Background & Client Overview
Murphy Group appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Head of Facilities to provide strategic leadership across a complex estate within a prominent investment business.
The Facilities function played an important role in maintaining the organisation’s workplaces and supporting its wider business operations, with responsibility spanning both hard and soft Facilities Management services across multiple locations.
This was a senior appointment requiring a professional capable of moving beyond day-to-day service delivery to provide clear strategic direction across procurement, outsourced contracts, financial management, compliance, environmental performance and stakeholder engagement.
The successful candidate needed to combine extensive Facilities Management expertise with strong commercial judgement, leadership capability and the ability to build effective relationships throughout the organisation.
The Challenge
Murphy Group required a Head of Facilities capable of leading a broad and commercially significant FM function while ensuring services remained efficient, compliant and aligned with organisational objectives.
The role demanded a senior professional who could balance operational performance with longer-term strategy and continuous improvement.
Key requirements included:
Strategic Facilities Leadership
Providing direction to the Facilities team and ensuring hard and soft FM services supported the organisation’s wider business priorities.
Hard & Soft FM Management
Overseeing a comprehensive range of building and workplace services across multiple locations while maintaining consistent standards.
Outsourced Contract Management
Managing, reviewing and retendering outsourced Facilities contracts to ensure suppliers delivered the required quality, performance and commercial value.
Procurement & Commercial Management
Developing effective procurement strategies, reviewing supplier arrangements and identifying opportunities to improve value for money.
Financial & Budget Management
Analysing financial information, managing Facilities budgets and ensuring expenditure remained appropriately controlled.
Health & Safety Compliance
Ensuring Facilities operations remained aligned with relevant health and safety legislation, policies and organisational standards.
Environmental Management
Maintaining appropriate environmental standards and ensuring Facilities Management contributed to the organisation’s wider environmental responsibilities.
FM Systems & Technology
Reviewing and implementing effective Facilities Management systems to improve operational visibility, reporting and service coordination.
Stakeholder Engagement
Building trusted relationships with colleagues, senior management, contractors and service partners while ensuring Facilities services responded effectively to organisational requirements.
Team Leadership
Providing clear leadership to the Facilities team, developing capability and creating a culture focused on accountability, service excellence and continuous improvement.
Our Recruitment Approach
Maxwell Stephens conducted a targeted search for senior Facilities Management professionals with proven experience leading complex, multi-site hard and soft FM operations.
Given the strategic nature of the appointment, our assessment extended beyond technical Facilities knowledge.
Candidates were evaluated on their experience in:
- senior Facilities Management leadership
- hard and soft FM service delivery
- outsourced contract management and retendering
- procurement and supplier negotiation
- budget and financial management
- health and safety compliance
- environmental management
- FM systems and technology
- senior stakeholder engagement
- team development and organisational change
Particular attention was given to candidates who could demonstrate the ability to combine commercial discipline with strong people leadership and strategic thinking.
Following a detailed search and selection process, Maxwell Stephens successfully placed an experienced Head of Facilities who closely matched Murphy Group’s operational, commercial and cultural requirements.
Outcome & Impact
The successful candidate brought significant Facilities Management expertise and quickly strengthened the performance of the function.
Stronger Strategic Leadership
The new Head of Facilities provided clearer strategic direction for the department, ensuring operational activity remained aligned with wider organisational priorities.
Improved Contract Management
A more structured approach to outsourced contracts strengthened supplier accountability and supported better-informed procurement and retendering decisions.
Enhanced Financial Control
The candidate’s ability to analyse financial information and manage budgets improved visibility of Facilities expenditure and supported stronger commercial decision-making.
More Effective Procurement
Greater scrutiny of supplier arrangements and procurement processes helped identify opportunities to improve value for money while maintaining required service standards.
Improved Facilities Systems
The implementation and development of modern Facilities Management systems strengthened reporting, operational visibility and coordination across the function.
Stronger Compliance
Close attention to health and safety and environmental responsibilities helped ensure Facilities services remained aligned with regulatory and organisational requirements.
Enhanced Stakeholder Engagement
Strong communication and relationship-management skills improved collaboration between the Facilities function, senior stakeholders and external service partners.
Greater Operational Efficiency
The candidate’s strategic and improvement-focused approach helped streamline processes and strengthen the overall effectiveness of Facilities Management across the estate.
Outcome
The successful placement provided Murphy Group with a Head of Facilities capable of combining strategic leadership, operational FM expertise, procurement, financial control, compliance and stakeholder management.
The appointment helped strengthen the effectiveness of the wider Facilities function while establishing a more commercially focused and structured approach to service delivery.
It demonstrates Maxwell Stephens’ ability to recruit senior Facilities leaders who can do more than manage day-to-day operations — identifying professionals capable of transforming FM performance, improving commercial control and aligning workplace services with wider business strategy.
Looking for an experienced Head of Facilities to lead a complex multi-site operation or transform your FM function? Contact Maxwell Stephens to discuss your recruitment requirements.