Background
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Property Specialist to support a major review of its London office estate and the potential relocation of its operations.
As the independent regulator responsible for the safety and economic regulation of Britain's railways and oversight of the strategic road network, ORR required a property professional capable of operating within a complex, highly accountable public-sector environment.
The appointment was strategically important. The successful candidate needed to provide expert guidance across property transformation, workplace change, Facilities Management, stakeholder engagement and project delivery, while helping ensure that any transition maintained operational continuity and delivered long-term value.
The Challenge
The Property Specialist role combined strategic property expertise with detailed operational responsibility. ORR required someone capable of supporting a significant workplace transformation programme while continuing to ensure that core property and Facilities services remained safe, reliable and effective.
That dual remit is what makes roles of this kind hard to fill. Candidates who have led relocations often come from a project or consultancy background and have not run a building day to day; candidates with strong operational Facilities experience have not always sat inside a structured transformation programme. ORR needed both. Key requirements included:
- Property transformation and change management. A strong track record of delivering large-scale property, Facilities or Estates projects, with particular experience in workplace transformation and organisational change.
- Strategic project leadership. The ability to operate within a structured project environment, developing plans, managing dependencies and supporting informed decision-making throughout the potential office relocation.
- Senior stakeholder management. Excellent communication and influencing skills were essential. The Property Specialist would need to build effective relationships with senior executives, Board members, internal teams and other key stakeholders.
- Facilities and building services oversight. The role extended across essential workplace services including mechanical and electrical systems, office maintenance, health and safety and security.
- Health and safety compliance. Strong knowledge of health and safety requirements was critical to ensuring both existing operations and any future property transition were managed safely and appropriately.
- Cross-government collaboration. The successful candidate needed to work effectively with other government departments and external partners, coordinating property requirements within a broader public-sector framework.
- Financial and commercial management. Budget management and value for money were important elements of the brief, requiring the candidate to balance operational requirements with responsible use of public resources.
Our Approach
Maxwell Stephens developed a targeted search for senior Property, Estates and Facilities professionals with proven experience in complex transformation programmes and large-scale workplace projects.
Given the strategic nature of the appointment, our assessment focused on candidates who could demonstrate:
- Property transformation and relocation experience.
- Large-scale Estates and Facilities project delivery.
- Senior stakeholder and Board-level engagement.
- Health and safety expertise.
- Mechanical and electrical service oversight.
- Budget and commercial management.
- Change-management capability.
- Experience operating in structured or regulated environments.
- Strong communication and influencing skills.
Particular emphasis was placed on identifying a professional capable of moving comfortably between strategic decision-making and detailed operational delivery.
Close collaboration with ORR throughout the process ensured shortlisted candidates remained aligned with the organisation's technical requirements, project objectives and working culture. Following a thorough search and assessment process, Maxwell Stephens placed an experienced Property Specialist.
The Outcome
The appointment strengthened ORR's capability to progress its London property transformation project while maintaining safe and effective workplace operations. The appointed Property Specialist brought:
- Property transformation leadership. Substantial experience in Facilities Management and property transformation, providing the expertise required to support a complex office review and potential relocation.
- Effective stakeholder engagement. Strong communication and relationship-management skills, enabling them to engage with senior leaders, Board-level stakeholders and wider project partners.
- Structured project coordination. Experience of operating within structured project environments, supporting a more organised approach to planning, decision-making and delivery.
- Health and safety oversight. A detailed understanding of health and safety requirements, helping ensure property and Facilities activity remained appropriately controlled throughout the transformation programme.
- Facilities service management. Oversight of mechanical, electrical, maintenance, security and other support services, maintaining reliable day-to-day operations while longer-term property decisions were being progressed.
- Cross-organisational collaboration. The ability to work effectively with internal teams and other government stakeholders, supporting greater coordination across the project.
- Focus on value for money. Strong budgetary and commercial awareness, keeping property decisions focused on effective outcomes and responsible use of public resources.
The placement gave the Office of Rail and Road a Property Specialist capable of combining strategic property transformation, Facilities Management, stakeholder engagement, compliance and commercial judgement within a complex public-sector environment.
Why This Placement Worked
Relocation and transformation programmes tend to stall when the property lead is either too far from the building to keep it running or too close to it to lift their eyes to the programme. This search was framed around both halves of the role from the outset, and candidates were assessed against both.
The appointment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens' ability to recruit specialist Property and Estates professionals for high-profile transformation and relocation programmes, where operational continuity, governance and stakeholder confidence are critical. If you are looking for an experienced Property, Estates or Facilities specialist to lead a workplace transformation or relocation project, get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements.