Specialist recruitment for the people responsible for creating and leading effective workplaces.
Maxwell Stephens provides specialist Workplace Management recruitment for organisations appointing workplace, office services, employee experience and workplace operations professionals across the UK.
From Workplace Managers and Office Services Managers through to Heads of Workplace and Workplace Directors, we help organisations identify people capable of bringing together operational performance, employee experience, service delivery and stakeholder expectations.
Established in 2006, Maxwell Stephens specialises in Facilities and Workplace Management recruitment.
We help organisations find workplace professionals who understand that a successful workplace is about more than the building.
Discuss a Workplace Appointment
Workplace Management Has Changed
The workplace has become a significantly more complex operating environment.
Hybrid working has changed how organisations use space.
Employee expectations around workplace experience and service have increased.
Office occupancy can fluctuate throughout the week.
Technology, hospitality, wellbeing, sustainability, security and Facilities Management increasingly need to work together.
As a result, today's Workplace Management professionals often sit at the centre of multiple competing priorities.
They may be responsible for creating an environment that supports employees while simultaneously improving operational efficiency, managing suppliers, controlling budgets and ensuring that buildings continue to function safely and effectively.
Finding someone with workplace experience is only part of the recruitment challenge.
The real question is whether they can create a workplace that works for the organisation and the people using it.
Workplace Management Roles We Recruit
Maxwell Stephens recruits across Workplace Management, workplace operations, office services and employee experience.
Workplace Management
Workplace Manager
Senior Workplace Manager
Regional Workplace Manager
Workplace Operations Manager
Head of Workplace
Workplace Director
Workplace Experience
Workplace Experience Manager
Senior Workplace Experience Manager
Employee Experience Manager
Workplace Experience Lead
Head of Workplace Experience
Director of Workplace Experience
Office Services & Operations
Office Manager
Senior Office Manager
Office Services Manager
Office Operations Manager
Head of Office Services
Director of Office Services
Front of House & Hospitality
Front of House Manager
Guest Experience Manager
Workplace Hospitality Manager
Client Services Manager
Reception & Workplace Manager
Hospitality Services Manager
Facilities & Workplace
Facilities and Workplace Manager
Senior Facilities and Workplace Manager
Head of Facilities and Workplace
Workplace Facilities Manager
Regional Facilities & Workplace Manager
Director of Facilities & Workplace
Senior Workplace Leadership
Head of Workplace
Workplace Director
Head of Workplace Experience
Director of Workplace Experience
Director of Workplace Operations
Senior Corporate Workplace Leadership
Explore our wider Facilities Management recruitment services
Recruiting Workplace Professionals Requires More Than Matching Experience
Two Workplace Manager roles can appear similar on paper while requiring very different people.
One organisation may need a highly operational leader capable of managing complex workplace services across multiple locations.
Another may prioritise employee experience, hospitality and culture.
A third may require someone to lead workplace transformation, improve space utilisation or introduce a new operating model.
Others may need a workplace professional capable of managing significant outsourced contracts, budgets and supplier relationships.
That is why our recruitment process starts by understanding what the workplace function is actually expected to deliver.
We consider areas including:
Workplace strategy
Employee experience
Workplace operations
Facilities Management
Office services
Front of House
Hospitality
Space utilisation
Hybrid working
Supplier management
Contract management
Budget responsibility
Health and safety
Technology and workplace systems
Sustainability
Change management
Stakeholder engagement
Team leadership
The right candidate is not simply someone who has held the same job title elsewhere.
They need to be right for the workplace you are asking them to lead.
The Workplace Experience Matters
For many organisations, the workplace is one of the most visible expressions of how the business operates.
Employees experience the quality of workplace leadership every day through the environments, services and support available to them.
The best Workplace Management professionals understand this.
They combine operational discipline with an understanding of people.
They recognise that workplace experience can be influenced by everything from reception and hospitality to meeting rooms, technology, maintenance, communication and how quickly problems are resolved.
At senior level, they must also understand cost, risk, suppliers, property strategy and organisational priorities.
Successful Workplace Management sits between people experience and operational performance.
Our recruitment approach is designed to assess both.
Our Workplace Management Recruitment Process
A structured approach to identifying the right workplace professionals.
Every assignment is shaped around the organisation, workplace environment and role, but our recruitment methodology follows five core stages.
01. Definition & Risk Framing
We begin by understanding the workplace, organisation and purpose of the appointment.
We consider the physical environment, service model, employee population, stakeholder expectations, workplace culture, supplier relationships and the outcomes the new hire will be expected to deliver.
We also identify where the appointment carries particular risk.
Where necessary, we challenge or refine the brief before beginning the search.
02. Targeted Search
We identify and approach a defined market of Workplace Management professionals aligned to the genuine requirements of the position.
Our search is not restricted to candidates who are actively applying for jobs.
Through our established network and targeted market research, we can approach workplace professionals whose background and experience make them relevant to the assignment.
The objective is not to generate the highest number of CVs.
It is to identify the strongest potential appointment.
