Background & Client Overview
The Rutland Group is a family-owned property development, investment and management company, founded in 1984. Its team brings together expertise spanning commercial property ownership, management, development, finance, communications and events.
The organisation appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit a new Facilities Manager for Dunsfold Park, requiring a professional capable of combining strategic Facilities Management with hands-on responsibility for maintenance, compliance and the ongoing improvement of the estate.
This was a varied role requiring strong technical and organisational capability, alongside the willingness to take an active role in health and safety, planned and reactive maintenance, statutory testing and emergency preparedness.
The Challenge
The Facilities Manager would play an important role in ensuring Dunsfold Park remained safe, compliant, well maintained and operationally effective.
The successful candidate needed to provide strategic direction while remaining closely involved in the practical delivery and coordination of Facilities and maintenance activity.
Key responsibilities included:
Facilities & Maintenance Strategy
Providing direction for Facilities and maintenance improvements across Dunsfold Park and identifying opportunities to enhance the performance and condition of the estate.
Improvement, Alteration & Repair Works
Coordinating property improvements, alterations and repair projects while ensuring works were delivered effectively.
Health & Safety Compliance
Managing compliance with relevant health and safety systems and legislation and helping maintain appropriate standards across the site.
Statutory Testing & Servicing
Ensuring required servicing, inspections and statutory testing were completed appropriately and within the necessary timescales.
Planned Maintenance
Managing planned building and grounds maintenance to support asset condition and minimise avoidable disruption.
Reactive Maintenance
Working closely with the Maintenance Manager to coordinate reactive building and grounds maintenance and ensure issues were addressed efficiently.
First Aid Responsibilities
The successful candidate needed to be willing to undertake First Aid responsibilities, with appropriate training provided to achieve the required certification.
Continued Health & Safety Development
Rutland Group also wanted someone willing to undertake further health and safety awareness training and apply that knowledge within the role.
The combination of strategic responsibility, practical estate management and specific training requirements meant that finding the right individual required a highly focused recruitment process.
Our Recruitment Approach
Due to the specific requirements of the position, Maxwell Stephens conducted a personalised headhunting campaign tailored closely to Rutland Group's needs.
Rather than relying solely on incoming applications, we proactively searched our existing Facilities Management network and candidate database for professionals whose experience, working style and career aspirations matched the opportunity.
53 Candidates Approached
We directly approached 53 potential candidates for the Facilities Manager position, allowing us to explore a broad but carefully targeted section of the market.
Each candidate was assessed against the operational responsibilities of the role as well as Rutland Group's specific requirements around health and safety, maintenance and personal approach.
Six Candidates Presented
Following detailed screening and assessment, Maxwell Stephens presented six candidates who demonstrated the strongest alignment with the brief.
Three Candidates Interviewed
Rutland Group selected three candidates for interview, giving the client a focused shortlist of professionals who had already been assessed against the key requirements.
Two Progressed to Final Stage
Following the initial interviews, two candidates progressed to a second-round interview, ultimately resulting in an offer being made to the preferred candidate.
Outcome & Impact
The targeted recruitment process enabled Rutland Group to appoint a Facilities Manager with the experience and personal qualities required to support the effective management of Dunsfold Park.
A Highly Targeted Appointment
By approaching 53 candidates and narrowing the search to six carefully selected individuals, Maxwell Stephens provided Rutland Group with a strong shortlist without overwhelming the client with unsuitable applications.
Strong Alignment with the Brief
The successful candidate demonstrated the Facilities and maintenance capability required for the position while also showing the willingness to develop further in areas such as health and safety and First Aid.
Effective Long-Term Fit
Importantly, the success of the placement extended beyond the initial recruitment process.
When Maxwell Stephens contacted the successful candidate approximately one year after their appointment, they reported that they were extremely happy in the role.
This provided a strong indication that the appointment had delivered not only the required professional fit, but also the longer-term cultural and career alignment essential to a successful Facilities Management placement.
Outcome
The Rutland Group assignment demonstrates the value of a focused, proactive headhunting strategy for specialist Facilities Management roles.
From 53 candidates approached, Maxwell Stephens identified six strong prospects, three were interviewed, two progressed to the final stage and the process concluded with a successful appointment.
The candidate's positive feedback a year later further demonstrated the importance of looking beyond technical experience to consider motivation, working style and long-term fit.
Looking for a Facilities Manager with the right combination of technical expertise, compliance knowledge and cultural fit? Contact Maxwell Stephens to discuss your recruitment requirements.