Workplace Services Manager Recruitment for Hilton

Background

Founded in 1919, Hilton is one of the world's most recognised hospitality brands, operating hotels and resorts across six continents. Known for its guest experience, innovation and operational standards, Hilton has built a reputation as one of the world's leading hospitality companies.

To support the continued operation of its UK corporate headquarters in Watford, Hilton required an experienced Workplace Services Manager able to lead all workplace operations while delivering the standards associated with the Hilton brand. Recognising our specialist expertise in facilities and workplace recruitment, Hilton appointed Maxwell Stephens exclusively to manage the search and selection process.

The Challenge

The Workplace Services Manager would take full responsibility for the day-to-day management of Hilton's corporate office environment, ensuring employees, visitors and stakeholders experienced a safe, efficient and high-quality workplace. The successful candidate would oversee a broad range of workplace services, combining operational leadership, contractor management, health & safety and business continuity responsibilities within a fast-paced corporate environment.

Key responsibilities included:

• Managing the daily operation of workplace services across the corporate headquarters.
• Leading outsourced service providers and contract partners.
• Managing building operations and facilities programmes.
• Overseeing workplace projects and office improvements.
• Coordinating business continuity and emergency response planning.
• Managing catering, cleaning, mailroom and office support services.
• Overseeing workplace security, parking and access management.
• Managing telecommunications and office infrastructure.
• Supporting sustainability initiatives, including BREEAM implementation.
• Leading health & safety compliance, inductions and workplace inspections.
• Managing supplier relationships and procurement activities.
• Participating in tender processes and continuous service improvement.

The role required a highly organised and commercially aware facilities professional able to balance operational efficiency with strong customer service while maintaining Hilton's workplace standards. A hospitality company's head office carries a particular expectation: the people working in it spend their careers setting service standards for guests, and they notice quickly when their own workplace falls short of them.

Our Approach

As Hilton's exclusive recruitment partner, Maxwell Stephens ran a targeted executive search focused on experienced workplace and facilities management professionals from premium corporate environments. The successful candidate needed a broad operational skillset together with the leadership qualities required to manage multiple workplace services at once.

We focused our search on professionals with:

• Extensive corporate workplace and facilities management experience.
• Leadership of outsourced facilities and workplace services.
• Strong contractor and supplier management capability.
• Health & safety leadership and statutory compliance expertise.
• Business continuity and emergency planning experience.
• Sustainability and environmental management knowledge.
• Procurement and tender management experience.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Technical understanding of commercial buildings and building services.

Beyond technical capability, Hilton wanted someone with close attention to detail, a proactive mindset and the ability to create a workplace experience that reflected the quality of the brand. Every shortlisted candidate was assessed for leadership style, customer service ethos and cultural alignment alongside their technical expertise.

The Outcome

Following a full executive search, Maxwell Stephens placed a Workplace Services Manager who closely matched Hilton's operational, technical and cultural requirements. The successful candidate brought significant experience leading workplace and facilities operations within corporate environments, together with strong expertise in contractor management, health & safety and workplace service delivery.

The role covered workplace services, contractor performance, health and safety governance, and business continuity.

Candidate Testimonial

"Peter and the entire Team at Maxwell Stephens are extremely professional, personable, incredibly well connected and wholeheartedly understand Facilities Management. Professionally I consider them to be consummate recruitment specialists that are in touch with the market place. I thank them for the efforts helping me secure my most recent assignment."

Why This Placement Worked

Corporate organisations such as Hilton need workplace leaders who combine operational expertise with strong customer service and commercial awareness. Working as the exclusive partner allowed Maxwell Stephens to run a retained search properly: taking the time to understand the culture of the headquarters, assessing for service ethos rather than just technical coverage, and presenting only candidates who could carry the breadth of the remit. Read more about our Workplace Management Recruitment services.

If you are recruiting a workplace services or facilities leader for a corporate headquarters where the standard of the workplace reflects on the brand, Maxwell Stephens can help you define the brief and reach candidates who have delivered it before. Get in touch with our team.