Facilities Appointments for Colorcon

Background

Colorcon asked Maxwell Stephens to recruit a Facilities Manager for its Dartford site. The post reported to the Site Director and was based locally, with some regional travel.

Colorcon operates in a pharmaceutical setting, so facilities are part of a regulated operation rather than a background service.

The Challenge

The client wanted several years of experience within a pharmaceutical environment or, at a minimum, a closely related industry, together with project management experience. That alone removes most general facilities managers from the field.

The behavioural requirements were just as specific. The manager would need to influence people without direct management responsibility, work within a matrix organisation and build relationships across the business. Practical skills mattered too: AutoCAD, Microsoft Project and Excel, and strong presentation ability. Lean training and a facilities or project management qualification such as IWFM were desirable.

Flexibility was also required. The role carried regional travel of around five to ten per cent, and working hours that could extend to weekends depending on facilities activity. Finding a self-starter with that mix of sector knowledge, technical tools and resilience took a targeted search.

Interpersonal range was also essential. The client asked for a resourceful, entrepreneurial and resilient manager who is responsive, focused on internal customers and able to explain ideas clearly to people at every level. Experience coaching and mentoring others was an advantage, since the manager would be working with a wider site team.

Our Approach

• We worked through the brief with the client, concentrating on what sector experience was truly essential and where a close match would be acceptable.
• We searched facilities and engineering professionals in pharmaceutical, life science and other regulated manufacturing sites.
• We screened for project management track record, Lean exposure and the ability to influence in a matrix structure.
• We managed interviews, feedback and the offer so the appointment progressed without delay.

The Outcome

Maxwell Stephens made the appointment.

If you are recruiting a facilities or engineering manager in a regulated industry, talk to Maxwell Stephens and we will talk through the market, the likely candidate pool and a realistic timeline for your hire.