Client Overview
The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland is the national membership organisation for anaesthetists at every stage of their career. With more than 11,000 members and a team of 35 staff, the Association plays a vital role in representing the specialty, influencing health policy, supporting professional development and raising public awareness of the anaesthetist’s role.
As part of its long-term strategy, the Association was focused on strengthening operational support across the organisation. Key priorities included becoming fully digital, improving efficiency, adopting a more commercial approach to income generation, reducing running costs, improving premises, strengthening procurement processes and supporting greener ways of working.
To help deliver this strategy, the Association appointed Maxwell Stephens exclusively to recruit a newly created Facilities, Contracts and ICT Manager.
The Challenge
This was a broad and important appointment, combining responsibility for facilities management, building maintenance, security, ICT coordination, office management, procurement, hospitality services and supplier performance.
The successful candidate would play a central role in ensuring the Association’s premises and support services operated effectively while also contributing to long-term strategic improvements.
Key responsibilities included:
• Managing building maintenance, repairs and development.
• Maintaining planned maintenance schedules to support budget forecasting.
• Establishing and overseeing building security procedures.
• Managing front-of-house services and visitor experience.
• Overseeing catering and conference facilities.
• Ensuring compliance with health and safety legislation.
• Developing and reviewing health and safety policies.
• Supporting staff training on safety procedures.
• Managing waste, recycling and environmental improvements.
• Reviewing and improving procurement processes.
• Managing third-party suppliers and monitoring contract performance.
• Procuring ICT equipment including phones, photocopiers and hardware.
• Managing the relationship with the Association’s external IT provider.
• Supporting senior management and board members with long-term property strategy.
The role required a rare combination of practical facilities knowledge, commercial awareness, ICT understanding, supplier management, health and safety expertise and the ability to work confidently with senior stakeholders.
The Candidate Profile
The Association required a highly capable, self-motivated and organised professional who could operate both strategically and hands-on.
The ideal candidate needed experience across:
• Facilities Management.
• Building and premises management.
• Procurement and contract management.
• Budget management.
• People management.
• Hospitality or conference services.
• ICT supplier coordination.
• Health, safety and environmental compliance.
In addition, the successful individual needed a strong working knowledge of health and safety legislation, good IT systems awareness and the ability to communicate effectively across the organisation.
A degree-level education and relevant Facilities Management qualification were essential, while IOSH certification was also highly desirable.
Just as importantly, the candidate needed strong negotiation skills, the ability to lead and motivate others, and the confidence to support practical operational tasks when required.
Our Approach
Maxwell Stephens worked closely with the Association to understand the purpose of the newly created role, the organisation’s long-term strategy and the broad skillset required.
We conducted a focused search across our Facilities Management and operational support networks, identifying candidates who could combine strategic thinking with practical delivery.
Our assessment focused on:
• Breadth of facilities and operational experience.
• Supplier and contract management capability.
• Understanding of health and safety legislation.
• ICT coordination experience.
• Commercial and budget awareness.
• Communication style and cultural fit.
• Ability to support organisational change.
The Outcome
Maxwell Stephens successfully recruited a Facilities, Contracts and ICT Manager who brought the right balance of facilities expertise, operational discipline, supplier management experience and hands-on practicality.
The appointment provided the Association with a dedicated professional capable of improving day-to-day operations while supporting longer-term objectives around digital transformation, premises improvement, procurement, cost control and sustainability.
The successful candidate delivered exactly the kind of broad operational leadership the Association required: practical, commercially aware, service-focused and aligned with its future strategy.
“I’ve just started a new role which was offered to me via Maxwell Stephens. This was my first time working with Maxwell Stephens and I have to say it was a very good experience. From start to finish they were on the ball with everything, always making sure to follow up with me after meetings and interviews etc.
The team at Maxwell Stephens are very knowledgeable and have a very good attitude. Nothing is too much trouble! I would be very happy to work with Maxwell Stephens in the future.”
This appointment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens’ ability to recruit for complex, multi-functional Facilities Management roles where technical knowledge, commercial judgement, communication skills and cultural fit are equally important.