Recruiting a Head of Property & Facilities for the Royal Society of Medicine

Background

The Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) is one of the UK's leading independent medical charities, dedicated to advancing healthcare through education, research and the exchange of knowledge. From its headquarters at 1 Wimpole Street, London, the organisation welcomes thousands of members, healthcare professionals and visitors each year.

The headquarters is far more than an office building. The estate incorporates lecture theatres, conference and education facilities, a specialist medical library, hospitality venues, a 47-bedroom hotel, restaurants, event spaces and administrative offices, and it operates almost continuously throughout the year.

To support this operation, the Royal Society of Medicine partnered with Maxwell Stephens to recruit a Head of Property & Facilities.

The Challenge

This was a strategically important leadership appointment. The RSM needed an experienced Facilities and Property professional able to oversee every aspect of the organisation's built environment. Reporting at senior level, the successful candidate would take responsibility for the operational management, maintenance and long-term development of one of London's most demanding multi-use properties.

The role encompassed:

• Strategic leadership of Property and Facilities Management
• Planned preventative maintenance and building lifecycle management
• Health & Safety, statutory compliance and risk management
• Security, business continuity and emergency planning
• Major refurbishment and capital project delivery
• Contractor procurement, contract management and supplier performance
• Budget management and financial planning
• Leadership of multidisciplinary Facilities teams
• Supporting the delivery of conferences, hospitality and member services across a 24-hour environment

Beyond technical expertise, the RSM required a leader who could balance operational delivery with strong stakeholder engagement: someone able to motivate teams, work collaboratively with senior executives and Trustees, and contribute to the organisation's long-term strategic direction while maintaining the standards expected of an institution of its standing.

Mixed-use estates of this kind are among the hardest facilities leadership roles to fill. A hotel, a conference operation, a library and an office each have their own service expectations and maintenance windows, and there is rarely a quiet period in which to carry out planned work. Candidates from single-use corporate estates often lack the experience of running a building that never really closes.

Our Approach

Drawing on our specialist Facilities Management network, Maxwell Stephens conducted a targeted executive search focused on experienced Heads of Facilities and Property professionals with backgrounds in complex, customer-facing environments.

Candidates were assessed against several critical criteria:

• Estate leadership. Leadership of large, operationally complex estates.
• Compliance. Detailed knowledge of statutory compliance and Health & Safety legislation.
• Hospitality and mixed-use experience. Experience managing hospitality, conference or mixed-use facilities.
• Projects. Capital projects, refurbishment and property development expertise.
• Commercial control. Budget ownership and commercial decision-making, together with contractor procurement and supplier management.
• Stakeholder engagement. Strong executive communication skills and a collaborative leadership style aligned with the Royal Society of Medicine's values.

Alongside technical capability, significant emphasis was placed on finding an individual who would support the organisation's culture of professionalism and continuous improvement.

The Outcome

Maxwell Stephens recruited a Head of Property & Facilities with the technical expertise, leadership capability and strategic perspective the appointment demanded.

The successful candidate quickly assumed responsibility for the management of the RSM's flagship headquarters, ensuring the estate continued to operate safely, efficiently and in full compliance while supporting the organisation's educational, hospitality and commercial activities. Their appointment strengthened:

• Strategic leadership across the Property and Facilities function
• Operational resilience throughout the estate
• Compliance and governance standards
• Capital investment and property planning
• Contractor performance and supplier relationships
• The workplace experience for members, guests, staff and visitors
• Long-term support for the Royal Society of Medicine's organisational strategy

Why This Placement Worked

The search was scoped around the estate as it actually runs, not around a generic Head of Facilities job description. Insisting on candidates from complex, customer-facing environments narrowed the field, but it meant everyone shortlisted understood what a near-continuous operation with hotel, conference and education functions asks of its facilities leader. Assessing for collaboration with executives and Trustees alongside technical depth ensured the appointee could carry the strategic part of the role as well as the operational.

Maxwell Stephens recruits senior Facilities Management and Property leaders for organisations where operational standards, stakeholder management and strategic leadership all matter to long-term success. If you are planning a similar appointment, get in touch with our team.