Background & Client Overview
Campbell Lutyens is a leading independent global private markets advisory firm specialising in fund placement, secondary advisory and GP capital advisory services.
With an international network of offices spanning London, Paris, Munich, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo and Melbourne, the organisation required its operational infrastructure to keep pace with continued international growth.
As the business expanded, Campbell Lutyens appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Operations Facilities Manager to join its global operations team, based in London.
The successful candidate would play an important role in supporting the day-to-day performance of the business while helping develop and improve the way its workplace and operational services were delivered.
The Challenge
The Operations Facilities Manager position combined traditional Facilities Management responsibilities with a broader remit covering operational improvement, organisational change and risk management.
Campbell Lutyens therefore required more than a conventional Facilities professional. The successful candidate needed to understand how workplace operations could support a growing international professional services business while identifying opportunities to improve processes, manage risk and enhance organisational efficiency.
Key areas of responsibility included:
Operations & Facilities Management
Supporting the effective management of workplace and Facilities operations and ensuring services continued to meet the requirements of a growing international organisation.
Operational Improvement
Reviewing existing ways of working and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency and service quality.
Change Management
Supporting the implementation of operational change and helping ensure new processes and initiatives were introduced effectively across the business.
Risk Management
Identifying and managing operational risks while helping establish appropriate controls and procedures.
Global Operations Support
Working as part of Campbell Lutyens' wider global operations team and ensuring Facilities activity remained aligned with broader organisational priorities.
Stakeholder Engagement
Building effective relationships with colleagues and senior stakeholders and understanding the requirements of different teams across the organisation.
Continuous Improvement
Taking a proactive approach to Facilities and operations, identifying opportunities to refine processes and support the company's continued expansion.
Our Recruitment Approach
The breadth of the position required a highly personalised headhunting campaign.
Maxwell Stephens worked closely with Campbell Lutyens to understand the specific experience, personal attributes and cultural qualities required from the successful candidate.
We then combined our established specialist candidate network with targeted advertising and proactive search activity to explore both the active and passive talent markets.
46 Candidates Approached
Following detailed market research, Maxwell Stephens directly approached 46 potential candidates whose backgrounds showed strong alignment with the Operations Facilities Manager brief.
Detailed Screening & Assessment
Candidates were carefully evaluated against the technical and behavioural requirements of the role, including experience in:
- Facilities and workplace operations
- operational management
- process improvement
- change management
- risk management
- stakeholder engagement
- professional services environments
- supporting organisational growth
- working within international businesses
- continuous improvement
Particular attention was paid to finding an individual who could combine operational discipline with adaptability and a genuine appetite for improving how the organisation worked.
Six Candidates Shortlisted
Following our screening and interview process, Maxwell Stephens presented six carefully selected candidates to Campbell Lutyens.
Three Candidates Interviewed
Campbell Lutyens selected three of the six candidates for first-stage interview.
Two Progressed to Second Stage
Two candidates impressed sufficiently to progress to a second-stage interview, providing the client with a strong final choice.
Successful Appointment
The process ultimately resulted in the successful appointment of Campbell Lutyens' preferred candidate as Operations Facilities Manager.
Outcome & Impact
The recruitment campaign provided Campbell Lutyens with a professional capable of supporting both its immediate workplace requirements and its wider operational development.
A Highly Targeted Search
By approaching 46 relevant professionals and refining the market to six strong candidates, Maxwell Stephens delivered a focused shortlist based on detailed understanding rather than volume.
Strong Interview Conversion
Of the six candidates presented, three progressed to interview and two reached the second stage, demonstrating strong alignment between the shortlist and Campbell Lutyens' requirements.
Successful Long-Term Fit
Importantly, the success of the appointment extended beyond the recruitment process itself.
When Maxwell Stephens contacted the successful candidate approximately one year after joining Campbell Lutyens, they reported that they were extremely happy in the position.
This provided a strong indication that the search had achieved not only the required technical match, but also the longer-term cultural and career fit essential to a successful appointment.
Outcome
The successful recruitment of an Operations Facilities Manager provided Campbell Lutyens with an experienced professional capable of combining Facilities Management, operational improvement, change management and risk awareness within a growing international business.
From 46 candidates approached, Maxwell Stephens identified six strong prospects, three were interviewed, two progressed to the final stage and one successful appointment was made.
The candidate's positive feedback a year later further demonstrates the importance of assessing more than technical experience alone. Long-term recruitment success depends on identifying professionals whose skills, ambitions and working style align with the organisation they are joining.
Looking for an Operations or Facilities professional to support a growing international business? Contact Maxwell Stephens to discuss your recruitment requirements.