Manager of Facilities Recruitment for Harley-Davidson

Client Overview

Harley-Davidson Motor Company is one of the world's most iconic automotive and lifestyle brands, recognised globally for its heritage, engineering and brand identity.

Operating across international markets, the organisation needs a facilities management function that can support complex business operations, maintain high-performing workplace environments and align property and infrastructure strategy with wider corporate objectives.

To support its operations across EMEA and Asia Pacific, Harley-Davidson asked Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Manager of Facilities: someone able to oversee regional facilities performance, asset optimisation, compliance, safety and strategic project delivery across a diverse international portfolio.

The Challenge

Harley-Davidson needed a senior facilities professional who could manage a geographically dispersed estate while supporting both day-to-day operational delivery and long-term corporate strategy. That made it a complex regional appointment, calling for technical facilities expertise, commercial awareness, project management capability and the ability to engage stakeholders across international teams.

Key areas of responsibility included:

• Regional facilities management across EMEA and Asia Pacific
• Building maintenance and infrastructure oversight
• Asset optimisation and space planning
• Health, safety and environmental compliance, and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions
• Contractor and supplier management
• Construction and refurbishment project management
• Property acquisition and disposal support
• Budget management and cost control
• Sustainability and environmental performance
• Operational risk management

Regional roles of this kind are demanding for a reason that is easy to underestimate: the appointee is rarely on site. Standards have to be maintained through local teams, contractors and reporting rather than by direct supervision, and regulatory requirements differ from one jurisdiction to the next. The successful candidate therefore needed to demonstrate the ability to operate across different markets, manage complex regulatory requirements and hold consistently high standards of safety, compliance and operational performance at a distance, while aligning facilities activity with Harley-Davidson's wider corporate strategy and the brand's commitment to quality, innovation and operational excellence.

Our Approach

Understanding the Requirement

Maxwell Stephens worked closely with Harley-Davidson to build a detailed understanding of the regional scope, operational complexity and strategic priorities attached to the role. It was clear early on that facilities management experience alone would not be enough: the appointee would need the leadership capability to influence stakeholders across multiple countries and business functions.

Specialist Search

Drawing on our extensive facilities management and corporate real estate network, we ran a targeted search for senior professionals with experience across regional facilities management, international property portfolios, corporate real estate, building maintenance and infrastructure, construction and project management, health, safety and environmental compliance, space planning and workplace strategy, contractor and supplier management, and property acquisition and disposal.

Particular emphasis was placed on candidates who had managed facilities across multiple locations while delivering both operational consistency and strategic value, rather than those whose experience was concentrated on a single large site.

Candidate Assessment

Candidates were assessed against a comprehensive range of technical, commercial and leadership competencies:

• Technical. Regional facilities management expertise; building maintenance and asset management knowledge; project management and construction experience.
• Commercial and compliance. Compliance and risk management capability; budget management and financial control; supplier and contractor performance management.
• Leadership. Stakeholder engagement across multiple regions; a sustainability and continuous improvement focus; cultural alignment with Harley-Davidson's values and brand identity.

The assessment was designed to identify a facilities leader capable of delivering immediate operational impact while supporting the region's longer-term facilities strategy.

The Outcome

Maxwell Stephens placed an experienced Manager of Facilities with more than a decade of experience across building maintenance, construction, project management and corporate facilities operations. The successful candidate brought strong technical expertise, a formal background in facilities management and proven experience supporting property acquisition, disposal and infrastructure improvement projects.

Key strengths included:

• Extensive regional facilities management experience
• Strong building maintenance and infrastructure knowledge
• Proven construction and project management capability
• Experience supporting property acquisition and disposal activity
• Strong health, safety and environmental compliance expertise
• Effective budget management and cost control
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication
• A proactive approach to operational improvement and service standards

Following their appointment, the Manager of Facilities took responsibility for supporting the operational performance and strategic development of Harley-Davidson's regional facilities portfolio.

Why This Placement Worked

The search was framed from the outset as a regional leadership appointment rather than a site-based facilities role. That distinction shaped where we looked, what we assessed and who we shortlisted, and it produced a Manager of Facilities able to support operational excellence, regulatory compliance and strategic growth across a complex international property portfolio.

Maxwell Stephens supports global brands, corporate occupiers and international organisations with specialist recruitment across facilities management, workplace and corporate real estate, from regional facilities leadership and building maintenance to project management, health, safety and environmental compliance, asset management and property services. If you are recruiting a regional or international facilities leader, get in touch with our team.