Background & Client Overview
Pembroke House, a long-established charitable organisation based in Walworth, South-East London, appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Facilities Manager for an initial three-month temporary assignment.
Founded in 1885, Pembroke House has a strong history of supporting the local community and addressing issues of poverty and inequality. Its varied estate includes community facilities, residential properties and leased spaces, each with different operational, maintenance and stakeholder requirements.
The organisation needed a Facilities Manager who could step into the role quickly, provide immediate operational support and ensure its properties remained safe, compliant, well maintained and capable of supporting Pembroke House’s community-focused work.
The Challenge
The assignment combined the urgency of an interim appointment with the complexity of managing a diverse property portfolio.
Pembroke House required someone capable of quickly understanding the estate, identifying priorities and taking ownership of both day-to-day Facilities Management and several ongoing property projects.
Diverse Estate Management
The portfolio included different types of buildings and spaces, each presenting its own maintenance, operational and stakeholder requirements.
The successful candidate needed to adapt their approach accordingly while maintaining consistent standards across the estate.
Immediate Interim Support
With an initial assignment of only three months, there was limited time for an extended transition.
Pembroke House needed an experienced Facilities professional who could rapidly assess the estate, establish priorities and begin delivering from the outset.
Reactive Maintenance & Repairs
Urgent building and maintenance issues needed to be identified, prioritised and resolved efficiently to minimise disruption to employees, tenants and community activities.
Tenant & Stakeholder Management
The role required regular communication with tenants, contractors, colleagues and other stakeholders, making strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills essential.
Contractor Coordination
External contractors needed to be instructed and managed effectively, ensuring maintenance and project works were delivered safely and to the required standard.
Health & Safety Compliance
The Facilities Manager was responsible for helping maintain appropriate health and safety standards across the estate and ensuring operational activity remained compliant.
Capital Projects
Alongside day-to-day Facilities responsibilities, the successful candidate needed to support and coordinate smaller capital works and property-improvement projects.
Our Recruitment Approach
Maxwell Stephens conducted a focused search for experienced interim and temporary Facilities Management professionals capable of taking immediate responsibility for a varied property portfolio.
Given the short-term nature of the assignment, availability and adaptability were critical.
Our assessment focused on candidates with experience in:
- multi-site Facilities Management
- community, residential or mixed-use properties
- reactive and planned maintenance
- contractor management
- health and safety compliance
- small capital projects
- tenant and stakeholder relationships
- working independently and prioritising urgent issues
- entering organisations and making an immediate impact
Cultural fit was also particularly important.
Pembroke House required someone who understood that effective Facilities Management was ultimately supporting the organisation’s wider charitable and community objectives.
Following a targeted search and assessment process, Maxwell Stephens successfully placed an experienced Temporary Facilities Manager.
Outcome & Impact
The successful candidate quickly integrated into Pembroke House and provided immediate operational leadership throughout the three-month assignment.
Urgent Maintenance Issues Addressed
The Facilities Manager identified and resolved priority maintenance issues across the estate, helping ensure buildings remained functional and disruption was minimised.
Effective Capital Project Coordination
The candidate successfully coordinated small-scale capital projects, maintaining oversight of contractors, operational requirements and project delivery.
All Saints Hall Conversion
A significant part of the assignment involved overseeing the conversion of All Saints Hall into office accommodation.
The Facilities Manager helped coordinate the work and supported the practical delivery of the new space.
Stronger Tenant Relationships
Proactive communication with tenants helped improve coordination around maintenance, property works and wider Facilities requirements.
Improved Contractor Management
External contractors were managed effectively, helping ensure works progressed appropriately and operational issues were addressed in a timely manner.
Stronger Health & Safety Oversight
The candidate maintained close attention to health and safety responsibilities throughout the estate, supporting a safe environment for employees, tenants, visitors and community users.
Immediate Operational Stability
Most importantly, the appointment gave Pembroke House experienced Facilities Management support precisely when it was needed, enabling the organisation to maintain continuity while continuing to focus on its wider community mission.
Outcome
The successful placement provided Pembroke House with a Facilities Manager capable of stepping into a short-term assignment, understanding a complex estate quickly and delivering meaningful operational support from the outset.
Across the three-month contract, the candidate addressed urgent repairs, coordinated capital works, supported the conversion of All Saints Hall and maintained productive relationships with tenants and contractors.
The assignment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens’ ability to respond quickly to temporary and interim Facilities Management requirements, identifying professionals who can provide immediate stability while delivering practical improvements within a limited timeframe.
Looking for an Interim or Temporary Facilities Manager who can step in quickly and take control of a complex estate? Contact Maxwell Stephens to discuss your recruitment requirements.