Hays Facilities Management
January - March 2012
Hotspots
Candidates with strong prior FM experience in operational, consulting or contracts management and a mixture of both hard and soft skills are in demand in Western Australia. This is in response to a range of expanding FM contracts, new mobilisations and new entrants to the FM market.
High end health and hospital related roles in operations and contracts management are busy areas in the Sydney market. Good candidates with this expertise are in short supply. The state also needs Data Centre Technicians (electrical) as new data centres are built in response to the demand for mobile internet, increased internet speeds and secure networks. Data Centre Technicians (air-conditioning) are also needed over our hot summer months. Maintenance Carpenters are also needed.
In Darwin, the award of a major Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract to design, build and operate a new prison facility will further increase demand for FM professionals in an already tight market. Facilities Managers, Project Managers and Supervisors with exposure to major installation and maintenance contracts will be in high demand, as will those that have had previous PPP experience.
In Victoria, tighter margins and pressure from clients means that additional works represent an important revenue stream for service providers. As a result, FM candidates with strong customer facing business development skills are needed.
Overcoming skills shortages
In response to this shortage, some employers have increased base salaries or have begun to offer additional financial incentives, such as tax breaks, parking, location or site allowance (in Western Australia) and improved work/life balance. In Darwin, salaries are becoming more competitive with Western Australia and this trend is expected to continue.
The coming quarter
Most firms have indicated that they will recruit staff this quarter, with the preference being permanent or fixed-term contracts. At present, employers are restricting the use of temporary assignments to holiday or illness cover. In addition, some major contracts will be won early in 2012, particularly in Victoria where the FM market will have a strong first quarter.
In Victoria's public sector, state government employment cuts should be counter balanced by demand in the education and healthcare sectors.
Executive recruitment
There are a number of roles available at this level in Western Australia, including FM Consultants (hard and soft services), Senior Operations Managers (hard services) and Senior Facilities Managers. In Sydney, high end roles have appeared in the medical research areas at the $150,000 and above level. In Victoria, senior opportunities are predominantly available in the public sector. Given the level of investment in major projects, commercially focused Project Managers are highly sort after.
Employer trends
Some employers have sped up the recruitment process and will undertake telephone interviews to quicken proceedings. Salaries have improved and are expected to increase further over the coming months, although in NSW salaries have remained steady due to uncertainty within the State Government over funding cuts and recruitment freezes.
An increased number of employers are choosing to promote candidates into senior roles early in their career rather than recruit externally. This strategy has both advantages and disadvantages. It builds good team morale and aids retention, but it places a great deal of pressure on junior candidates too early in their career.
Candidate trends
There is a good pool of passive candidates who will consider career opportunities, although most high calibre candidates are remaining in their current positions. We have also seen a small influx of immigrants to ease some of the demand.
There is still a shortage of professionally recognised and registered Facilities Managers who hold FMA or similar memberships, which is challenging the industry's ability to be recognised as a true profession by senior management and HR.
