Technical Compliance and Contracts Manager Recruitment for FirstPort

Background

FirstPort, a leading property management company in the UK, manages over 3,700 residential developments and employs more than 3,300 people. Maintaining standards and statutory compliance across a portfolio of that scale depends on having the right people in the roles that sit between policy and delivery. To strengthen that capability, FirstPort asked Maxwell Stephens to recruit two appointments: a Technical Compliance Manager and a Contracts Manager.

Both roles were central to how FirstPort ensured compliance with health and safety regulations, managed its contracts and drove efficiency in service delivery. They would also work closely with each other, so each appointment had to be made with the other in mind.

The Brief

The two positions had distinct remits.

• Technical Compliance Manager (Luton-based). Managing the internal compliance team, overseeing statutory and health & safety compliance, and driving improvements in service delivery.
• Contracts Manager. Bringing expertise in contract negotiation and supplier management, and ensuring statutory compliance with health and safety regulations across the contracted supply chain.

Beyond the technical requirements, both roles demanded the same underlying qualities:

• A proactive approach to managing compliance and contracts across diverse property portfolios.
• The ability to adapt to evolving legislative requirements.
• Experience of implementing robust IT systems to streamline compliance processes.
• A collaborative style, able to build a shared culture within the compliance and contracts teams and across a wide range of stakeholders.

The Challenge

Compliance and contracts roles in residential property management sit at an awkward intersection. They need technical depth in statutory and health and safety requirements, commercial judgement in dealing with suppliers, and the leadership skills to run a team and influence colleagues who do not report to them. Candidates who are strong on one axis are common; those who combine all three are not.

The scale of the portfolio added to the difficulty. Across thousands of developments, compliance is managed through systems, contractors and regional teams rather than by direct oversight, so both appointments needed people comfortable working through others and through data.

Finally, the two roles had to fit the organisation as well as the job descriptions. The Contracts Manager would work alongside the Technical Compliance Manager, Regional Directors, Managers, Property Managers and the Health & Safety Team, so alignment with FirstPort's values — friendliness, innovation, respect, skill and trustworthiness — mattered as much as the CV.

Our Approach

Maxwell Stephens ran a meticulous screening process to identify candidates with strong backgrounds in property management, compliance and team leadership. In practice, that meant:

• Screening for the full combination. We assessed candidates against the technical compliance requirements, the contract and supplier management experience, and the leadership track record, rather than accepting strength in one area as a proxy for the others.
• Testing values alignment. Candidates were assessed against FirstPort's stated values as well as the job descriptions, so that the client met people who would fit the culture it was building, not just the technical specification.

The Outcome

Technical Compliance Manager

We placed a highly qualified individual with over a decade of experience in property management and compliance. They integrated immediately into FirstPort's team, working closely with the Director of Technical Services and other stakeholders. In post, they:

• Implemented improvements in compliance monitoring and contractor management.
• Contributed to a more cohesive compliance team, driving innovation and ensuring compliance with all statutory requirements.

Contracts Manager

We placed a candidate with extensive experience in strategic contract management and operational team leadership. They took responsibility for managing external suppliers, ensuring statutory compliance and enhancing service delivery, and collaborated with the compliance team to implement robust health and safety policies. They also initiated and managed positive changes within the compliance team, evolving processes to meet FirstPort's high standards.

Working closely with the Technical Compliance Manager, Regional Directors, Managers, Property Managers and the Health & Safety Team, the Contracts Manager's key responsibilities included:

• Leading the internal contract compliance team and reporting on its performance.
• Advising on contractor management development programmes.
• Overseeing the implementation of new legislation.
• Managing key performance indicators (KPIs) for the contract compliance team.
• Ensuring IT systems supported the compliance team's remit.

Why This Placement Worked

Recruiting compliance and contracts leadership as complementary appointments, rather than two unrelated vacancies, gave FirstPort two people who could share a view of the portfolio's risks and the supply chain that manages them. Screening for values alongside technical competence meant the client interviewed candidates who would improve processes rather than simply maintain them.

If you are recruiting for compliance, contracts or health and safety leadership across a residential or commercial portfolio, Maxwell Stephens can help you define the brief and reach candidates who combine technical, commercial and leadership experience. Get in touch with our team.