For the senior PA, it can be a challenging situation. You love the role, you enjoy the responsibility, but you're becoming aware that you've peaked - and you're still only 30. Whether you're a chief executive's EA in a global corporation, or PA to the managing director of an SME, it can be hard to see the next step up. Good secretaries and PAs rise fast, but often plateau early.

So where can you go for new challenges, a longer career path - and a fatter pay packet? One answer is office or facilities management. It's a progression route chosen by an increasing number of PAs, who discover the skills and experience they have already accumulated make a great springboard for this career shift. Senior secretaries increasingly dabble in this area, and the job title "PA/Office Manager" is not uncommon.

A natural progression?

So what is facilities, or office, management? In some organisations, the two disciplines are kept very separate - facilities management relates to the fabric of the premises, rent and leases, car park, garden landscaping, lifts, air conditioning, electrics, IT infrastructure, and so on. Office management tends to refer more to furniture, equipment, stationery, cleaners, mailroom, reception, etc. However, particularly in smaller firms, the definitions tend to blur.

Office management responsibilities fall naturally on the secretary's desk - ordering stationery; running fleet cars; buying a new copier; co-ordinating the staff restaurant; calling the emergency plumber to fix a burst pipe, etc. And these tasks can open the door to a whole new career.

That was the experience of office manager Sarah Welch*. "When I was a PA, half my job was usual office support, but half was office management, and I thoroughly enjoyed that side of the role," she says. "After a couple of years, the next job I applied for was office manager."

An office manager (OM) for nine years, Sarah now has a varied position in financial information provider in London. She thrives on the variety. "Today, for example, I've ordered stationery, taken part in a grievance hearing, done the payroll and expense runs, organised a business trip, and worked on a compliance issue with the Financial Services Association," she explains.

A recent challenge was organising a work permit for a foreign employee - a new task for her. Perseverance, common sense, and a love of problem solving meant that the permit arrived, and she saved the firm £700 in lawyers' fees. "You have to be flexible, unflappable, and determined to find a way around whatever's thrown at you," she stresses.

The building blocks are in place

The skills of a PA – organisation, communication, IT, forward planning, and being a finisher – position them well to move into office management. The secretary/PA is also used to dealing with people, an essential element of the OM position. PAs are used to smoothing the way so that others can function efficiently, and the OM role builds on that.

Says one OM: "Staff need stationery, furniture that's 'fit for purpose', heating and lighting, and the best equipment and IT kit we can give them, so a large part of my role is making sure all that is in place," she continues. "What they don't need is PCs that crash constantly, a sub-zero office, or having to wait for two days for a new zip disk. I provide whatever it takes to help them run their desks smoothly, and so keep the business overall on track."

Office management is a role that calls for maturity. "You need to have experience of life and work," advises Sarah. "You have to converse with staff at all levels, weigh the arguments and evidence, and then make the best decision for the business. Then - you have to be strong enough to stand by your decision. A younger person might feel intimidated when standing their ground with very senior staff, but it's essential."

According to recruitment experts, PAs need to get at least five years' solid experience as a senior PA under their belts before making the jump. But the rewards are good. Good PAs can attract around £28-£35,000, while OMs can command £30-£45,000 plus, says one source.

What's in a name?

The title, office manager, covers a huge variety in jobs. The British Institute of Facilities Management lists 20 competencies on its website, and also explains the requirements in more depth. These broad categories of know-how include:

• Risk management
• Information and knowledge management
• Project management
• Personal leadership
• Human Resources management
• Relationships with suppliers and specialists
• Property and building services maintenance
• Space management
• Sustainability and environmental issues
• Energy and utility management
• Procurement, contracts and contract management
• Legislation, codes, directives and regulatory issues

The last competence, highlighting legislation, is one area which keeps office and facilities managers on their toes. New legislation covering a wide range of areas - from lift operation to fire exits, and from electric sockets to people's workstations - has to be absorbed, understood and implemented. If it isn't, the organisation could be at risk, and the facilities manager could find themselves liable.

Training for success

The BIFM runs many training courses for members on a wide variety of topics, but those new to the job are advised to get themselves on the "Understanding Facilities Management" course. This gives a comprehensive grounding to the broad aspects of the role.

So it seems for those who like variety, responsibility, constant learning, problem-solving and never knowing what's going to come out of the woodwork next (literally!), the office or facilities manager's job can offer an achievable step into a full management role.

"As a PA you can reach a ceiling," asserts Sarah. "But moving into office management is a great progression. It builds on the foundation of skills you already possess, but allows you to develop a whole new challenging and very satisfying, career."