Succeeding in the interview process requires a strategic approach that balances technical expertise with strong interpersonal skills. You should prepare to demonstrate a deep understanding of operational best practices while remaining highly adaptable to the specific needs of the client organization.

Role-Related Knowledge – You must demonstrate a firm grasp of facilities management, property operations, and vendor supervision. Be ready to discuss specific tools, maintenance scheduling methodologies, and safety regulations relevant to the role.

Problem-Solving Ability – Interviewers want to see how you structure your thoughts when faced with ambiguity. Focus on explaining your methodology: how you gather data, assess risks, prioritize tasks, and execute solutions.

Communication & Stakeholder Mobilization – Operations managers rarely work in isolation. You need to prove that you can influence stakeholders at all levels, negotiate effectively with vendors, and translate complex technical issues into clear business terms.

Cultural Adaptability – Because The Lasalle Network places candidates across a wide range of industries, demonstrating your ability to adapt to different corporate cultures—from highly formal environments to fast-paced, entrepreneurial spaces—is critical.

The interview journey for an Operations Manager position is structured to ensure a strong mutual fit between your capabilities, The Lasalle Network's standards, and the ultimate client's organizational culture. The process is designed to be highly professional, transparent, and communicative, typically spanning two to four weeks depending on the complexity of the client's requirements.

The process begins with an initial screening call from a The Lasalle Network recruiter, focusing on your career goals, salary expectations, and high-level role alignment. From there, you will transition to client-specific rounds. These usually involve a video or phone interview with the hiring manager or a regional director, followed by an in-person panel or a meet-and-greet with key team stakeholders.

The visual timeline above illustrates the typical progression from your initial contact with The Lasalle Network to the final client offer. Candidates should use this timeline to pace their preparation, ensuring they focus on high-level competency alignment early on, and transition to deep, scenario-based problem-solving as they approach the client-facing rounds. Note that while some client processes move exceptionally fast, preparing thoroughly for each milestone guarantees consistency.

To excel in this interview process, you must understand the core competencies that client hiring managers prioritize. Expect detailed discussions and behavioral questions centered on these key operational pillars.

Vendor & Contract Supervision

In many modern operational environments, work is executed primarily through third-party partners. Your ability to select, onboard, and manage these vendors determines your operational success.

Be ready to go over:

• SLA Management – How you define, monitor, and enforce service level agreements with contractors.
• Contract Negotiation – Your approach to reviewing vendor proposals and securing cost-effective, high-quality services.
• Performance Auditing – Methods for conducting regular site inspections and performance reviews to ensure compliance.

Example scenarios:

• Managing a critical HVAC failure where the contracted repair team is delayed.
• Resolving a billing dispute with a long-term landscaping or security vendor without damaging the relationship.

Property & Facilities Operations

This area focuses on your technical capability to keep physical assets safe, functional, and compliant with all relevant local and federal codes.

Be ready to go over:

• Preventative Maintenance (PM) – Building and executing PM schedules to extend asset lifespans and prevent costly emergency repairs.
• Budgeting & Capital Expenditures (CapEx) – Tracking daily operational expenses (OpEx) and planning for major physical upgrades.
• Compliance & Safety – Ensuring the property adheres to OSHA, ADA, and local fire safety regulations.

Example scenarios:

• Developing a comprehensive safety plan for an office transition to a hybrid work model.
• Prioritizing a limited capital improvement budget across multiple competing facilities needs.

Crisis Management & Adaptability

Operational environments are inherently unpredictable. Interviewers will closely evaluate how you maintain composure and lead teams during unexpected disruptions.

Be ready to go over:

• Emergency Preparedness – Your experience creating or executing disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
• Rapid Decision-Making – How you analyze risks and make critical calls when time is of the essence.
• Post-Incident Analysis – Conducting root-cause analyses to ensure operational failures do not repeat themselves.

Example scenarios:

• Coordinating the evacuation and building securing protocols during an unexpected severe weather event.
• Handling an immediate, major utility outage that threatens client business continuity.

As an Operations Manager, your day-to-day responsibilities will vary depending on the specific client assignment, but the core focus remains operational excellence and asset preservation.

You will spend a significant portion of your day managing on-site activities. This includes conducting physical property walkthroughs, verifying that facility systems are operating at peak efficiency, and supervising on-site maintenance technicians. You will act as the primary point of contact for any building-related issues, responding swiftly to resolve tenant or employee complaints.

Collaboration is a constant theme in this role. You will work closely with regional property managers, leasing teams, and corporate departments to align operational budgets with broader business objectives. Additionally, you will draft regular operational reports, tracking key metrics such as utility consumption, maintenance response times, and vendor performance to present to executive stakeholders.

To be highly competitive for an Operations Manager placement, you should possess a robust blend of technical expertise and leadership experience.

• Must-have skills – Strong vendor management experience, proficiency with facility management software (CMMS), familiarity with local building codes, and exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Nice-to-have skills – Professional certifications such as Certified Property Manager (CPM) or Facility Management Professional (FMP), and experience utilizing advanced property management platforms like Yardi or RealPage.

Typically, clients look for candidates with 3 to 5 years of direct experience in property management, facilities coordination, or corporate operations. A proven track record of managing operating budgets and supervising capital improvement projects is highly valued.