Client Overview
Close Brothers, a leading financial services group, appointed Maxwell Stephens to support two important Facilities Management appointments across its Crown Place and Wimbledon Bridge House locations in London.
The business required professionals who could strengthen both the leadership and day-to-day coordination of facilities operations, while maintaining high standards across health and safety, contractor management, workplace services, projects and customer support.
Given the scale and complexity of the environment, both roles required individuals who could combine operational discipline with strong communication, sound judgement and a proactive approach to service improvement.
The Recruitment Challenge
Close Brothers needed to strengthen its Facilities Management operation at two levels.
The first requirement was for a Facilities Operations and Projects Team Leader capable of providing leadership across day-to-day operations, projects and support teams.
The second was for a Facilities Operations Coordinator who could take ownership of a broad range of operational services and provide consistent support across multiple locations.
For both appointments, cultural fit was as important as technical capability. The successful candidates needed to be professional, customer-focused and comfortable working within a fast-paced financial services environment.
Role 1: Facilities Operations and Projects Team Leader
The Challenge
Close Brothers required an experienced Team Leader to oversee daily Facilities Management operations while coordinating key support functions and workplace projects.
The successful candidate would be responsible for managing Facilities Helpdesk Coordinators and Mailroom teams, while also helping ensure compliance, service quality and effective project delivery.
Key requirements included:
Operational Leadership
Providing clear direction across Facilities Management operations and ensuring support teams maintained consistently high service standards.
Team Management
Leading Helpdesk and Mailroom employees, improving coordination and maintaining accountability across daily activities.
Project Delivery
Supporting and managing Facilities Management projects, ensuring works were planned effectively and delivered in line with operational priorities.
Health & Safety
Maintaining appropriate health and safety standards and ensuring Facilities activity remained compliant with relevant requirements.
Budget Management
Working within agreed financial parameters and ensuring Facilities activity was delivered with appropriate commercial control.
Stakeholder Engagement
Building strong working relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers and contractors to ensure services responded effectively to business requirements.
Our Recruitment Approach
Maxwell Stephens conducted a targeted search for candidates with a strong combination of Facilities leadership, project-management experience and stakeholder-management capability.
Our assessment process examined technical knowledge alongside leadership style, communication and the ability to manage competing operational priorities.
This enabled us to identify an individual who could provide immediate day-to-day leadership while also contributing to the longer-term improvement of Facilities operations.
Outcome
Maxwell Stephens successfully placed a highly experienced Facilities Operations and Projects Team Leader with Close Brothers.
The appointment strengthened operational leadership across the Facilities function, with the successful candidate providing effective management of support teams while maintaining a close focus on budgets, compliance and service performance.
Their proactive approach helped create a more structured and efficient Facilities Management operation.
Role 2: Facilities Operations Coordinator
The Challenge
Alongside the leadership appointment, Close Brothers also required a Facilities Operations Coordinator capable of supporting a broad range of workplace services across multiple sites.
The position combined operational Facilities Management with customer service, contractor coordination, health and safety responsibilities and project support.
Key requirements included:
Facilities Operations
Coordinating day-to-day workplace services and ensuring operational issues were addressed quickly and effectively.
Health & Safety Compliance
Supporting health and safety processes and helping ensure Facilities activities remained aligned with appropriate standards.
Security Support
Coordinating security-related requirements and helping maintain a safe and controlled workplace environment.
Contractor Management
Managing relationships with third-party contractors and ensuring works and services were delivered to the required standard.
Project Coordination
Supporting Facilities projects and workplace changes, ensuring activities were properly organised and communicated.
Quality Assurance
Monitoring service standards and helping identify areas where operational delivery could be improved.
Front-of-House & Customer Service
Providing a professional and responsive service to employees, visitors and internal stakeholders.
Space Planning
Supporting workplace planning and space-related changes across the London estate.
Our Recruitment Approach
Maxwell Stephens used targeted networking and detailed candidate screening to identify professionals with a strong operational mindset, customer-service orientation and experience managing external contractors.
Particular attention was given to candidates capable of handling a varied workload while maintaining attention to detail and communicating effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
The successful individual also needed to demonstrate confidence across compliance, workplace coordination and front-of-house support.
Outcome
The appointed Facilities Operations Coordinator integrated effectively into Close Brothers and strengthened several areas of day-to-day Facilities Management.
Their contribution included improved coordination of contractors, stronger attention to compliance and effective support for space planning and workplace operations.
A proactive and service-focused approach helped ensure employees, internal stakeholders and external suppliers received consistent and professional Facilities support.
Combined Impact
By recruiting both the Facilities Operations and Projects Team Leader and Facilities Operations Coordinator, Maxwell Stephens helped Close Brothers strengthen its Facilities Management structure across Crown Place and Wimbledon Bridge House.
The two appointments provided complementary capabilities at both leadership and operational level.
Together, they supported:
Stronger Operational Leadership
Clearer management and coordination across Facilities teams and workplace services.
Improved Compliance
Greater focus on health and safety, quality assurance and consistent Facilities processes.
More Effective Contractor Management
Improved oversight and coordination of external service providers.
Better Project & Workplace Coordination
Stronger management of Facilities projects, space requirements and operational change.
Enhanced Internal Service Delivery
A more responsive and professional Facilities Management service for employees and stakeholders.
Outcome
The assignments demonstrate Maxwell Stephens’ ability to recruit across different levels of a Facilities Management function, identifying professionals who complement one another and strengthen the wider operational structure.
By understanding Close Brothers’ requirements at both leadership and coordination level, Maxwell Stephens delivered two successful appointments capable of supporting a safe, efficient and professionally managed workplace.
Looking to strengthen your Facilities Management team with multiple strategic and operational appointments? Contact Maxwell Stephens to discuss your recruitment requirements.