School business officials in facility management oversee all aspects of planning, construction, and property management, as well as maintenance and operations. They work closely with the community and stakeholders to understand what they require for successful facilities, and they have the strategic and analytic skills to foresee the needs of the upcoming projects. The Facility Management area of practice encompasses:
PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION
School business officials in this function understand everything involved in facility management, maintenance, and safety. Working with architects, property management, communities, and municipalities, they develop business cases for new and existing facilities, supported and unsupported. They also understand the provincial regulatory requirements and processes and municipal bylaws related to this area. A school business official understands and demonstrates the ability to:
- Manage the facility master plan in cooperation with fellow administrators and pertinent stakeholders (e.g., community, board, skill professionals) through the collection and analysis of relevant data to provide a list of short- and long-term capital needs for a safe and effective instructional environment.
- Oversee new construction and renovations, within established timelines and budgets working with stakeholders (e.g., administrators, architects, engineers, construction manager, building committees stakeholder groups) to provide adequate facilities for student learning.
- Develop a working knowledge of funding sources and financing activities.
- Develop a working knowledge of issues related to school construction and project management.
- Apply the steps and procedures involved in developing and using education specifications for selecting school sites and undertaking work projects.
- Understand the legal and administrative responsibilities for advertising, awarding, and managing construction contracts.
- Understand the relevant codes, standards and other legislative and regulatory requirements impacting school buildings.
- Track, analyze and present project budget costs and cash flow information.
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS
- Oversee the operation and maintenance of school and other facilities using established standards to provide a clean, safe, secure environment including energy- and cost-efficient operations.
- Understand the school authority programming needs (ie instructional, co-curricular, extracurricular, non instructional).
- Determine resource allocation for maintenance and operations.
- Evaluate and update district safety protocols and crisis response plans.
- Create and maintain a positive working relationship with staff members, contractors and suppliers.
- Effectively form partnerships with the private sector to enhance resources available to the school system about facilities and equipment.
- Use technology to improve facilities through data management.
- Implement a comprehensive risk management strategy.
- Understand provincial codes, standards, regulatory and legislative requirements, impacting school facilities.
