Maxwell Stephens and Caledonia Investments
Background
Caledonia is a self-managed investment trust company with net assets of £1.8bn. Acquired by the Cayzer family in 1951 as a holding company for their various shipping interests, Caledonia came into its own as an investment company in 1987. Caledonia maintains a concentrated portfolio of international investments and funds. A candidate that was previously placed through Maxwell Stephens at Caledonia Investments contacted us to support the recruitment of a Facilities Manager on a one year contract to cover her maternity
leave. The decision was made to partner exclusively with Maxwell Stephens as the only recruitment agency on this assignment.
The Position
Following an extensive initial handover process, the post holder would be in control of all aspects of Facilities Management within the business. They would be in charge of setting and managing a building occupancy budget of £1.7 million as well as a departmental budget of £1.2 million, ensuring that all rent, business rates and bills are paid on time. In addition they would set and manage a service charge budget of £350k.
The post holder would be the key point of contact for tenant liaison, resolving tenancy issues and negotiating new and existing contracts with letting consultants. On top of this, they would also be responsible for the maintenance and repairs of all fabric, mechanical and electrical issues. Health and safety was a key facet of the role. The FM would be required to carry out general and fire risk assessments regularly. They would also be in charge of everything from COSHH and First Aid to managing Display Screen Equipment. Project Management both on and offsite would be required, overseeing large-scale refurbishments and managing all moves, changes and building works.
The Candidate
This demanding role required a candidate who was looking for a challenge and a chance to hit the ground running in a fast-paced FM environment. Holding relevant professional qualifications as well as BIFM membership, the ideal candidate would be eager for the opportunity to gain further insight and experience into the world of Facilities Management. The ideal candidate needed an in-depth understanding of environmental legislation, such as GHG and ESOS. Outstanding verbal and written interpersonal communication skills were a necessity in order to build strong professional relationships with both colleagues and stakeholders.
In regards to health and safety, the ideal candidate would hold a NEBOSH or equivalent qualification and an extensive knowledge of health and safety policies and procedures. With further experience in business continuity planning, they would be prepared for any problems that may arise. Calm and level-headed in times of stress, the post holder would thrive on deadlines and love to push themselves.
The Results
Following an extensive executive search process, a shortlist was provided to the client. Four of the candidates were invited for initial interviews, with two successfully going through to a second round of interviews resulting in an appointment of one of the candidates to the position.
Found me the perfect placement again…
Finding the right job can be arduous and although there are hundreds of recruitment agencies out there to help us in this task, I believe that some are so focused on the client that the job seeker can feel as though they are being treat like a second class citizen. This is not the case with Maxwell Stephens who have found me the perfect placement again! During the process they listened to my requirements to gain an understanding of my capabilities, personality and expectations and kept me fully informed at all stages of the recruitment process. I know who I’ll be contacting when my current contract ends.