London Mathematical Society Head of Conferences & Buildings Recruitment

Background

Founded in 1865, the London Mathematical Society (LMS) is the UK's learned society for mathematics, dedicated to advancing, promoting and disseminating mathematical knowledge nationally and internationally. Operating from the historic De Morgan House in central London, the Society combines its academic mission with a thriving conference and events business that supports members, researchers and external organisations.

Recognising the need for a senior professional to oversee both its facilities operation and its commercial venue activities, LMS appointed Maxwell Stephens on an exclusive basis to recruit a Head of Conferences & Buildings.

The Challenge

This was an unusual leadership appointment, combining strategic Facilities Management, listed building stewardship and commercial conference venue management. The successful candidate would take full responsibility for the operation of De Morgan House while ensuring the building continued to provide a high-quality environment for members, staff, tenants and conference guests. The role encompassed responsibility for:

• Overall facilities and building management.
• Reception and front-of-house services.
• Supplier procurement and contract management.
• Utilities and service contracts.
• Planned and reactive maintenance.
• Refurbishment and building improvement projects.
• Fire safety, security and statutory compliance.
• Health & Safety management.
• Liaison with landlords, local authorities and planning bodies.
• Budget management and financial reporting.
• Management of tenant agreements and service charges.
• Oversight of residential property contracts.
• Commercial management and promotion of conference facilities.
• Supporting the Conference & Events team to maximise venue utilisation and customer satisfaction.

The breadth of the role called for someone who could balance sound operations, commercial awareness and strong customer service within a prestigious heritage environment. Roles that pair building management with a revenue-earning venue are harder to fill than either half alone: a good facilities manager is not necessarily commercially minded, and a good venue manager is not necessarily comfortable with fire safety, planning bodies and the constraints of a listed building.

Our Approach

Maxwell Stephens worked closely with the London Mathematical Society to understand not only the operational requirements of the position but also the organisation's culture, values and long-term objectives. Given the combination of responsibilities, our executive search focused on professionals with experience across:

• Facilities and Building Management.
• Heritage and listed buildings.
• Conference and venue operations.
• Property maintenance and refurbishment.
• Health & Safety and statutory compliance.
• Contract and supplier management.
• Budget management and financial control.
• Customer-facing leadership roles.

Equally important was identifying an individual who could represent the Society professionally while delivering a high standard of service to members, tenants, conference delegates and external visitors.

The Outcome

Following a comprehensive executive search, Maxwell Stephens appointed an experienced Head of Conferences & Buildings who combined strong operational leadership with commercial awareness and a sound understanding of heritage property management. The successful candidate brought:

• Extensive Facilities and Building Management experience.
• Proven leadership within customer-focused environments.
• Strong contract and supplier management expertise.
• Experience managing conference and events facilities.
• Sound financial and budget management capability.
• A collaborative leadership style and strong stakeholder management skills.

The appointment ensured the continued smooth operation of De Morgan House while supporting the Society's conference business and maintaining the standards expected of one of the UK's most respected learned societies. It enabled the London Mathematical Society to:

• Maintain high building and workplace standards.
• Improve coordination of facilities and conference operations.
• Strengthen supplier management and contract performance.
• Deliver refurbishment and maintenance programmes efficiently.
• Maintain full Health & Safety and statutory compliance.
• Improve the experience for members, conference delegates and visitors.
• Support the long-term management of a prestigious heritage property.

Client Testimonial

"I'd like to say thank you to Maxwell Stephens for all their hard work in finding us a new Head of Conferences & Buildings, and within such a short timescale. It is very much appreciated and we would be happy to use Maxwell Stephens again."

Recruitment for Heritage, Education and Professional Organisations

Maxwell Stephens has extensive experience recruiting Facilities, Property and Workplace professionals for charities, learned societies, higher education institutions and heritage organisations — from Head of Facilities, Facilities Manager, Workplace Manager and Building Manager appointments to conference and venue management, estates and property management, Health & Safety leadership, technical services and operational leadership roles.

If you are recruiting a facilities or venue leader for a heritage building or a membership organisation, Maxwell Stephens can help you define the brief and reach candidates who are credible on both the operational and the commercial side. Get in touch with our team.