Background & Client Overview
Dunhill, a luxury brand recognised for its heritage, craftsmanship and attention to detail, appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Facilities Manager to oversee a varied portfolio of locations.
The estate included exclusive clubs, flagship retail environments and operational facilities in Walthamstow, each requiring consistently high standards of presentation, safety and service delivery.
The successful candidate needed to combine strong Facilities Management expertise with commercial awareness, supplier management, project leadership and rigorous health and safety knowledge, while ensuring every location remained aligned with Dunhill’s corporate identity and premium brand standards.
The Challenge
Managing Facilities for a luxury brand demanded more than effective day-to-day operations.
Dunhill required a Facilities Manager who could maintain exceptional standards across very different environments while balancing compliance, cost control, contractor performance and project delivery.
Key requirements included:
Multi-Site Facilities Management
Managing Facilities services across retail, hospitality and operational locations while maintaining consistent standards throughout the portfolio.
Contract & Commercial Management
Negotiating and managing supplier contracts to secure strong service performance, appropriate commercial terms and value for money.
Health & Safety Compliance
Maintaining robust health and safety processes across all sites and ensuring Facilities activity complied with both regulatory requirements and internal standards.
Supplier Relationship Management
Acting as the principal Facilities contact for external suppliers, monitoring performance and developing productive long-term relationships.
Budget Management
Taking responsibility for the central Facilities budget and allocating expenditure effectively across the portfolio.
Project Delivery
Leading Facilities projects from initial planning through to completion while maintaining control over timescales, budgets, quality and health and safety.
Brand Standards
Ensuring Facilities Management activity supported Dunhill’s corporate identity and maintained the quality expected within premium customer-facing environments.
Team Leadership & Development
Developing the Facilities team, strengthening operational capability and ensuring employees understood their responsibilities around health, safety and service delivery.
Our Recruitment Approach
Maxwell Stephens conducted a targeted search for Facilities Management professionals with experience operating within high-quality, customer-facing and multi-site environments.
Given Dunhill’s brand positioning, technical competence alone was not sufficient. Candidates also needed to demonstrate exceptional attention to detail, strong communication skills and an understanding of how Facilities Management contributes to customer experience and brand reputation.
Our assessment focused on professionals with experience in:
- multi-site Facilities Management
- luxury retail or similarly high-standard environments
- supplier and contractor management
- contract negotiation
- health and safety compliance
- budget management
- workplace and property projects
- team development
- senior stakeholder communication
Following a detailed search and assessment process, Maxwell Stephens successfully placed a highly capable Facilities Manager with Dunhill.
Outcome & Impact
The successful appointment strengthened Facilities Management performance across Dunhill’s portfolio.
Stronger Contract Management
The Facilities Manager introduced a strategic approach to supplier contracts, helping improve service delivery while maintaining close control over costs.
Contract arrangements were managed with particular attention to the standards expected within Dunhill’s luxury environment.
Enhanced Health & Safety
Robust health and safety processes were maintained across all locations, supporting compliance with relevant requirements and strengthening workplace risk management.
Improved Budget Control
Effective management of the central Facilities budget supported greater financial discipline and ensured resources were allocated appropriately across the estate.
Stronger Supplier Performance
By acting as the principal point of contact for suppliers, the Facilities Manager developed more productive relationships and strengthened oversight of service quality and delivery.
Effective Project Leadership
Facilities projects were managed proactively from inception through to completion, with close attention to timelines, budgets, compliance and operational requirements.
Improved Team Capability
Training and development helped strengthen the Facilities team’s knowledge and performance, particularly around health and safety responsibilities and operational standards.
Consistent Brand Standards
Strong operational oversight helped ensure Dunhill’s facilities continued to reflect the quality, presentation and attention to detail associated with the brand.
Outcome
The successful placement provided Dunhill with a Facilities Manager capable of balancing operational efficiency, compliance, financial control, supplier performance and premium workplace standards across a varied estate.
The appointment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens’ ability to recruit Facilities Management professionals for luxury and customer-facing environments, where the quality of the physical workplace is an important part of the wider brand experience.
Looking for an experienced Facilities Manager to oversee a premium retail, hospitality or multi-site property portfolio? Contact Maxwell Stephens to discuss your recruitment requirements.