How We Secured Oxera's Strategic Head of Property & Facilities

Background

Oxera Consulting, a leading economic and financial consultancy, had experienced significant international growth, expanding its office network into five additional European countries over a three-year period.

Until that point, much of the expansion had been managed internally. With the existing Facilities Manager preparing to take maternity leave in early 2020, Oxera recognised an opportunity to strengthen the function and bring greater strategic leadership to its growing property portfolio.

Maxwell Stephens was appointed to recruit a Head of Property & Facilities who could maintain operational continuity while supporting the next stage of Oxera's international development. Beyond managing existing offices, they would be expected to help consolidate Oxera's property strategy, improve Facilities Management across multiple countries and develop the existing team.

The Role

Reporting directly to Oxera's Partner & Director of HR, the Head of Property & Facilities would lead the organisation's property and workplace strategy across its European office network. The role carried two direct reports covering Facilities, Property and consultancy-support functions, with a particular emphasis on developing their strategic capabilities. Its remit covered:

• Strategic facilities development. Advising on Facilities Management best practice, workplace improvements and innovation to create effective working environments across Oxera's growing European portfolio.
• Vendor and contract management. Overseeing suppliers and contracts across security, parking, cleaning, catering and technology, ensuring consistent performance and appropriate value for money, and continually reviewing the supply chain to improve quality and cost-effectiveness.
• Team leadership and development. Managing and developing the teams responsible for cleaning, maintenance, PA support, front of house and administrative services, with the aim of enabling the existing managers to take on greater strategic responsibility.
• Budget and commercial management. Oversight of Facilities and property expenditure across all locations, improving financial control and identifying opportunities for greater efficiency.
• Space planning. Managing the allocation and use of office space so that workplaces continued to support changing business and workforce requirements, and remained aligned with relevant safety and environmental expectations.
• Sustainability and energy efficiency. Leading initiatives to improve energy efficiency and supporting the development of broader environmental and sustainability policies across the office network.
• Property projects and relocations. Overseeing building projects, renovations and office relocations from planning through to delivery, with the governance, communication and coordination needed to minimise disruption.

The Challenge

The appointment needed to balance immediate operational responsibility with longer-term strategic priorities within a rapidly growing international consultancy. The successful candidate had to demonstrate:

• International property and FM experience. The ability to manage and develop workplace operations across multiple European offices, adapting to different locations, suppliers and business requirements.
• Strategic facilities leadership. Experience of moving Facilities Management beyond day-to-day service delivery towards a more structured, consistent and forward-looking approach.
• Team development. The capability to mentor and develop existing managers, strengthening their strategic thinking and increasing the overall capability of the function.
• Project and change management. Strong experience of delivering office projects, refurbishments, relocations and other property changes in a growing organisation.
• Commercial awareness. The ability to manage budgets, suppliers and contracts while continually looking for opportunities to improve efficiency and value.
• Stakeholder management. Confidence working closely with senior leaders and communicating clearly across different offices, teams and external partners.

Multi-country portfolios also demand a consistency that has to be built office by office, across different suppliers, regulations and working cultures. That narrowed the field considerably.

Our Approach

Maxwell Stephens conducted a targeted search for senior Facilities and Property professionals with experience of managing international office portfolios and complex workplace change, focusing on candidates who could combine operational credibility with a more strategic approach. We looked in particular for:

• International multi-site FM experience.
• Senior stakeholder management.
• Office relocation and fit-out expertise.
• Supplier and contract management.
• Budgetary control.
• Sustainability and workplace development.
• Team leadership and mentoring.
• The ability to support continued organisational growth.

Cultural fit was equally important. Oxera needed a professional capable of working within a highly analytical and collaborative consultancy environment while bringing additional structure and strategic direction to the Facilities function.

The Outcome

Maxwell Stephens placed an experienced Head of Property & Facilities, who joined Oxera in January 2020. The successful candidate brought substantial experience of managing international office networks and a strategic approach to Facilities Management and property development. Since joining, they have delivered:

• Stronger international FM operations. A more coordinated approach to Facilities Management across Oxera's European offices, improving consistency and operational efficiency.
• Improved property strategy. Greater strategic direction around the organisation's expanding property portfolio and future workplace requirements.
• Enhanced team capability. A strong emphasis on coaching and development, strengthening the existing Facilities and Property team, building internal resilience and enabling team members to contribute more strategically.
• Better supplier and cost management. Improved commercial oversight of suppliers and contracts, supporting stronger cost control and greater value across the international estate.
• Workplace development. Project and property experience that supported the continued development, consolidation and improvement of Oxera's office network.
• A stronger sustainability focus. Greater attention to energy efficiency and environmental policy, so that Facilities Management contributes to wider sustainability objectives.

Why This Placement Worked

The placement provided Oxera with more than interim operational cover during a period of rapid growth: a senior Property and Facilities leader capable of strengthening the existing function, developing internal talent and supporting the future evolution of its European office portfolio.

The appointment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens' ability to understand complex international Facilities Management briefs and identify candidates who combine strategic property leadership, operational expertise, project delivery and people development. If you are looking for a senior Property or Facilities professional to support growth across a complex office portfolio, get in touch with our team.