Background
Founded in 1826, University College London (UCL) is one of the world's leading universities and consistently ranks among the top higher education institutions globally. Home to more than 42,000 students and 13,000 staff representing over 150 countries, UCL operates one of the largest and most complex university estates in the UK.
Its extensive property portfolio spans the historic Bloomsbury campus, specialist institutes, teaching hospitals, research facilities, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park campus and international operations, creating a highly demanding Estates and Facilities Management environment.
Having previously partnered successfully on a number of senior Facilities Management recruitment assignments, UCL once again appointed Maxwell Stephens on an exclusive basis to recruit a Facilities Manager.
The Challenge
The successful candidate would take responsibility for the operational management of a designated portfolio of academic and administrative buildings, ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality Facilities Management services across a busy and complex university environment.
This was a highly visible leadership role requiring someone capable of balancing operational excellence, customer service, contractor management and statutory compliance while supporting thousands of staff, students and visitors every day.
Responsibilities included:
- Managing the day-to-day delivery of Facilities Management services across multiple buildings.
- Acting as the primary point of contact for building users.
- Coordinating maintenance, security, cleaning and waste management services.
- Managing contractors and directly employed operational teams.
- Monitoring service standards, budgets and contractor performance.
- Ensuring compliance with Health & Safety legislation and statutory requirements.
- Resolving operational issues quickly and effectively.
- Supporting continuous service improvement across the estate.
The breadth of services under the Facilities Manager's responsibility included:
- Planned and reactive maintenance.
- Cleaning services.
- Security operations.
- Portering and logistics.
- Waste and recycling.
- Mail services.
- Grounds maintenance.
- Car parking management.
- Catering support services.
Given the size and complexity of UCL's estate, the organisation required an experienced Facilities Manager capable of operating confidently within a technically demanding, customer-focused environment.
Our Approach
Drawing upon our long-standing relationship with UCL and our specialist expertise within the Higher Education sector, Maxwell Stephens undertook a targeted executive search to identify candidates with the ideal blend of technical knowledge, operational leadership and stakeholder management skills.
Our search focused on professionals with:
- Significant Facilities or Estates Management experience.
- Operational leadership within complex, multi-building environments.
- Experience managing both contractors and directly employed teams.
- Strong customer service and stakeholder management skills.
- Sound knowledge of statutory compliance and Health & Safety legislation.
- Experience working within Higher Education, healthcare or similarly complex estates.
- The ability to balance operational priorities with excellent service delivery.
Every candidate was rigorously assessed not only for their technical competence but also for their leadership style, communication skills and ability to build positive working relationships across a large and diverse organisation.
The Outcome
Maxwell Stephens successfully delivered an outstanding Facilities Manager who closely matched UCL's technical, operational and cultural requirements.
The successful candidate brought extensive experience managing Facilities Management operations within complex estates and demonstrated the leadership, organisation and customer focus required to support one of the UK's most prestigious universities.
Since joining UCL, the Facilities Manager has helped strengthen service delivery across their designated portfolio by:
- Maintaining consistently high operational standards.
- Effectively managing contractors and internal service teams.
- Building strong relationships with academic departments and building users.
- Ensuring full compliance with statutory and Health & Safety requirements.
- Driving continuous improvements across Facilities Management services.
- Supporting the University's commitment to delivering an outstanding environment for teaching, research and student life.
A Trusted Recruitment Partner to Higher Education
This appointment further strengthened Maxwell Stephens' long-standing relationship with University College London and demonstrated our ability to consistently deliver high-calibre Facilities Management professionals for one of the UK's largest and most complex university estates.
Through our specialist Facilities Management recruitment expertise, executive search capability and in-depth understanding of Higher Education environments, we continue to help leading universities recruit the operational leaders who keep world-class institutions performing at their very best.
Candidate Testimonial
"Maxwell Stephens have always provided me with a brilliant service. Every member of the team has taken the time to understand exactly what I was looking for and kept me fully informed throughout the entire recruitment process. Their interview preparation was excellent and I would thoroughly recommend them."