Client Overview
A leading international financial institution engaged Maxwell Stephens to recruit a Head of Projects & Facilities Management Division (PMFD), a strategically important leadership appointment responsible for shaping the organisation’s real estate, workplace and facilities management strategy across a complex global portfolio.
Reporting directly to the Director of Administrative Services, the role would play a critical part in driving operational efficiency, estate optimisation and long-term workplace planning, while ensuring facilities services aligned with the organisation’s wider business objectives.
Given the significance of the appointment, the client required a senior leader capable of combining strategic vision with operational excellence across facilities management, corporate real estate and project delivery.
The Challenge
This was a highly specialised appointment requiring a senior facilities and real estate professional with the ability to influence organisational strategy while leading a broad range of operational functions.
The successful candidate would be responsible for:
- Developing and implementing long-term real estate and workplace strategies
- Leading space allocation and workplace utilisation initiatives
- Driving facilities management policy and operational performance
- Managing engineering projects and capital programmes
- Overseeing maintenance and building services operations
- Leading procurement and contract management activities
- Managing corporate support services
- Delivering workplace technology, audio-visual and video conferencing solutions
- Managing significant operational and capital budgets
- Leading multi-disciplinary facilities and project management teams
The role required an individual capable of operating at senior leadership level while managing complex technical, commercial and stakeholder challenges across an international environment.
Alongside technical expertise, the client required a candidate with exceptional leadership, communication and change management skills, capable of influencing senior stakeholders and driving continuous improvement across the organisation.
Our Approach
Understanding the Requirement
Maxwell Stephens worked closely with the client to gain a detailed understanding of the strategic objectives behind the appointment and the leadership qualities required to succeed in the role.
It was clear that the successful candidate would need to combine expertise across facilities management, workplace strategy, real estate planning and project delivery while operating confidently within a multinational environment.
Executive Search Process
Leveraging our extensive network of senior facilities, estates and corporate real estate professionals, we conducted a targeted search focused on candidates with experience across:
- Corporate Real Estate Strategy
- Facilities Management Leadership
- Workplace Transformation
- Space Planning and Utilisation
- Capital Projects and Programme Management
- Engineering and Building Services
- Contract and Procurement Management
- Change Management
- Budget and Financial Management
- International Stakeholder Engagement
Particular emphasis was placed on identifying candidates with a proven track record of delivering strategic workplace initiatives and leading large-scale facilities operations within complex organisations.
Candidate Assessment
Candidates were assessed against a comprehensive range of leadership and technical competencies, including:
- Strategic facilities management leadership
- Real estate and workplace planning expertise
- Capital project delivery capability
- Financial and budget management
- Procurement and contract management
- Change leadership and organisational influence
- Stakeholder engagement and communication skills
- Team leadership and people development
- Experience operating within multinational environments
Our rigorous assessment process ensured that only candidates capable of delivering both strategic direction and operational excellence were presented to the client.
The Outcome
Maxwell Stephens successfully appointed an experienced Head of Projects& Facilities Management Division with a proven track record of leading facilities, workplace and real estate functions within complex international organisations.
The successful candidate brought:
- Extensive experience in strategic facilities and real estate management
- Expertise in workplace planning and space optimisation
- Strong leadership across multi-disciplinary teams
- Significant experience managing engineering and capital projects
- Commercial acumen and budget management expertise
- Proven success delivering organisational change initiatives
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills
The appointment provided the organisation with a senior leader capable of shaping long-term facilities and workplace strategy while enhancing operational performance across the estate.
Results Delivered
The successful appointment delivered significant value to the organisation, including:
- Strengthened leadership across facilities and project management functions
- Enhanced workplace and space utilisation strategies
- Improved alignment between facilities operations and business objectives
- Greater oversight of engineering projects and maintenance programmes
- Effective management of procurement and supplier relationships
- Improved operational efficiency across corporate support services
- Enhanced workplace technology and collaboration infrastructure
- Stronger governance, budget control and strategic planning
The client was particularly impressed with the quality of candidates presented and the efficiency of the recruitment process, resulting in the successful appointment of a leader who has become integral to the organisation’s long-term real estate and facilities management strategy.
Specialist Facilities & Corporate Real Estate Recruitment
Maxwell Stephens supports financial institutions, corporate occupiers and multinational organisations with specialist recruitment solutions across facilities management, workplace strategy and corporate real estate.
Our expertise includes:
- Facilities Management Leadership
- Corporate Real Estate
- Workplace Strategy
- Estates Management
- Capital Projects
- Engineering & Building Services
- Property & Workplace Transformation
- Executive Facilities Recruitment
By combining deep market knowledge with an extensive network of seniorfacilities professionals, we help organisations secure leaders who driveoperational excellence, workplace performance and long-term strategic value.