Background
Ofcom was established in 2003 and is the UK's communications regulator, responsible for overseeing the broadcasting, telecommunications, wireless spectrum and postal sectors. As one of the country's most influential public bodies, it plays a central role in ensuring that communications markets work effectively for consumers, businesses and society.
Ofcom's national estate supports approximately 1,000 employees across seven UK locations, so maintaining safe, efficient and well-run workplaces bears directly on how the organisation performs.
To strengthen its Property and Facilities function, Ofcom appointed Maxwell Stephens exclusively to recruit a Facilities Manager, entrusting us as sole recruitment partner for a strategically important appointment.
The Challenge
Reporting directly to the Head of Property & Facilities Management, the Facilities Manager would join the senior management team and take responsibility for the operational delivery of Facilities Management services across Ofcom's nationwide estate.
This was a broad leadership position. The successful candidate would need to balance day-to-day operational delivery with strategic planning, contractor management and stakeholder engagement across a complex multi-site property portfolio. Key responsibilities included:
- Leading the delivery of Facilities Management services across seven UK offices.
- Managing property occupancy and workplace operations.
- Overseeing planned and reactive building maintenance.
- Managing hard and soft Facilities Management contracts.
- Leading workplace and office improvement projects.
- Delivering space management initiatives.
- Managing sustainability and environmental programmes.
- Financial planning, budgeting and procurement.
- Risk management and statutory compliance.
- Health & Safety leadership across the estate.
- Supporting business continuity and operational resilience.
The role also carried direct leadership of the Reception & Concierge Manager and the Post & Reprographics Manager, together with matrix responsibility for an integrated in-house and outsourced Facilities Management team of approximately 45 colleagues.
The successful candidate therefore needed to combine strategic leadership with strong operational expertise while maintaining consistent service standards across a geographically dispersed portfolio. Estates of this shape add a further layer of difficulty: standards have to be held at sites the manager visits infrequently, which puts a premium on contract structure, reporting discipline and the ability to lead through others.
Our Approach
As Ofcom's exclusive recruitment partner, Maxwell Stephens ran a comprehensive executive search focused on experienced Facilities Management leaders operating within complex corporate and public sector estates.
Given the breadth and visibility of the role, we targeted candidates with experience of managing multi-site property portfolios, large operational teams and outsourced Facilities Management contracts. Our search prioritised professionals with:
- Extensive multi-site Facilities Management experience.
- Leadership within complex corporate or public sector estates.
- Contractor and outsourced service management expertise.
- Strong technical understanding of hard and soft FM services.
- Building maintenance and Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) knowledge.
- Project management and workplace transformation experience.
- Financial management and service charge budgeting expertise.
- Health & Safety leadership within occupied commercial buildings.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and people management capability.
We also placed significant emphasis on professional qualifications, seeking candidates with recognised Facilities Management, Health & Safety and Project Management credentials, alongside proven experience of delivering to a high operational standard within highly regulated environments.
Throughout the process, every candidate was assessed for leadership style, communication skills and their ability to influence senior stakeholders while leading multidisciplinary operational teams.
The Outcome
Following a detailed executive search and assessment process, Maxwell Stephens appointed a Facilities Manager who closely matched Ofcom's technical, leadership and cultural requirements.
The successful candidate brought extensive experience of managing complex property portfolios, together with strong expertise in contractor management, workplace operations, compliance and strategic Facilities Management.
Since joining Ofcom, they have:
- Led Facilities Management operations across the national office portfolio.
- Enhanced contractor performance and service delivery standards.
- Strengthened Health & Safety compliance and operational governance.
- Supported workplace improvement and property projects.
- Managed multidisciplinary operational teams and service providers.
- Delivered effective financial control across Facilities budgets.
- Continued improving workplace services for colleagues across the organisation.
Their collaborative leadership style, technical expertise and strategic outlook have made them a valued member of Ofcom's senior Property & Facilities Management team.
Candidate Testimonial
"I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the team at Maxwell Stephens. They were always available whenever I needed advice or reassurance, particularly before interviews. Their approach was both professional and personal throughout the entire process, and I never once felt like just another candidate. I would have no hesitation recommending Maxwell Stephens to anyone looking for their next opportunity or seeking to recruit outstanding Facilities Management professionals."
Why This Placement Worked
Recruiting senior Facilities Management professionals for national organisations requires more than technical expertise — it demands a clear understanding of leadership, governance, operational resilience and stakeholder management. An exclusive mandate helped here: with a single partner running the search, the brief could be tested and refined with the client rather than diluted across several agencies working from different versions of it.
If you are recruiting a Facilities Manager for a multi-site or public sector estate, Maxwell Stephens can help you define the brief and reach the candidates who genuinely cover it. Get in touch with our team.