What Does a Building Supervisor Do?

Physical maintenance, security, tenant management, and any construction or renovation projects are all responsibilities of a building supervisor. The level of responsibility varies greatly depending on the size of the building, the complexity of the property management company, and the facility’s age. A building supervisor for a 50-year-old school building, for example, has far more responsibilities than a four-level residential building supervisor.

The primary focus of the building supervisor’s day is the physical maintenance of the structure. He or she usually has a checklist or manual that specifies which areas of the building should be inspected at various times throughout the year. The supervisor is required to document any issues and prioritize them in order of magnitude and risk during these inspections.

Minor issues are the supervisor’s responsibility to fix. When the supervisor is unable to resolve the problem, outside contractors or skilled trade professionals are called in. This type of work offers a lot of variety and allows you to use a variety of skills.

The property management company is in charge of the building’s overall security, which usually entails hiring a security firm to install alarms and cameras. Basic security, such as checking that door locks are in good working order, replacing broken windows as soon as possible, changing locks when tenants lose their keys, and physically walking around the building perimeter are all tasks that the building supervisor performs.

Responding to emergency service calls, performing minor repairs and maintenance, performing an annual inspection of the units, and identifying any issues that require repair or replacement are all part of tenant management. The supervisor, as the first point of contact for tenants, must have excellent communication skills. Customer service commitment is also a necessary quality for the supervisor to possess.

The building supervisor is usually in charge of small construction or renovation projects. He or she is in charge of keeping track of everyone who enters the building in order to finish the job. In this type of project, his or her responsibility usually consists of inspecting the site at the beginning and end of each day for damage, vandalism, or other issues.

There are no formal post-secondary programs that offer specific training for building supervisors. Rather, the majority of candidates for this type of job have completed some form of skilled trades training, such as carpentry or mechanical technician. Depending on the type of building, he or she may also have completed a health and safety or building maintenance course.