Background & Client Overview
The United Reformed Church (URC) appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Facilities Manager for Church House, 86 Tavistock Place, London, its central administrative office.
Church House supports approximately 60 members of staff and provides meeting and event space for both internal and external users. The property also incorporates areas leased to commercial and residential tenants, creating a varied Facilities Management environment with multiple stakeholder groups and operational requirements.
URC required a dedicated Facilities Manager capable of taking responsibility for the appearance, maintenance, safety, services and effective use of Church House, while ensuring regulatory compliance and providing a professional environment for employees, visitors and tenants.
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the successful candidate would also lead an operational team comprising a Caretaker, Cleaners and Receptionist.
The Challenge
Church House presented a broad and multifaceted Facilities Management requirement.
The successful candidate needed to balance the everyday demands of a busy administrative workplace with the requirements of meeting-room users, commercial and residential tenants, contractors, committees and volunteers.
Key responsibilities included:
Building & Facilities Management
Taking overall responsibility for the day-to-day operation, appearance and performance of Church House.
Building Services & Maintenance
Managing planned and reactive maintenance and ensuring building systems and services remained safe, functional and appropriately maintained.
Health & Safety Compliance
Ensuring the property operated in accordance with relevant health and safety requirements and maintaining appropriate procedures and controls.
Safety & Security
Managing arrangements designed to protect employees, tenants, visitors and the wider property.
Team Leadership
Providing clear leadership to the Caretaker, cleaning team and Receptionist, ensuring responsibilities were coordinated effectively and service standards maintained.
Tenant Management
Building productive relationships with commercial and residential tenants and responding professionally to property and Facilities-related requirements.
Third-Party Facilities Management
Managing external contractors and service providers and ensuring outsourced services met the organisation's expectations.
Meeting & Hospitality Services
Supporting the effective use of meeting rooms and other facilities by internal teams and external visitors.
Space Utilisation
Helping ensure available space was used effectively across administrative, meeting, commercial and residential requirements.
Environmental & Sustainability Initiatives
Supporting environmental improvements across the building and contributing to URC's aspiration of achieving net zero by 2030.
Committee & Volunteer Engagement
Working constructively with committees, groups and volunteers and providing informed advice on property and Facilities matters.
Our Recruitment Approach
Maxwell Stephens worked closely with the United Reformed Church to understand the diverse operational requirements of Church House and the personal qualities required from its new Facilities Manager.
The appointment demanded someone with broad Facilities Management experience who could operate confidently across building operations, compliance, people management, tenant relations and stakeholder engagement.
Our assessment focused on candidates with experience in:
- Facilities and building management
- planned and reactive maintenance
- health and safety
- safety and security management
- team leadership
- contractor and supplier management
- commercial and residential tenant relations
- space and letting management
- hospitality and meeting-room operations
- environmental initiatives
- working with committees and volunteers
Particular emphasis was placed on identifying a professional who could combine strong operational expertise with patience, communication skills and a collaborative approach suited to the distinctive environment of the United Reformed Church.
Following a detailed search and assessment process, Maxwell Stephens successfully placed a highly qualified Facilities Manager at Church House.
Outcome & Impact
The appointment strengthened the management of Church House across several important areas.
Enhanced Building Management
The Facilities Manager provided dedicated oversight of building services, maintenance, security and day-to-day operational requirements, helping maintain a safe and functional environment for staff and visitors.
Improved Tenant Relations
Greater coordination of commercial and residential tenant requirements supported more responsive communication and effective management of property-related issues.
Streamlined Facilities Operations
Having dedicated Facilities leadership improved the coordination of services across Church House and supported more effective use of the building.
Stronger Health & Safety Compliance
The successful candidate brought greater structure to safety and compliance activity, helping ensure relevant responsibilities were managed consistently.
Progress on Sustainability
The Facilities Manager supported environmental initiatives across Church House, contributing to the organisation's wider ambition to work towards net zero by 2030.
Effective Team Leadership
Clear management of the Caretaker, Cleaners and Receptionist helped strengthen coordination and maintain consistent service standards across the building.
Stronger Committee Engagement
The Facilities Manager developed productive relationships with committees and internal groups, providing informed Facilities input and supporting more effective decision-making around the property.
Outcome
The successful placement provided the United Reformed Church with a Facilities Manager capable of combining building operations, maintenance, compliance, tenant management, sustainability and team leadership within a diverse central London property.
The appointment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens' ability to recruit Facilities professionals for complex organisational environments where technical expertise must be complemented by strong interpersonal skills and an understanding of multiple stakeholder needs.
By identifying a candidate capable of managing both the operational detail and wider responsibilities of Church House, Maxwell Stephens helped URC strengthen the effective, safe and sustainable management of its central administrative premises.
Looking for an experienced Facilities Manager to oversee a complex workplace, mixed-use property or organisational headquarters? Contact Maxwell Stephens to discuss your recruitment requirements.