Background
Founded in 1957, the British Computer Society (BCS), The Chartered Institute for IT, 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 prestigious London headquarters and conference venue. The role was central to delivering an exceptional 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 excellence with first-class customer service in a busy environment serving employees, members, volunteers, conference delegates and external visitors.
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 high standards expected of a globally respected 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 excellent leadership and stakeholder management skills in a highly customer-focused environment.
Our Approach
Working closely with BCS, we 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 excellence were equally important.
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, high-performing Facilities teams.
- Excellent 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 successfully 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 high standards expected across BCS's London headquarters and event facilities.
Since joining the Institute, they have successfully:
- 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 excellent 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 ensured BCS secured a Facilities Manager capable of supporting both its operational needs and its long-term organisational objectives.
Recruiting Facilities Professionals for Professional Membership Organisations
Facilities Management within membership organisations requires leaders who understand the importance of customer experience, operational excellence and stakeholder engagement.
Through our specialist executive search expertise, Maxwell Stephens successfully delivered a high-quality appointment that continues to support the British Computer Society's mission and workplace operations.
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."