AM Competency Framework (AMCF)

The Canadian Network of Asset Managers (CNAM) has taken its Asset Management Competency Framework for Canadian Communities (AMCF) and expanded it into this comprehensive online resource for improving the AM capacity of public sector organizations in Canada and enhancing the capabilities of AM practitioners in those organizations.

Operations and Maintenance

Description:

  • Focus is on operation and maintenance of infrastructure.
  • Encompasses operations and maintenance (O&M) roles in the organization.
  • Typically, in public works, facilities, and fleet departments. But, also found embedded in parks, recreation, police, emergency management services, community and health services, IT or other similar departments responsible for physical assets.

Key AM Responsibilities:

  • Support development of AM strategies and plans, the AM management system, and levels of service.
  • Manage O&M-related AM life cycle activities.
  • Support AM decision-making and analysis.
  • Integrate AM into O&M practice.

AM Roles:

As described previously, the generalist AM Roles described in the General AM functional area are focused on the whole of AM. The roles making up this and other AM Functional Areas would be specialist AM roles. These specialist AM Roles would be focused on only a portion of AM, as represented by the functional area they are found in. Generally, these roles would include subject matter experts in that functional area, often with backgrounds, skillsets, and experience in the related domain.

As mentioned, the roles are described in the form of a competency profile, including a title, description, key responsibilities, and expected competency proficiency in each of the AM Competencies. Expected competency proficiency is defined utilizing the AMCF Proficiency Scale. These generic roles can be used to assist in describing and assessing some of your organization’s own AM practitioner positions. Use the AM Competency Profile Template to create a customized competency profile with your organization’s AM position’s details.

Remember that these AM Roles might encompass a person’s entire job, or only a portion of that job. Several different people may have a piece of their job devoted to one or more of the AM Roles across one or more AM Functional Areas. Additionally, remember that any of the AM Functional Areas or AM Roles described can be delivered by external service providers or consultants as well.

AM Role
Frontline O&M Specialist

Description

  • A junior or intermediate supporting role, either as part of a team or alone.
  • Provides hands-on, delivery-focused input into the AM program.
  • Typically, part of an infrastructure-related department (likely Public Works or equivalent) in the organization.

Key AM Responsibilities

  • Integrate AM into O&M practice.
  • Collects data according to AM needs and with an understanding of the importance of that data to the AM program.
  • Contributes O&M information to business case development.
  • Executes O&M plans and day-to-day work in accordance with AM plans, policies, principles.

Expected AM Competency Proficiency

AM Competency

Expected Proficiency

Leading Others

2 – Intermediate

Collaboration

2 – Intermediate

Contextual Analysis

2 – Intermediate

Holistic Thinking

2 – Intermediate

Decision Making

3 – Advanced

Risk Analysis

3 – Advanced

Information Management

2 – Intermediate

Financial Analysis

2 – Intermediate

AM Expertise

2 – Intermediate

Service Focus

2 – Intermediate

Infrastructure Management

4 – Expert

Continuous Improvement

2 – Intermediate

AM Role
Maintenance Planning & Scheduling Specialist

Description

  • An intermediate supporting or advisory role, either as part of a team or alone.
  • Provides near-term, tactical, project-level O&M support for AM.
  • May be in an AM department or may be embedded in an infrastructure-related department (likely Public Works or equivalent) in the organization

Key AM Responsibilities

  • Manage O&M-related AM life cycle activities.
  • Integrates community master plans and organizational strategic plans into operational and maintenance planning.
  • Manages and reviews O&M asset intervention strategies outlined in an organization’s AMP(s).
  • Integrates both operational and capital O&M costs into long term financial plans.
  • Ensures quality and performance management: condition, asset and service performance, reliability, and resiliency.
  • Ensures alignment of O&M activities with AM strategies and plans.

Expected AM Competency Proficiency

AM Competency

Expected Proficiency

Leading Others

2 – Intermediate

Collaboration

2 – Intermediate

Contextual Analysis

2 – Intermediate

Holistic Thinking

2 – Intermediate

Decision Making

3 – Advanced

Risk Analysis

3 – Advanced

Information Management

2 – Intermediate

Financial Analysis

2 – Intermediate

AM Expertise

2 – Intermediate

Service Focus

2 – Intermediate

Infrastructure Management

4 – Expert

Continuous Improvement

2 – Intermediate

AM Role
O&M Decision & Analysis Specialist

Description

  • An intermediate supporting or advisory role, either as part of a team or alone.

  • Provides O&M decision support for AM.

  • May be in an AM department or may be embedded in an infrastructure-related department (likely Public Works or equivalent) in the organization.  

Key AM Responsibilities

  • Supports development of AM strategies and plans, the AM management system, and levels of service.

  • Supports AM decision-making and analysis.

  • Considers: needs, growth, and demographic, environmental, economic, social, technical, and political changes when evaluating.

  • Sets O&M-related technical LOS targets, in alignment with the LOS framework and customer LOS targets, and measures service performance against them.

  • Supports and advises on project prioritization decision making framework.

  • Identifies how various O&M activities impact life cycle costs.

Expected AM Competency Proficiency

AM Competency

Expected Proficiency

Leading Others

2 – Intermediate

Collaboration

2 – Intermediate

Contextual Analysis

2 – Intermediate

Holistic Thinking

2 – Intermediate

Decision Making

3 – Advanced

Risk Analysis

3 – Advanced

Information Management

2 – Intermediate

Financial Analysis

2 – Intermediate

AM Expertise

2 – Intermediate

Service Focus

2 – Intermediate

Infrastructure Management

4 – Expert

Continuous Improvement

2 – Intermediate

AM-Adjacent Roles:

The roles we describe here are comprised of related, but AM-adjacent, responsibilities. While they would strictly fall outside the scope of the AMCF, they have been included to provide some additional context and contrast to the AM Roles. Remember, individuals fulfilling these roles would still be expected to apply fundamental AM principles and concepts and provide an appropriate level of support to AM practitioners, using their general competence in AM, as described by the AM Fundamentals competency. These AM-adjacent roles will often involve providing practical advice or support to others as to the interaction of the functional area with AM issues and situations. See Who Does the AMCF Apply to? For additional details.

AM-Adjacent Role
Senior O&M Expert

Description

  • Provides subject matter support and advice to the AM program.

Key AM Responsibilities

  • Advises on development of best practices for AM-O&M integration.
  • Advises on AM Policies and Strategies from an O&M perspective, particularly with regard to long-term maintenance costs and to service risks related to asset and asset system deterioration.
  • Advises on organizational strategic alignment of AM decision-making and risk frameworks.
  • Reinforces, communicates, and supports AM and AM culture in the O&M functions of the organization.

Expected AM Competency Proficiency

AM Competency

Expected Proficiency

AM Fundamentals

3 – Advanced

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