To hire a Head of Facilities, define what the role must achieve in its first 18 months, confirm the authority and budget it will hold, benchmark pay (£70,000 to £110,000+ in the UK in 2026), then run a targeted search and assess candidates for judgement as well as experience. Maxwell Stephens has recruited Heads of Facilities since 2006.
A Head of Facilities sets the standard for how an organisation's buildings, services and workplace perform. Maxwell Stephens recruits Heads of Facilities for corporate, public sector, education, charity and property organisations across the UK.
We have specialised in Facilities Management recruitment since 2006, with more than 50,000 FM professionals in our network across the UK and Europe.
The step from manager to leader is where hires go wrong
Many Head of Facilities candidates are excellent Facilities Managers. Not all of them can lead the function.
The role usually means owning the FM budget, setting strategy for hard and soft services, managing service partners at contract level, advising the board on space and accommodation, and carrying accountability for compliance and business continuity.
Someone who has always been the best operator in the building can struggle when the job becomes setting direction, holding suppliers to account and making the case for investment.
Our search is built to tell the difference.
What a Head of Facilities is usually responsible for
- Strategy for hard and soft services across the estate
- The annual FM budget and capital requests
- Service partner contracts, performance and renewals
- Statutory compliance, health and safety and contractor safety
- Business continuity and incident response
- Space, accommodation and workplace change
- Energy, sustainability and reporting
- Leading and developing the facilities team
What we assess
We look beyond the roles a candidate has held to how they have exercised judgement in them: decisions under pressure, budget calls, supplier failures handled, and the credibility they carry with finance, HR and senior leadership.
Shortlists are scored against criteria agreed with you at the start, so you can compare candidates on evidence rather than interview performance alone.
What Heads of Facilities earn in 2026
As a broad UK guide, Heads of Facilities earn £70,000 to £110,000 or more. In London the range is typically £90,000 to £130,000 or more, and in corporate and financial services £100,000 to £150,000 or more. See our Facilities Management Salary Guide UK 2026.
Search, not just advertising
At this level the strongest candidates are usually in post and not looking. We combine a direct headhunt with targeted advertising, so the shortlist includes people who would never have seen an advert. For confidential or business-critical appointments, we run a retained executive search.
Learn more about Facilities Management Executive Search
Our recruitment process
Every assignment is shaped around the organisation and the role, and follows five stages.
01. Definition and risk framing
We agree what the appointment needs to achieve, the risks it carries and the criteria candidates will be judged on. Where the brief needs challenging, we say so before the search starts.
02. Targeted search
We map the relevant market and approach people directly, including those performing well in their current role and not applying for jobs.
03. Judgement-led assessment
We assess how candidates have handled their responsibilities, not just what those responsibilities were.
04. Verification
We test suitability against the original requirements through evidence, track record and references.
05. Decision support
We support you and the candidate through final selection, offer, resignation and start.
Head of Facilities appointments we have made
- Head of Facilities for Tudor Capital
- Head of Facilities for Global, the media and entertainment group
- Head of Group Estates and Facilities Management for AO.com
- Head of Facilities Services for UCL
Read more Facilities Management case studies
Hiring a Head of Facilities: Quick Answers
How do you hire a Head of Facilities?
Start with the brief, not the job advert: what the role must deliver in 18 months, who it reports to, and which decisions and budgets it will own. Benchmark the salary, decide between retained search and contingency, approach passive candidates directly, and assess each shortlisted candidate against evidence of past outcomes, with structured interviews and properly taken references. Plan for a three-month notice period and the risk of a counter-offer.
How much does a Head of Facilities earn in the UK in 2026?
Maxwell Stephens' 2026 UK benchmark for a Head of Facilities is £70,000 to £110,000 or more. In London the range is typically £90,000 to £130,000 or more, and in corporate and financial services £100,000 to £150,000 or more. Multi-site, technically complex and critical-environment roles sit towards the top.
How long does it take to hire a Head of Facilities?
Typically four to five weeks to a shortlist and six to eight weeks to an accepted offer, then the candidate's notice period, often three months. If the seat is empty now, an interim Head of Facilities can usually start within days.
What is the difference between a Head of Facilities and a Facilities Director?
A Head of Facilities leads the FM function: its people, service partners, budget and compliance. A Facilities Director usually carries a wider or group remit, owns strategy and major investment decisions, and reports at or near board level. Our 2026 benchmark for a Facilities Director is £90,000 to £150,000 or more. See Facilities Director recruitment.
Free resources for hiring managers
- FM Talent Scan check: five minutes to see where your FM function is under pressure before you hire
- FM Leadership Enablement check: will the structure let a new Head of Facilities lead?
- Role Readiness check: is the brief ready to go to market?
- Head of Facilities Job Description Template
- Facilities Management Salary Guide UK 2026
- The Behavioural Interview Guide
Related pages
Recruiting one level below? See Facilities Manager recruitment. Recruiting the most senior FM role in the organisation? See Facilities Director recruitment.
Talk to Maxwell Stephens
Tell us what the function needs to achieve over the next three years. We will tell you what kind of leader the market can offer and how we would find them.
