What is a Field Manager?
A Field Manager, otherwise referred to as a Field Service Manager, is a team leader who will manage a group of employees while they work on a site. They are responsible for overseeing a range of day-to-day operations, covering both in-house staff and contractors alike while their influence extends beyond the worksite.
If you are planning to become a Field Manager, there are opportunities across multiple industries. With FieldEngineer.com, finding them is a whole lot easier.
How do I Become a Field Manager?
While it is possible to become a Field Manager with a high school diploma, the vast majority will be educated to Bachelor's Honors degree level in Business Management or similar. Some will take their education one step further with a Masters.
In addition to academic qualifications, the role of a Field Manager is one that requires industry-specific training and a wealth of experience. It is common for Field Managers to have worked their way up the ladder from Field Engineer or lower-ranked supervisory roles. There is no set time frame on how long you should have been in those roles before progressing to this senior position, but it's usually at least a few years.
What are the Roles and Responsibilities of a Field Manager?
Given the array of industries and projects that you could work on, the day-to-day responsibilities of a Field Manager can vary greatly depending on the site. However, the role primarily focuses on supervising a team of employees in the field, which can cover a wide range of individual assignments.
Field Managers may coordinate a team of engineers by scheduling their travel, arranging employee-client meetings, and even managing the fleet of company vehicles that are needed on the site. The latter responsibility includes vehicle maintenance and repair reporting.
The Field Manager will also recruit the engineers and associated on-site employees while also arranging or confirming the necessary training before they commence work. Furthermore, the Field Manager will be responsible for monitoring employee performance levels and, where required, taking action to stamp out poor showings.
Field Manager Job Description
Field Managers won't always be restricted to a single location and may oversee field reps across multiple sites within a region. It is most common to work for companies that have outside sales representatives or field technicians while the bulk of their work will be completed during regular work hours, although it's not uncommon to rack up a little more than 40 hours per week.
In most cases, the Field Manager works inside an office that is located on-site or in the assigned field. The job does involve travel to check up on field representatives, though, while monthly or quarterly progress assessments with clients may be required too. The job will also cover making budgets as part of the vehicle management protocols.
Field Managers must also ensure that all policies and regulations are upheld at all times while also providing a point of contact for all field operatives, employees, and clients in the field. Essentially, the job is to maintain smooth operations on a daily and ongoing basis for maximized efficiency and safety.
Field Manager Salary
The salary of a Field Manager can be influenced by a wide range of factors, including the industry, location, and number of hours worked per week. However, most workers in this role can expect a base salary of at least $60,000. Meanwhile, the median salaries in popular sectors are $93,370 for Construction Managers, $65,320 for Social & Community Service Managers, and $140,760 for Architectural and Engineering Managers.
Experienced Field Managers can command very good salaries, and the gig economy has the potential to deliver even greater earnings. Sign up to FE, and the door to a plethora of new opportunities will swing open.
Field Manager FAQs
What are the key skills needed to thrive?
Project management, computer literacy, customer service, time management, communication and organizational skills.
What type of person is best suited to the role?
The best Field Managers are self-motivators with a logistical approach to problem-solving and an eye for meticulous detail.
How long do job placements last?
Many Field Managers work for one company, but with Field Engineer, you have the flexibility of the gig economy, which may produce jobs that last a week, month, year, or longer.
The role of Field Manager provides the basis for a highly rewarding career that enables you to play an integral part in the projects while commanding an excellent salary. If you're ready to take the next step in your career, FieldEngineer makes it happen.
