What does the day-to-day work of a Head of Facility Management and Maintenance with a federal diploma look like?

The new profession "Head of Facility Management and Maintenance (HFP)" is a merger of the previous HFP professions "Head of Facility Management (HFP)" and "Head of Maintenance (HFP)". The area of responsibility has thus become very broad and comprehensive and is now divided into four areas of competence:

1) Production infrastructure and facilities
Ensuring the technical availability of machines, production lines, warehouses, etc. in production and manufacturing companies
2) Technical building infrastructure
Maintaining technical installations such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, locking systems, security installations, e.g. in residential complexes, industrial complexes, hospitals, production plants, banks, shopping centers
3) Real estate management
Administration, letting and management of real estate, rooms and spaces, e.g. for real estate management companies, insurance companies, public administrations, hospitals and care homes
4) Hospitality Management
Services such as cleaning, catering services, provision of laundry and work clothing, e.g. in hospitals, care homes, hotels

Heads of Facility Management and Maintenance (LFMM) are executives in operational management and can take on tasks from several of these areas of competence, such as the overarching management function over the janitors, cleaning staff and housekeeping in a large hospital. Or responsibility for the availability of production facilities and the maintenance of building technology systems in an industrial complex.

Your tasks in detail:

• Organize and manage your own area of responsibility
• Recruitment, selection, induction and promotion of employees
• Design of internal and external communication
• Initiating, planning and supporting change processes
• Determine and manage marketing measures
• Supervise building and operational safety, health protection and risk management
• Responsibility for financial management, operational accounting, investments
• Design framework conditions for service and service contracts

Please note: The weighting/frequency of the individual areas of responsibility can vary greatly depending on the function/job profile as well as the company, company size and sector.

Target group and skills: Who is the Higher Professional Examination for Head of Facility Management and Maintenance with a Federal Diploma suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The preparatory courses for the federal higher professional examination "Head of Facility Management and Maintenance (HFP)" (formerly Head of Facility Management / Head of Maintenance) are aimed at people with professional experience in housekeeping, caretaking, real estate management, facility management or a similar field who wish to prepare for a higher and overarching management function.

If you want to ensure that employees have good working conditions, that the necessary work equipment and tools are reliably available, that services can be provided at a reasonable price and that the available resources are used optimally, you have the right qualifications for a job as Head of Facility Management and Maintenance.

If you are also well organized, a strong negotiator and able to enforce quality and safety regulations, then you are probably suitable for this LFMM training course.

Requirements for admission to the higher professional examination for Head of Facility Management and Maintenance:

You must meet the following requirements for admission to the federal higher professional examination "Head of Facility Management and Maintenance" (formerly Head of Facility Management / Head of Maintenance):

• Federal diploma or other tertiary-level qualification and at least two years of relevant professional experience

or

• Completion of upper secondary level (apprenticeship or Matura) or equivalent qualification and at least 5 years of relevant professional experience; at least two years of which in a management position

and

• Completion of the training modules:
  • Module A: Managing employees
  • Module B: Implementing internal / external communication
  • Module C: Applying normative principles and safety regulations
  • Module D: Organizing the area of responsibility
  • Module E: Financial management of areas of responsibility
  • Module F: Developing personal skills
  • Module G: Providing and purchasing services
    (Note: The module qualifications are valid for 5 years. Within these five years, the modules can be recognized as admission requirements for the HFP. Modules that have already expired must be renewed by taking the module examination again).

You will find out whether you have been admitted to the Advanced Specialist Examination for LFMM at least three months before the start of the examination with a written notification including reasons in the event of a negative decision.

Tip:Some schools are prepared to admit you to a preparatory course for the higher professional examination for Head of Facility Management and Maintenance if you do not (yet) meet the criteria for admission to the federal examination. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the necessary requirements at the time of the examination/examination registration. At some schools, it is also possible to attend the course without the intention of taking an examination. In this case, the admission requirements vary depending on the provider.

Subject matter and content of the training

The further training course "Head of Facility Management and Maintenance" (formerly Head of Facility Management / Maintenance Manager) consists of 7 modules and 4 networking subjects:

Module A - Managing employees

• Assess applications, support selection, introduce new employees, conduct performance reviews
• Questioning yourself as a leader, becoming aware of your role, differentiating human images and leadership styles

Module B - Implementing internal / external communication

• Communication, feedback rules, criticism and complaints, discussion and negotiation techniques, arguing, using resistance
• Designing and writing meetings, technical reports, sales documentation, core information

Module C - Applying normative principles and safety regulations

• Standards, labor law, environmental protection, Code of Obligations OR, contract management, procurement law
• Fire protection, building safety, accident prevention, occupational safety, product liability

Module D - Organize area of responsibility

• Own service strategy, strategic planning and operational goals, organizational form
• Supply and disposal, warehouse management, sustainability, use of resources, quality

Module E - Financial management of areas of responsibility

• Financial and operational accounting, financial planning
• Management accounting, investment processes, controlling as a management and steering task, key figures and statistics

Module F - Developing personal skills

• Leading and managing projects and project teams
• Personal stress situations, stress, problem situations, personal handling of change

Module G - Providing and purchasing services

• Personnel requirements, employee deployment, operating resources, service quality and service processes
• Charging for service provision, communication with customers, complaint management

