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Background
King's College London (King's) is one of the UK's leading universities, known globally for its academic standing and a history dating back to the 18th century. With five campuses across central London, King's hosts over 100 buildings of architectural significance, serving a diverse community of students, faculty and staff.
To improve operational efficiency, ensure a safe and conducive environment for learning and research, and align with the university's ambitious Vision 2029, King's sought a Director of Facilities Management to lead its Estates & Facilities Directorate. Maxwell Stephens was engaged to run the search.
The Challenge
A university estate of this kind is among the most demanding facilities briefs in the sector. The buildings are historic as well as numerous, and they are spread across several sites in one of the busiest parts of London, so the Director has to hold together multi-site service delivery, capital planning and compliance at the same time as day-to-day operations. The user base is also unusual: students, academics and professional staff all have different expectations of the estate, and all of them notice quickly when it falls short.
The role therefore required someone with extensive experience of complex, multi-site portfolio management and a proven track record in delivering high-quality facilities services, combined with the strategic perspective to contribute to Vision 2029 rather than simply keep the estate running.
The Search
Maxwell Stephens undertook the search for a leader capable of overseeing the maintenance, development and strategic planning of King's extensive physical infrastructure. We focused on senior estates and facilities professionals whose experience matched the scale and complexity of the portfolio, and assessed for operational depth alongside the ability to plan strategically across a large estate.
The Outcome
After a rigorous selection process, we placed a highly qualified Director of Facilities Management at King's. The appointee's background in senior management within estate and facilities services brought the strategic foresight and operational expertise that the university's particular challenges demanded.
Under the new Director's leadership, King's has:
- Improved service delivery metrics, enhancing the campus experience for the King's community.
- Implemented sustainable solutions, in line with King's commitment to environmental stewardship.
- Strengthened resilience and responsiveness through effective Business Continuity Planning (BCP) strategies.
- Strengthened King's reputation as a leader in higher education facilities management, helping it attract capable people and set a culture of high standards.
Why This Placement Worked
Director-level estates appointments in higher education are often assessed mainly on technical breadth. That matters, but a multi-campus university also needs a director who can translate an institutional strategy such as Vision 2029 into an estates plan and carry a large directorate with them. This search weighted both, and the appointment reflects it.
If you are recruiting a senior estates or facilities leader for a university, college or other multi-site institution, Maxwell Stephens can help you scope the brief and reach the right candidates. Get in touch with our team.