03. Judgement-Led Assessment
Experience is important, but successful Workplace Management depends heavily on judgement and interpersonal credibility.
Our assessment can consider:
Leadership style
Employee and customer focus
Stakeholder credibility
Operational judgement
Communication capability
Commercial awareness
Supplier management
Ownership and accountability
Problem solving
Change leadership
Service mentality
Cultural alignment
We look at what candidates have actually delivered, how they approach workplace challenges and how they are likely to operate within the client organisation.
04. Verification
Candidate suitability is tested against the success criteria established at the beginning of the assignment.
We look beyond interview performance alone, considering track record, evidence, references and appropriate verification.
This helps provide a more complete picture before an appointment decision is made.
05. Decision Support
Our involvement continues through final selection, offer negotiation and onboarding.
We help clients evaluate candidates against the original requirement and support both parties through the final stages of the appointment.
The objective is a successful long-term hire rather than simply an accepted offer.
Permanent Workplace Management Recruitment
Maxwell Stephens supports permanent appointments across Workplace Management, workplace operations, office services and employee experience.
Our approach is particularly relevant where an organisation needs more than a conventional candidate search.
We work with clients to define what the role needs to achieve, identify the appropriate candidate market and assess individuals against the realities of the workplace.
This can include appointments into a single flagship office, national portfolios, regional operations and international corporate environments.
Discuss a Workplace Recruitment Requirement
Senior Workplace & Executive Search
For senior, confidential or strategically important Workplace Management appointments, Maxwell Stephens can undertake a structured executive search.
This is particularly relevant for roles such as:
Head of Workplace
Workplace Director
Head of Workplace Experience
Director of Workplace Experience
Head of Facilities & Workplace
Director of Facilities & Workplace
Senior Workplace Operations Leadership
Executive search allows us to proactively identify and approach leaders across a defined talent market rather than relying solely on people who are actively looking for a new role.
It can be particularly valuable where the appointment will influence wider workplace strategy, organisational change or the future operating model.
Learn more about Facilities Management Executive Search
Workplace Transformation Recruitment
Workplace change often requires different leadership capability from day-to-day workplace operation.
An organisation may be:
Moving to a new office
Consolidating locations
Introducing hybrid working practices
Redesigning its workplace experience
Changing its Facilities Management model
Reviewing workplace technology
Improving space utilisation
Mobilising new services
Changing suppliers
Building a new workplace function
Restructuring an existing team
These situations can require leaders who are comfortable operating through ambiguity, influencing stakeholders and delivering change while maintaining day-to-day service.
We help organisations identify professionals with the workplace knowledge and leadership capability required to manage that transition.
Confidential Workplace Recruitment
Some Workplace Management appointments require discretion.
An organisation may be replacing an existing leader, restructuring its workplace function or making a change that has not yet been communicated internally.
Maxwell Stephens can undertake confidential searches where client information and candidate approaches need to be carefully controlled.
This enables organisations to understand and approach the available market without unnecessarily exposing the circumstances of the appointment.
Interim Workplace Leadership
Workplace functions can also require experienced temporary leadership.
This may be due to:
An unexpected vacancy
Maternity or extended leave
Office relocation
Workplace transformation
Service mobilisation
Organisational restructuring
Supplier transition
Operational performance issues
A defined workplace project
Maxwell Stephens can support interim Workplace Management appointments where experienced leadership is required for a specific period or challenge.
Workplace Recruitment Across Different Environments
Workplace requirements differ significantly between organisations.
Our approach is designed around the environment rather than assuming that every Workplace Management role requires the same background.
Corporate Headquarters
Workplace professionals responsible for high-profile corporate environments where employee experience, service quality and stakeholder expectations are particularly important.
Multi-Site & Regional Workplaces
Workplace leadership responsible for creating consistent standards across multiple offices, locations or countries.
Professional Services
Workplace, office services and operational leadership in environments where client service, confidentiality and attention to detail are essential.
Technology & Creative Workplaces
Workplace professionals operating in fast-moving organisations where employee experience, culture, flexibility and changing space requirements can be central to the role.
Property & Facilities Environments
Appointments combining traditional Facilities Management responsibilities with a wider workplace and employee experience remit.
Education, Culture & Membership Organisations
Workplace and operational appointments where employees, visitors, students, members or other stakeholders may all interact with the environment differently.
BUTTON: Explore Our Facilities Management Case Studies
Link to: Case Studies page
Workplace Recruitment Proven in Practice
Our workplace recruitment experience includes appointments across corporate offices, professional services, global organisations and high-profile workplaces.
Relevant assignments include Workplace Management, Office Services, Office Management and broader Facilities and Workplace leadership roles.
Workplace Services Manager Recruitment for Hilton
Workplace Manager Recruitment for Adobe
Office & Systems Manager Recruitment for The Royal Foundation
Twenty Years of Facilities & Workplace Recruitment
20 Years
Specialist Facilities Management practice since 2006.
50,000+
Professionals within our active senior Facilities Management network across the UK and Europe.
450+
Client engagements across sectors and regions.
95%
Twelve-month retention, with 95% of placed candidates remaining in role one year after appointment.
