Facilities Manager Interview Questions

1.1The FM mandate - creating and maintaining a safe, functional, and productive built environment

1.2Hard FM vs soft FM - the technical building services vs the people-facing services the function delivers

1.3Workplace strategy - how facilities management supports how and where people work

1.4FM in different sectors - office, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and how the role adapts

2.1Planned preventive maintenance - the schedules, records, and compliance framework that keeps buildings running

2.2Reactive maintenance - how to manage unexpected failures, prioritise response, and resolve issues promptly

2.3Building fabric management - structure, roof, windows, floors, and the longer-term investment plan

2.4Energy management - monitoring consumption, reducing waste, and managing the energy cost and carbon footprint

3.1Health and safety in facilities - risk assessments, permit to work systems, and legal compliance

3.2Fire safety management - fire risk assessment, evacuation procedures, fire prevention, and testing

3.3Compliance framework - COSHH, asbestos, legionella, electrical, and the legal requirements around each

3.4Incident management - reporting, investigation, and learning from safety incidents and near misses

4.1Catering and hospitality - service specification, supplier management, and quality standards

4.2Cleaning and environmental services - contract management, quality inspection, and service standards

4.3Security and access control - manned guarding, CCTV, access management, and the security risk framework

4.4Post room and support services - mail, reprographics, and the operational support services the business needs

5.1Space management - measuring utilisation, managing allocations, and planning for change

5.2Workplace design - the FM contribution to fit-outs, refurbishments, and creating effective working environments

5.3Moves, adds, and changes - managing the churn of staff moves efficiently and accurately

5.4Hybrid working and the changing workplace - how facilities management adapts to new ways of working

6.1FM contracting models - bundled, TFM, managing agent, and single service and how to choose

6.2Procurement and tendering - specifying FM services, running a tender, and selecting suppliers

6.3Contract management - KPIs, SLAs, performance reviews, and holding FM suppliers accountable

6.4Supplier relationship management - building productive relationships with key FM suppliers

7.1FM budgeting - service charge budgets, capex planning, and managing the FM cost base

7.2Cost control - managing spend against budget, identifying savings, and explaining variances

7.3Life cycle costing - the total cost of ownership approach to building and equipment investment decisions

7.4Value for money - benchmarking FM costs and ensuring the business gets competitive value from its FM spend

8.1FM sustainability strategy - energy, water, waste, and the FM contribution to the organisation ESG goals

8.2Energy and carbon management - measurement, reduction plans, and reporting

8.3Waste management - waste minimisation, recycling, and regulatory compliance

8.4Green building standards - BREEAM, LEED, and the FM role in maintaining or achieving certification

9.1Business continuity from an FM perspective - ensuring the business can operate through a facility failure

9.2Emergency planning - the FM role in major incident response for the premises

9.3Pandemic and health incident planning - the FM lessons from COVID and how they inform future planning

9.4Critical incident response - the FM first responder role and the stakeholder communication required

10.1Technical questions - building compliance, M&E, health and safety, contract management, and energy

10.2Scenario questions - managing a major building failure, a health and safety incident, or a difficult supplier

10.3Behavioural questions - team leadership, managing competing priorities, stakeholder communication, and innovation

10.4Salary negotiation, evaluating a facilities portfolio, and questions that reveal the investment culture and workplace ambition of the organisation