Facilities Manager Interview Questions

The goal for a successful interview for Facilities Manager is to evaluate the candidate’s experience in facilities management, their knowledge of building codes and regulations, and their ability to lead a team and manage resources effectively.

Situational interview questions

• You’ve discovered that the company’s energy costs have skyrocketed over the last three months. What steps would you take to investigate and uncover the root cause of this issue, and how would you propose to address it?
• One of the air conditioning systems in the building has malfunctioned, causing the temperature in the affected area to rise to uncomfortable levels. What would your troubleshooting steps be to determine the underlying cause of the issue, and how would you prioritize and schedule repairs?
• A pipe has burst in the building, causing water damage to several floors. What’s your process for responding to this emergency, ensuring safety for occupants, and minimizing damage to the building and its contents?
• How do you ensure that the facility stays in compliance with federal and local safety and environmental regulations, including OSHA and EPA requirements? Provide an example of how you’ve managed to handle these requirements in a past position.
• The company has just budgeted significant resources to launch a new product line, and they’ve asked for your input on how to optimize the space allocation in the facility to make room for the new product. What factors would you consider before making your recommendations, and how would you work with other departments (such as manufacturing and marketing) to ensure their needs are met in the space plan?

Soft skills interview questions

• Can you describe a situation where you had to mediate a conflict between two employees? How did you handle it?
• How do you prioritize and manage your workload when you have multiple projects and requests coming in at the same time?
• Have you ever implemented a new process or policy aimed at improving communication or collaboration within a team? What was the result?
• How do you approach giving constructive feedback to team members who are not meeting expectations? Can you provide an example?
• Tell me about a time when you had to find a creative solution to a problem. What was your approach and what was the outcome?

Role-specific interview questions

• Can you explain your experience with HVAC systems, particularly in diagnosing issues and conducting routine maintenance?
• How do you prioritize and manage multiple renovation or maintenance projects simultaneously?
• Have you ever dealt with emergency situations such as power outages or severe weather events affecting a facility? How did you handle the situation?
• In your experience, what strategies do you employ to ensure that all safety codes and regulations are followed within a facility?
• How do you work with vendors and contractors to ensure that work is completed efficiently and effectively within budget?

STAR interview questions

1. Can you share a specific situation where you had to address a major maintenance issue in a facility? What was your task in that situation and what actions did you take to solve the problem? Lastly, what were the results of your actions?

2. Describe a time when there was an urgent need to prepare a facility for an unexpected event, such as a natural disaster. What was your task in that situation, and how did you go about taking the necessary actions to prepare the facility? What were the results of your efforts?

3. Tell us about a time when you realized that the equipment in one of your facilities was outdated and needed to be replaced in order to improve efficiency. What was your task in that situation, and what steps did you take to determine the best course of action? Finally, what results did you achieve thanks to the changes you made?

4. Can you give an example of a situation where you had to manage a complex move into a new facility? What was your task in that situation, and what actions did you take to ensure a smooth transition? Finally, what were the results?

5. Describe a time when you had to address a security concern in one of your facilities. What was your task in that situation, and what actions did you take to ensure the safety of those who use the facility? Lastly, what results did you see from the actions you took?