Senior Coordinator, Facilities & Office Services Recruitment for CPP Investments

Background

CPP Investments (Canada Pension Plan Investment Board) is one of the world's largest and most respected institutional investors, managing assets in excess of US$350 billion on behalf of more than 20 million contributors and beneficiaries of the Canada Pension Plan.

Headquartered in Toronto, with major offices in London, New York, Hong Kong, Sydney, Mumbai, São Paulo and Luxembourg, CPP Investments operates globally across public and private markets, investing with a long-term outlook.

To strengthen the Workplace Operations function in its London office, CPP Investments appointed Maxwell Stephens exclusively to recruit a Senior Coordinator, Facilities & Office Services. As sole recruitment partner, we were asked to find a capable professional able to support the continued growth of one of the world's leading investment organisations.

The Challenge

The Senior Coordinator, Facilities & Office Services would play a key part in the smooth operation of CPP Investments' London office while acting as a trusted representative of the Workplace Services team.

This was considerably more than an administrative role. The successful candidate would become the subject matter expert across Facilities Management, Workplace Services, Health & Safety and Security, keeping the office running efficiently while maintaining the standards expected within a global financial institution.

Key responsibilities included:

• Supporting the day-to-day operation of Facilities and Office Services.
• Acting as an ambassador for the Workplace Services team.
• Developing and administering Health & Safety programmes and procedures.
• Delivering workplace Health & Safety training across the office.
• Advising colleagues on security processes and workplace procedures.
• Managing access control and workplace security systems.
• Supporting office moves, workspace readiness and occupancy planning.
• Coordinating workplace improvements and operational initiatives.
• Participating in annual IT and physical security audits.
• Supporting global Workplace Services initiatives across international offices.

The role called for someone who could balance operational efficiency with a high standard of customer service, while showing the professionalism and discretion expected in a highly regulated investment environment. Coordinator-level roles that carry genuine Health & Safety and security ownership, rather than simply supporting them, narrow the candidate pool more than the job title suggests.

Our Approach

As CPP Investments' exclusive recruitment partner, Maxwell Stephens ran a targeted executive search focused on experienced Workplace, Facilities and Office Services professionals from premium corporate environments.

Given the breadth of the position, we looked for candidates with experience across several specialist disciplines, including:

• Facilities and Office Services management.
• Health & Safety coordination.
• Workplace operations.
• Physical security and access control systems.
• Office administration within corporate environments.
• Stakeholder engagement.
• Space planning and workplace readiness.
• Contractor and supplier coordination.

Technical capability alone would not have been enough. CPP Investments wanted someone who could represent the department with confidence, build trusted relationships across the business and consistently show professionalism, sound judgement and integrity.

Throughout the process we assessed candidates against both the technical requirements of the role and the collaborative culture that defines CPP Investments globally.

The Outcome

Following a comprehensive executive search, Maxwell Stephens placed a Senior Coordinator, Facilities & Office Services who closely matched CPP Investments' operational, technical and cultural requirements.

The successful candidate brought extensive experience across Workplace Operations, Facilities Management and Health & Safety, together with strong organisational skills and a thoroughly professional approach.

The role covered the London office’s day-to-day operation, workplace services, health and safety compliance, and security and access management.

Recruiting Workplace Professionals for Global Investment Firms

Organisations such as CPP Investments need Workplace professionals who can operate confidently within complex, fast-paced and highly regulated environments. Through our specialist Facilities Management recruitment expertise and executive search methodology, Maxwell Stephens made an appointment to support the running of one of the world's leading institutional investment organisations.

Candidate Testimonial

"I would highly recommend speaking to the team at Maxwell Stephens if you're looking for your next career move. They are genuinely supportive, professional and always available to offer advice throughout the recruitment process. They guided me every step of the way and helped me secure an excellent opportunity that represented the next stage of my career. Thank you!"

If you are recruiting a Facilities, Workplace or Office Services role in a financial services or other regulated corporate environment, Maxwell Stephens can help you define the brief and reach candidates who combine the technical grounding with the right professional presence. Get in touch with our team.