How Maxwell Stephens Recruited the Head of Facilities for The Royal Institution
Client Overview
The Royal Institution of Great Britain (Ri) is one of the world's most respected scientific organisations, with a history dating back to 1799. Located in an iconic Grade I listed building in London's Mayfair, the Institution combines scientific research, education, public engagement and commercial activity under one roof.
The building is far more than a historic landmark. It serves as a vibrant public destination, hosting internationally recognised lectures, conferences, exhibitions and private events, whilst also providing office accommodation for employees and commercial tenants. Managing such a unique environment requires exceptional operational leadership, balancing heritage conservation with the demands of a modern, multi-purpose venue.
The Challenge
The Royal Institution required an experienced Head of Facilities to lead every aspect of facilities management across its prestigious estate. This was a strategically important appointment requiring an individual capable of delivering exceptional operational standards whilst protecting one of the UK's most historic scientific buildings.
The successful candidate would be responsible for ensuring the building remained safe, compliant, efficient and welcoming for everyone using the facility, including employees, visitors, event clients, audiences, tenants and contractors.
The role also demanded strong commercial awareness. Maximising the utilisation of the building through venue hire, hospitality and commercial tenants was a key organisational objective, requiring facilities leadership that could support both operational excellence and revenue generation.
Following a competitive tender process involving several specialist recruitment agencies, Maxwell Stephens was appointed to support the search for this critical appointment.
Our Approach
Understanding the unique nature of the opportunity, we conducted a highly targeted search across the Facilities Management sector, focusing on senior professionals with experience managing prestigious, customer-facing environments where heritage, hospitality, commercial operations and compliance intersect.
Our recruitment process concentrated on identifying candidates who could demonstrate:
- Extensive senior Facilities Management leadership experience.
- Strong contract management and procurement expertise.
- Proven experience managing outsourced service providers.
- Business continuity and risk management capability.
- Budget ownership and commercial awareness.
- Experience supporting hospitality, events or public-facing venues.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- The ability to balance operational delivery with long-term strategic planning.
Beyond technical capability, cultural fit was a critical element of the search. The Royal Institution required a leader who could communicate effectively with stakeholders at every level, build trusted relationships, lead through influence rather than authority, and embrace continuous improvement while respecting the heritage and values of the organisation.
The Outcome
Maxwell Stephens successfully delivered a high-quality shortlist, presenting three exceptional candidates for interview. Following a competitive interview process, one of our candidates was appointed as Head of Facilities.
The successful individual brought extensive experience across facilities management, contract management, procurement, business continuity, hospitality services, people leadership and operational strategy. Their collaborative leadership style, commercial mindset and ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships made them an outstanding fit for the organisation.
Today, the Head of Facilities plays a central role in ensuring The Royal Institution continues to provide an exceptional experience for employees, visitors, event clients and tenants, while safeguarding one of London's most important scientific and historic buildings.
This appointment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens' ability to recruit senior Facilities Management professionals for some of the UK's most prestigious and operationally complex organisations, combining technical expertise with the leadership qualities required to deliver long-term organisational success.
Feedback
I've known Peter for a number of years and he has always been attentive honest and approachable. He always looks to find the right role for you and works hard to ensure you're fully prepared for interviews. I would highly recommend his and his team.