Background
The Department for International Development (DFID) led the UK's efforts to combat global poverty, delivering aid worldwide until it merged with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2020 to form the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). From its creation in 1997, DFID helped over 250 million people escape poverty and enabled 40 million children to attend primary school. With headquarters in London and Glasgow and a network of international offices, its staff were united by a mission to improve lives in developing countries.
Group Operations at DFID asked Maxwell Stephens to recruit a dedicated Facilities Manager to oversee daily operations at its 22 Whitehall location.
The Challenge
The role demanded someone who could ensure the building's safety and security, support health and safety initiatives and manage environmental greening efforts, while also monitoring contract delivery, managing the facilities team, supporting capital projects and ensuring compliance with central government reporting requirements. The Facilities Manager's responsibilities included:
- Ensuring high-quality service and excellent customer communication.
- Managing the Total Facilities Management (TFM) contract to deliver high standards of hard and soft services.
- Monitoring supplier performance, conducting regular assessments and reporting.
- Collaborating on capital projects such as the 22 Whitehall Improvement and the Heating and Cooling upgrade.
- Managing the Facilities Management Team and working with the Health and Safety Officer.
- Coordinating initiatives with the Environmental Sustainability Manager and the Health and Safety Manager.
- Maintaining the Fixed Asset Register and supporting financial management.
- Leading on business-as-usual projects and keeping the Forward Maintenance Register current.
Facilities roles in central government carry a reporting burden that private-sector candidates often underestimate. Asset registers, forward maintenance planning and departmental returns have to be kept accurate and current, and the Facilities Manager is the person accountable for them. Add live capital projects and a TFM contract to manage, and the role needs someone comfortable holding several strands at once.
Our Approach
Maxwell Stephens began by understanding the specific requirements of the role and the particular environment at 22 Whitehall. The candidate needed strong leadership skills, a can-do attitude and the ability to manage multiple priorities within a complex organisation. We targeted professionals with:
- Experience in facilities management and contract management.
- Membership of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) or equivalent.
- IWFM Level 5 certification.
- Core budget management skills.
- Extensive knowledge of managing outsourced FM contracts.
- Experience with ICT and Business Continuity Planning.
The emphasis on outsourced contract management was deliberate. Where hard and soft services are delivered through a single TFM contract, the in-house Facilities Manager's job is less about doing the work and more about specifying it, measuring it and holding the provider to account. That is a distinct skill set, and the search was built around it.
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The Outcome
Following a rigorous recruitment process, Maxwell Stephens placed a highly qualified Facilities Manager who met all of DFID's criteria. The new Facilities Manager began their role in June 2019, contributing immediately to the smooth operation and management of the 22 Whitehall estate. They went on to deliver high standards of facilities management, supporting capital projects and ensuring compliance with governmental requirements.
Why This Placement Worked
IWFM membership and a Level 5 qualification indicate a facilities professional who has formalised their experience at management level, which matters in a government setting where process and evidence carry weight. Pairing that with proven outsourced-contract experience gave DFID a manager equipped for both the day-to-day building and the reporting that sits behind it.
If you are recruiting a facilities manager for a government department, public body or contract-managed building, Maxwell Stephens can help you reach candidates with the right blend of contract, compliance and leadership experience. Get in touch with our team.