Background & Client Overview
Toyota GB appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit a Senior Facilities Manager following the retirement announcement of the existing postholder.
This was a significant succession appointment, requiring an experienced Facilities Management leader capable of maintaining operational continuity while bringing fresh ideas, innovation and strategic direction to Toyota GB’s estate.
The role carried responsibility for two important locations: Toyota GB’s head office in Burgh Heath, Surrey, and its Academy facility at Burnaston, Derbyshire.
With a remit spanning multi-site Facilities Management, outsourced service providers, major budgets, health and safety, projects and sustainability, Toyota GB required a senior professional capable of combining operational leadership with long-term strategic thinking.
The Challenge
Replacing an established Senior Facilities Manager following retirement required a carefully managed recruitment process.
Toyota GB needed someone who could take ownership of a complex multi-site operation while maintaining existing standards and identifying opportunities to improve the performance of the Facilities function.
Key requirements included:
Multi-Site Facilities Leadership
The successful candidate needed extensive experience managing Facilities operations across multiple commercial locations, ensuring consistent standards at both Burgh Heath and Burnaston.
Team Leadership & Motivation
Strong leadership skills were essential, with the ability to motivate teams, create accountability and maintain a high-performance Facilities culture.
Outsourced Contractor Management
The role required extensive experience managing external FM providers and contractors, ensuring service quality, commercial value and accountability.
Budget & Commercial Management
Responsibility for significant Facilities budgets required strong financial awareness, effective cost control and confident commercial decision-making.
Project Management & Innovation
Toyota GB wanted a professional capable of delivering Facilities projects while continually identifying more effective and innovative ways to manage the estate.
Health & Safety Management
A strong understanding of workplace health and safety was critical, alongside the ability to maintain appropriate systems, standards and governance.
Sustainability
The successful candidate needed to demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability and understand how Facilities Management could contribute to Toyota GB’s broader environmental objectives.
ISO Standards
Knowledge of relevant BS ISO management standards was important in supporting structured, compliant and continuously improving Facilities operations.
Stakeholder Management
Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills were required to work effectively with colleagues, senior management, contractors and service partners.
Our Recruitment Approach
Given the seniority and importance of the appointment, Maxwell Stephens conducted a comprehensive search for experienced Facilities Management leaders with a strong background in complex, multi-site corporate estates.
Our assessment process focused on identifying candidates who could provide continuity following the retirement of the existing Senior Facilities Manager while also bringing new thinking to the role.
Candidates were evaluated on their experience in:
- senior multi-site Facilities Management
- outsourced FM contract management
- substantial budget responsibility
- health and safety leadership
- project and change management
- sustainability initiatives
- ISO management standards
- stakeholder engagement and negotiation
- team leadership and development
- continuous improvement and innovation
Cultural alignment was equally important. Toyota GB required a candidate whose leadership style and professional values complemented the organisation’s wider standards and strategic objectives.
Following a detailed search and selection process, Maxwell Stephens successfully placed an experienced Senior Facilities Manager.
Outcome & Impact
The successful candidate demonstrated a strong combination of Facilities Management expertise, leadership capability and strategic thinking, making them an effective successor for this important role.
Successful Leadership Succession
The appointment provided Toyota GB with an experienced Facilities leader capable of taking responsibility following the retirement of the previous Senior Facilities Manager and maintaining continuity across the estate.
Stronger Multi-Site Oversight
The candidate brought proven experience managing complex Facilities operations across multiple locations, supporting consistent standards at both the Burgh Heath headquarters and Burnaston Academy.
Enhanced Contractor Management
Extensive outsourced-services experience provided Toyota GB with strong commercial and operational oversight of external Facilities providers.
Continued Focus on Health & Safety
The successful candidate’s health and safety expertise helped maintain a structured approach to compliance, risk management and workplace standards.
Greater Focus on Innovation
Strong project-management capability and an improvement-focused mindset supported Toyota GB’s objective of continuing to develop and modernise its Facilities operations.
Sustainability Leadership
The candidate’s commitment to sustainability ensured environmental considerations remained integrated into Facilities Management decision-making and future initiatives.
Strong Strategic Alignment
Their combination of technical competence, leadership and commercial awareness aligned closely with Toyota GB’s wider values and operational objectives.
Ongoing Partnership
The success of the appointment led to an important extension of the relationship.
Toyota GB was sufficiently impressed with Maxwell Stephens’ recruitment support that it recommended us to its Facilities Management service provider, Dalkia.
That recommendation subsequently resulted in Maxwell Stephens supporting Dalkia with another key appointment, demonstrating the confidence generated through the successful Toyota GB assignment.
Outcome
The successful placement provided Toyota GB with a Senior Facilities Manager capable of combining multi-site operational leadership, contractor management, health and safety, sustainability, innovation and financial control.
It also demonstrates Maxwell Stephens’ ability to manage critical succession appointments where maintaining continuity is just as important as identifying a leader capable of taking the Facilities function forward.
The subsequent referral to Dalkia provides further evidence of the strength of the partnership and the quality of the recruitment outcome.
Looking for a senior Facilities Management professional to lead a complex estate or manage a critical succession appointment? Contact Maxwell Stephens to discuss your recruitment requirements.