Facilities Manager Recruitment for the British Computer Society (BCS)

Background

The British Computer Society (BCS), The Chartered Institute for IT, was founded in 1957 and is the professional body for the UK's information technology sector. With more than 68,000 members across over 150 countries, BCS plays a leading role in promoting professional standards, ethical practice and digital innovation. As a Royal Charter charity, its mission is to make information technology a force for good by supporting professionals, influencing policy and improving society through technology.

Following an unsuccessful internal recruitment campaign, BCS appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit a Facilities Manager for its London headquarters and conference venue. The role was central to delivering a high standard of workplace and visitor experience while ensuring the safe, efficient and compliant operation of the Institute's facilities.

The Challenge

BCS required an experienced Facilities Manager capable of balancing operational standards with strong customer service in a busy environment serving employees, members, volunteers, conference delegates and external visitors.

A headquarters that doubles as a conference venue is a demanding brief. The building has to work as an office for staff during the week and as a public-facing venue for delegates and members, often on the same day, and every facilities decision is visible to the people the organisation exists to serve. An internal campaign that has not produced the right person also tends to mean the pool of obvious candidates has already been seen.

Reporting to the Head of Facilities, the successful candidate would oversee the day-to-day management of the London premises while leading the facilities team and ensuring service delivery met the standards expected of an internationally recognised professional institution. Key responsibilities included:

• Leading and developing the Facilities team.
• Managing all hard and soft Facilities Management services.
• Overseeing contractor performance and supplier relationships.
• Managing Health & Safety compliance and statutory obligations.
• Developing and implementing Facilities policies and procedures.
• Managing operational and venue budgets.
• Supporting conference and event operations.
• Delivering a safe, welcoming and efficient workplace for staff, members and visitors.
• Driving continuous improvement across facilities services.

The role demanded someone who could combine technical competence with strong leadership and stakeholder management skills in a highly customer-focused environment.

Our Approach

Working closely with BCS, Maxwell Stephens developed a detailed understanding of the Institute's operational requirements, organisational culture and long-term objectives.

Our specialist Facilities Management recruitment team conducted a targeted search focusing on professionals with experience managing corporate offices, conference venues or member-based organisations, where customer experience and operational standards carry equal weight. We prioritised candidates with:

• Proven Facilities Management leadership experience.
• Strong contractor and supplier management expertise.
• Comprehensive Health & Safety knowledge.
• Experience managing operational budgets.
• Leadership of small, effective Facilities teams.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and customer service skills.
• Professional qualifications including IWFM (formerly BIFM) and Health & Safety certifications.

Beyond technical ability, we placed significant emphasis on identifying candidates who demonstrated professionalism, initiative, resilience and the ability to build trusted relationships across every level of the organisation.

The Outcome

Following a comprehensive recruitment process, Maxwell Stephens appointed an experienced Facilities Manager who closely matched both the technical and cultural requirements of the role.

The successful candidate quickly established themselves within the organisation, providing strong operational leadership while maintaining the standards expected across BCS's London headquarters and event facilities. Since joining the Institute, they have:

• Enhanced day-to-day Facilities operations.
• Strengthened contractor management and service delivery.
• Improved Health & Safety compliance and governance.
• Supported the smooth operation of conferences and member events.
• Maintained strong workplace standards for staff and visitors.
• Built positive relationships with stakeholders across the organisation.
• Contributed to continuous improvement initiatives across the Facilities function.

The appointment gave BCS a Facilities Manager capable of supporting both its operational needs and its long-term organisational objectives.

Candidate Testimonial

"Maxwell Stephens were excellent throughout the recruitment process. They genuinely took the time to understand my experience, career goals and what I was looking for next. Communication was outstanding from start to finish, with regular updates, interview preparation and follow-up after every stage. It was refreshing to work with recruiters who truly understand Facilities Management, and I would happily recommend them to both employers and candidates."

Why This Placement Worked

Facilities Management within membership organisations requires leaders who understand the importance of customer experience, operational standards and stakeholder engagement. Searching specifically across conference venues and member-based organisations, rather than corporate offices alone, reached candidates who already understood what a member-facing building demands.

Through our specialist executive search expertise, Maxwell Stephens delivered an appointment that continues to support the British Computer Society's mission and workplace operations.

If you are recruiting a Facilities Manager for a headquarters, venue or membership organisation where the building is part of the service, Maxwell Stephens can help you define the brief and reach the right candidates. Get in touch with our team.