Some people think facilities and operations managers just make sure the lifts are running and the lights are on. In reality, an FM wears many hats. From space management to sustainability and security in the built environment, responsibilities can vary from FM to FM. It’s a career full of opportunity that takes people down many different paths.
Facility Management’s ‘How I Got Here’ series chats to impressive people who have worked in the field to map out some of the paths taken and demystify this essential profession.
Medibank commercial facilities manager Jake Ramanayake, a proud recipient of the JLL Safety Champion award, is committed to debunking the assumption that his profession is one-dimensional and confined to merely ‘fixing things when they break’.
“It’s a complex role that requires strategic thinking, proactive planning and a broad skill set,” he says.
Ramanayake is forever inspired by the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of facilities management and embraces opportunities to create safe, efficient and sustainable work environments, and constantly absorb new knowledge and skills.
Facility Management: Can you provide a career and tertiary education background and outline what led you to be the building and facilities manager at JLL and Medibank?
Jake Ramanayake: I’ve had a progressive career in facilities management for over eight years. I have a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and various professional certifications.
I have worked as a facilities and maintenance manager at Kardinia Park GMHBA Stadium and building services engineer at TLC Healthcare. These experiences have equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of facilities management across commercial, residential and healthcare sectors, leading to my current role at Medibank for JLL.
Can you paint a picture of your average day and what your main roles and responsibilities are?
My typical day involves overseeing facility operations across multiple commercial sites. I manage relationships with occupiers and clients, conduct building inspections, ensure compliance with regulations, and manage both preventive and reactive maintenance.
I liaise with vendors, coordinate facility works, and assist in ensuring compliance with statutory regulations on fire, health, and safety standards. A significant part of my role involves delivering and supporting facilities-related projects within agreed budgets.
What other departments do you work with?
I collaborate with various departments such as budgeting and cost management for finance, senior management for reporting and strategic planning, and the branding, sustainability and workplace health and safety teams for workplace safety. I work closely with vendors and contractors for facilities works and interact with affected business units when delivering projects.
Ramanayake appreciates the inter-department collaboration afforded by his role.
What are the biggest challenges and difficulties of your job?
The key challenges of my role include managing multiple sites across different cities, balancing preventive and reactive maintenance, ensuring compliance with various regulations, and meeting service delivery expectations while managing costs. Additionally, coordinating with multiple stakeholders and managing their expectations is a significant challenge.
Are there any misconceptions about facilities management you’d like to address? What do you think people envision when you say you’re a building and facilities manager?
A common misconception is that facilities management is simply about ‘fixing things when they break’. It’s a complex role that requires strategic thinking, proactive planning and a broad skill set. It involves everything from asset lifecycle management and sustainability initiatives to stakeholder management and compliance with various regulations.
Does technology play a part in your day?
Technology plays a crucial role in my daily work. I use various FM-related software for work order management platforms like Corrigo, dashboard platforms like AZARA, defect reporting platforms such as Aconex and BMS systems like Niagara 4, CMMS systems such as Elumina and Oracle Netsuite and OHS portals like Safety Culture and Donesafe. These tools help in managing work orders, monitoring building systems, ensuring safety compliance, and managing contractors.
What are your career highlights?
Some of my career highlights include delivering cost savings of over $25,000 to the business, receiving the JLL Safety Champion in December 2022 and acquiring performance appraisals for cost-saving initiatives. I have also successfully managed major office relocations, transitions and handover of buildings from developers to facility management operations.
Ramanayake is honoured to create safe and sustainable work environments.
What do you love about your job?
I love the dynamic nature of facilities management. Every day brings new challenges, whether it be implementing energy-saving initiatives, managing emergency situations or finding innovative solutions to improve building performance.
I enjoy the opportunity to make a tangible difference in creating safe, efficient and sustainable work environments. The constant learning and evolution in this field, especially with advancing technologies and sustainability practices, keeps me engaged and motivated.
Photography supplied.