UK + Europe
Active network reach across UK and European markets.
Mid-Management to Board
Appointments ranging from experienced operational managers through to senior executive and board-level leadership.
Why Organisations Choose Maxwell Stephens for Workplace Recruitment
Specialist Facilities & Workplace Knowledge
We understand that Workplace Management extends beyond traditional Facilities Management.
The strongest workplace professionals combine operational capability with an understanding of people, culture, experience and organisational priorities.
Access Beyond Active Applicants
Our recruitment approach extends beyond candidates responding to advertisements.
We proactively identify and approach relevant professionals within our established network and the wider market.
Assessment Beyond Job Titles
Workplace job titles can vary considerably between organisations.
We focus on responsibilities, achievements, judgement and capability rather than assuming two people with the same title have equivalent experience.
We Challenge the Brief
Where the proposed role, structure or candidate profile does not appear aligned with the desired outcome, we are prepared to challenge it.
We Focus on Long-Term Fit
Our objective is not simply to fill the vacancy.
It is to help appoint someone capable of succeeding within the organisation and workplace over the longer term.
We Place Fewer Leaders. And Better Ones.
Our approach is based on the quality of the appointment rather than the volume of recruitment activity.
We Understand the Environment
Before approaching candidates, we work to understand what makes the organisation and workplace different.
We Challenge Assumptions
A familiar job title does not necessarily mean a familiar requirement.
We test what the organisation actually needs before defining the candidate market.
We Assess the Person Behind the CV
Experience provides evidence, but workplace leadership also depends on judgement, communication, credibility and the ability to influence people.
We Support the Decision
Our involvement continues through assessment, selection, negotiation and appointment.
Trusted by Organisations Recruiting Facilities & Workplace Professionals
“Detailed knowledge and understanding of the FM marketplace, and very well connected. They put forward credible candidates, saving time and effort.”
Matt Horridge
Commercial Lead, Balfour Beatty Workplace
“Maxwell Stephens supported us with real integrity. They quickly understood our business and used their technical knowledge to advise and challenge on role requirements and recruitment strategy.”
Helen Fell
Senior Talent Manager, PepsiCo
“By some margin, the candidates that came from Maxwell Stephens were of a better calibre and more suitable for the position and our organisation.”
Director of Finance & Operations
Bracewell
Founder-Led. Sector-Specialist.
Peter Forshaw
Founder & Managing Director
Facilities Management has been the dominant theme throughout Peter Forshaw's career, with more than 25 years operating within the senior FM market.
After qualifying from Northumbria University in 2000, Peter led the Permanent Facilities Management Department at a global recruitment firm before founding Maxwell Stephens in 2006.
Today, he leads Maxwell Stephens' specialist practice, supporting organisations making important Facilities and Workplace Management appointments across the UK and Europe.
Find Out More About Maxwell Stephens
Workplace Management Recruitment FAQs
What is Workplace Management recruitment?
Workplace Management recruitment focuses on professionals responsible for the operation, experience and performance of workplace environments.
Roles can combine Facilities Management, office services, employee experience, hospitality, space management, supplier management and workplace strategy.
What Workplace Management roles does Maxwell Stephens recruit?
We recruit Workplace Managers, Senior Workplace Managers, Workplace Experience Managers, Office Services Managers, Heads of Workplace, Workplace Directors and other senior Facilities and Workplace professionals.
What is the difference between Facilities Management and Workplace Management?
The two areas frequently overlap.
Facilities Management traditionally focuses heavily on the effective operation, maintenance and compliance of buildings and services.
Workplace Management often extends this remit further into how employees and visitors experience and use the workplace.
Many modern roles combine elements of both.
Why use a specialist Workplace Management recruiter?
Workplace roles can vary considerably between organisations, even when they carry the same job title.
A specialist recruiter can help establish what the role actually needs to deliver, identify people with relevant experience and assess their suitability for the organisation rather than simply matching keywords on a CV.
Can Maxwell Stephens find Workplace Managers who are not actively looking for a new role?
Yes.
Our recruitment approach includes proactive search and direct candidate identification rather than relying solely on active applicants.
This provides access to workplace professionals who may be performing successfully in their current organisation and are not actively searching job boards.
Does Maxwell Stephens recruit senior Workplace leaders?
Yes.
We support workplace appointments from operational management through to Head, Director and senior leadership level.
For senior, confidential or business-critical appointments, we can also undertake a structured executive search.
Can Maxwell Stephens recruit combined Facilities and Workplace roles?
Yes.
Many organisations combine Facilities Management and Workplace responsibilities within the same position.
We recruit roles spanning both disciplines and assess candidates according to the particular balance of operational FM, workplace experience and leadership required.
Recruiting a Workplace Management Professional?
Whether you are appointing a Workplace Manager, strengthening your office services function, transforming your workplace or searching for senior Workplace leadership, speak to Maxwell Stephens.
We can help you define the requirement, understand the available market and identify professionals capable of creating workplaces that perform for both the organisation and the people using them.
Discuss Your Workplace Recruitment Requirement