plumbing | 14,537 | 14% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Directors of Facilities Operations
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 49,425 | 48% |
| Operations | 47,990 | 47% |
| Communication | 45,466 | 44% |
| Leadership | 29,850 | 29% |
| Customer Service | 29,576 | 29% |
Based on 102,942 job postings related to directors of facilities operations, facility management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 29% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for project management, construction, hvac, plumbing and facility repair and maintenance were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for directors of facilities operations, followed by operations, communication, leadership, customer service and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Facility Management | 30,154 | 29% |
| Project Management | 18,786 | 18% |
| Construction | 17,469 | 17% |
| HVAC | 17,437 | 17% |
| Plumbing | 14,537 | 14% |
| Facility Repair And Maintenance | 13,687 | 13% |
| Auditing | 10,719 | 10% |
| Renovation | 9,152 | 9% |
| Preventive Maintenance | 8,337 | 8% |
| Invoicing | 7,962 | 8% |
| Painting | 7,480 | 7% |
| Facility Operations | 7,130 | 7% |
| Procurement | 7,129 | 7% |
| Carpentry | 7,035 | 7% |
| Purchasing | 6,666 | 6% |
| Operations Management | 6,124 | 6% |
| Housekeeping | 5,888 | 6% |
| Landscaping | 5,850 | 6% |
| Environment Health And Safety | 5,696 | 6% |
| Accounting | 5,675 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 49,425 | 48% |
| Operations | 47,990 | 47% |
| Communication | 45,466 | 44% |
| Leadership | 29,850 | 29% |
| Customer Service | 29,576 | 29% |
| Planning | 23,414 | 23% |
| Coordinating | 20,145 | 20% |
| Microsoft Office | 16,663 | 16% |
| Scheduling | 15,836 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 15,623 | 15% |
| Writing | 15,154 | 15% |
| Microsoft Excel | 14,379 | 14% |
| Detail Oriented | 13,261 | 13% |
| Budgeting | 13,005 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 11,069 | 11% |
| Lifting Ability | 10,621 | 10% |
| Computer Literacy | 10,451 | 10% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 10,231 | 10% |
| Supervision | 9,433 | 9% |
| Organizational Skills | 9,426 | 9% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Directors of Facilities Operations
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Facilities Managers | 30,705 | 27.2% |
| Facilities Coordinators | 14,406 | 12.8% |
| Facilities Technicians | 10,795 | 9.6% |
| Directors of Facilities | 6,584 | 5.8% |
| Facilities Supervisors | 7,753 | 6.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was facilities managers, with 11,771 unique job postings. Facilities coordinators were second, with 3,811 postings, followed by facilities technicians, directors of facilities and facilities supervisors.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to directors of facilities operations.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Facilities Managers | 30,705 | 27.2% |
| Facilities Coordinators | 14,406 | 12.8% |
| Facilities Technicians | 10,795 | 9.6% |
| Directors of Facilities | 6,584 | 5.8% |
| Facilities Supervisors | 7,753 | 6.9% |
| Facilities Project Managers | 4,940 | 4.4% |
| Facilities Specialists | 5,536 | 4.9% |
| Security Managers | 4,296 | 3.8% |
| Facilities Assistants | 4,317 | 3.8% |
| Facility Administrators | 3,844 | 3.4% |
| Assistant Facilities Managers | 2,959 | 2.6% |
| Skilled Nursing Facility Registered Nurses | 3,286 | 2.9% |
| Facility Attendants | 1,557 | 1.4% |
| Security Account Managers | 2,311 | 2.1% |
| Regional Facilities Managers | 2,063 | 1.8% |
| Security Operations Managers | 2,002 | 1.8% |
| Facilities Operations Managers | 1,820 | 1.6% |
| Facility Operations Managers | 1,131 | 1% |
| Directors of Facilities Operations | 1,355 | 1.2% |
| Facility Operations Specialists | 1,054 | 0.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for directors of facilities operations? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for directors of facilities operations.
How much do directors of facilities operations make?
Directors of Facilities Operations: How do you become one?
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