Module SA - Maintaining and servicing production infrastructure and equipment

• Resource requirements, processes and utilization time, inspections, maintenance planning
• Cost reduction, performance improvement, energy optimization, technical procedures and processes, corrective measures

Module SB - Supply and maintain technical building infrastructure

• Life cycle phases of a property, user requirements, building use and final energy consumption, energy indicators
• Maintenance concepts and maintenance plans, building automation, fire protection

Module SC - Real estate management Providing / operating space and areas

• Management strategy, cost drivers in real estate management, ancillary cost accounting
• Space management, forms of contract in real estate management, rental contracts, contracts for work and services, service contracts

Module SD - Providing hospitality management services

• Offer services such as reception, building access, parking lot management, grounds maintenance, events and functions
• Cleaning services, textile supply, industrial and professional laundry, catering services

Note: The course material for LFMM is based on the specifications of the sponsors of the federal examination, the SVIT (Swiss Association of the Real Estate Industry), fmpro and Allpura Association of Swiss Cleaning Companies.

Costs and financing of further training

Apart from the examination fee, which is set by the sponsoring body of the higher professional examination, the costs vary depending on the provider.

In general, the following costs must be expected for the three to four-semester in-service training to become a Head of Facility Management and Maintenance (formerly Head of Facility Management / Maintenance Manager):

• Course feesbetween CHF 17,000 and CHF 21,000, of which you will receive around 50% back from the federal government after the examination (regardless of the result)*.
• Separate costs for module examinationsCHF 1'400.- to CHF 1'800.-
• External examination feesCHF 3,150 (as at: May 2023) The examination fee is set by the examination organizer. It is paid by the candidates once admission has been confirmed.
• Extra costsSome schools do not include the costs for teaching materials, training documents and simulation exams in the course fees. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect.

*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for federal professional examinations (BP) and higher professional examinations (HFP) have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses will therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500 for BP, max. CHF 10,500 for HFP) of the course costs paid upon application after taking the federal examination. In exceptional cases of hardship, the federal contributions will also be paid out in advance.

Duration of study, teaching times, number of lessons, teaching formats and learning effort

• Duration:The further training course to become a Head of Facility Management and Maintenance (formerly Head of Facility Management / Head of Maintenance) has a modular, part-time structure and takes between 3-4 semesters (depending on the provider)
• Lesson times:The course is offered at different times. These time variants are determined independently by the respective schools, so there may be differences. Lessons usually take place weekly, for example either on a whole day or on individual afternoons, evenings and Saturdays.
• Number of lessons for LFMM:In total, the courses comprise approx. 460-670 lessons of classroom teaching. In addition, depending on the individual situation, there are approx. 200-400 working hours for self-study, exam preparation and term papers.
• Teaching formats:Many schools offer a mix of face-to-face and online courses (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning) as well as self-study. You can therefore choose the format that allows you to combine further education with your family, career and free time in the best possible way.
• Learning effort:Thanks to the in-service training concept, you can apply and deepen the learning material in practice straight away. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week as a precaution.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons". This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. Important aspects on the way to a successful graduation. It is best to contact the school of your choice directly for a taster lesson.

Degree, diploma and title

Anyone who has passed all the modules and meets the formal admission requirements will be admitted to the federal PET examination for LFMM.

The HFP for Head of Facility Management and Maintenance (formerly Head of Facility Management / Head of Maintenance) is held annually if at least 12 candidates meet the admission requirements after the announcement, otherwise at least every two years. Candidates can take the examination in German, French or Italian.

Candidates are notified at least 28 days before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the examination program (including details of the place and time of the examination as well as permitted aids) and the list of experts.

The higher professional examination is divided into two written and three oral parts:

1) Diploma thesis (written, weighting 2)

The diploma thesis is prepared in advance. Candidates first write a so-called disposition, in which they roughly describe their topic, plans, etc. They can then start writing their thesis. As soon as the disposition has been accepted, they can start writing the thesis. It comprises approx. 25-30 pages and is written on a topic within one of the many specialization areas (SA, SB, SC, SD).

2) Presentation and expert discussion on the diploma thesis (oral, 15min and 25min, weighted 1 and 2)

The candidates present their thesis to a panel of experts in a short presentation. They then answer questions from the experts about their thesis.

3) Expert discussion on three specialization competence areas (oral, 25min, weighting 2)

Candidates choose three of the four areas of specialization and action competence. They answer questions about these three in the expert interview.

4) Case study business case (written, 240min, weighting 2)

The basis for this part of the exam is a predetermined starting point, for which the candidates have to work on individual and interlinked questions.

 

*The four areas of specialization:

SA: Maintaining and servicing production infrastructure and equipment

SB: Supply and maintain technical building infrastructure

SC: Real estate management Providing and operating space and areas

SD: Provide hospitality management services

 

Diploma and title

Successful graduates of the higher professional examination receive a federal diploma and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Head of Facility Management and Maintenance with Federal Diploma / Head of Facility Management and Maintenance with Federal Diploma".

• In French: "Dirigeante en facility management et maintenance avec diplôm fédéral / Dirigeant en facility Management et maintenance avec diplôme fédéral"
• In Italian: "Dirigente in facility Management e manutenzione con diploma federale / Dirigente in facility management e manutenzione con diploma federale"
• In English (Please note: this is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title): "Head of Facility Management and Maintenance, Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education"