Recruiting an FM Project Manager for Derwent London

Background

Derwent London is the UK's largest Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) focused exclusively on central London commercial property. Known for its design-led approach, the company has built its reputation on transforming and repositioning landmark buildings through refurbishment, regeneration and development projects.

Working alongside some of the world's leading architects, designers and engineering consultants, Derwent London creates high-quality workplaces that attract sought-after occupiers while delivering long-term value for investors. Sustainability, operational performance and customer experience sit at the heart of every project.

Maxwell Stephens was appointed to recruit an FM Project Manager to join Derwent London's Property Management team and support the delivery of projects across its prime central London portfolio.

The Challenge

The FM Project Manager role was a strategically important appointment, bridging the gap between development and operational Facilities Management. The successful candidate would be responsible for ensuring that refurbishment and development projects were delivered with day-to-day operation in mind, supporting clean handovers while protecting the long-term performance of Derwent London's buildings.

Key responsibilities included:

• Managing multiple refurbishment and improvement projects across the central London portfolio.
• Supporting project delivery from concept through to operational handover.
• Working closely with development, asset management and property management teams.
• Managing consultant, contractor and supplier relationships.
• Reviewing development proposals to ensure operational efficiency and maintainability.
• Supporting mobilisation of new developments and refurbished buildings.
• Managing project budgets, programmes and risk.
• Ensuring compliance with health & safety legislation, including CDM Regulations 2015.
• Supporting Derwent London's ambitious sustainability and Net Zero Carbon objectives.

The role required a rare combination of project management expertise, technical Facilities Management knowledge and commercial property experience. Equally important was finding someone who would fit Derwent London's collaborative, design-focused culture while engaging confidently with senior stakeholders, consultants and contractors.

That combination is genuinely scarce. Project managers who come up through construction tend to hand a building over and move on; facilities managers tend to inherit buildings once the decisions that shape their running costs have already been made. A candidate who has sat on both sides of that handover, and can argue for maintainability while a scheme is still on the drawing board, is the exception rather than the rule.

Our Approach

Drawing on our specialist Facilities Management network, Maxwell Stephens conducted a targeted search across the commercial real estate and property sectors to identify candidates with experience of delivering complex FM and building projects within high-profile commercial environments.

Our search focused on professionals who could demonstrate:

• Significant project management experience across commercial property portfolios.
• Strong operational Facilities Management expertise.
• Experience of working alongside development and construction teams.
• Knowledge of building services including HVAC, electrical systems, fire and life safety, security and building management systems.
• Strong commercial awareness and contract management capability.
• Good stakeholder management and communication skills.
• A proactive approach to sustainability, energy efficiency and Net Zero initiatives.

Each shortlisted candidate went through a competency-based assessment covering technical capability, leadership style, commercial understanding and the ability to manage several complex projects at once.

The Outcome

Maxwell Stephens recruited an FM Project Manager with extensive experience of delivering Facilities Management projects across high-profile commercial property portfolios.

The successful candidate quickly became an integral member of Derwent London's Property Management team, overseeing projects from initial planning through to operational handover while maintaining the company's high standards. Since joining Derwent London, they have played a key role in:

• Delivering multiple refurbishment and improvement projects across the portfolio.
• Strengthening collaboration between development, property management and operational teams.
• Improving project mobilisation and operational readiness.
• Managing consultant and contractor performance.
• Supporting Derwent London's sustainability strategy by embedding environmental considerations throughout project delivery.
• Ensuring projects are delivered safely, on programme, within budget and with minimal disruption to occupiers.

Why This Placement Worked

The brief was defined from the outset as a hybrid role rather than a project management post with an FM label attached. That meant the search could be assessed against both halves of the job — delivery discipline and operational understanding — instead of finding a strong project manager and hoping the building knowledge would follow.

This appointment reflects Maxwell Stephens' experience in recruiting specialised Facilities Management professionals for complex commercial property environments, combining sector knowledge with a targeted search strategy. If you are recruiting a similar role — one that sits between development and operations — get in touch with our team.