Employment and Educational Opportunities:

The demand for facility management graduates is high and a career in facility management offers many opportunities. The responsibilities of facility managers are varied and numerous. A facility manager may supervise numerous aspects of a company's facilities including architecture, interior design, computer systems, telecommunications, real estate acquisition, security, and more. As such, facility managers wear many professional hats and must be knowledgeable and skilled as follows: communicators, environmentalists, designers & space planners, strategic planners, financial planners, "tekkies", and team leaders (International Facility Management Association - IFMA). Facility Management is ideal for those who are detail-oriented, organized, and enjoys working with and managing people.

Entry-level positions offer competitive salaries ranging from $43,000 to $60,000 depending on geographic location, company size and position.

Average salaries for the following titles (2007 IFMA survey)

• Aramark Corporation
• CSI Group
• Dominoes Pizza
• DOW Chemical
• Facility Engineering Associates
• Environmental Protection Agency
• DTE Energy
• FM Systems
• General Services Administration (GSA)
• Gordon Food Services
• Hyatt Hotels
• Intel Corporation
• Meijer Corporation
• National Park Service
• Pulte Homes
• Public Works Canada
• Starbucks Coffee
• Spectrum Health
• Steelcase
• University of Michigan
• Walgreens

"Architectural Technology and Facility Management programs provided me with the necessary skills to be successful in my chosen career. Courses and assignments challenged me to think critically about a problem or task, make informed decisions, and work in an efficient manner; all of which are skills that employer’s desire."

NATHAN VEENEMAN, AlUMNUS
AAS IN ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGY, CLASS OF 2007, BS IN FACILITY MANAGEMENT, CLASS OF 2009, FACILITY MANAGER, GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.