Background
OC&C Strategy Consultants, a global management consulting firm, appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Assistant Facilities Manager to join its Facilities Department.
The role was central to maintaining a safe, efficient and well-managed corporate workplace while supporting the Facilities Manager across both strategic and day-to-day responsibilities. With duties spanning hard and soft FM services, space planning, building maintenance, health and safety, business continuity, contractor management and financial control, the position required a versatile professional who could balance operational detail with a broader strategic perspective.
The Challenge
OC&C required an Assistant Facilities Manager with proven experience in a professional corporate environment and a strong understanding of both hard and soft facilities management. The successful candidate needed to be confident managing suppliers, supporting statutory compliance, supervising a facilities team and contributing to the development of more efficient and cost-effective workplace services.
Key requirements included:
- Hard and soft FM experience. A strong background across building maintenance, workplace services and day-to-day facilities management operations.
- Health and safety knowledge. A detailed understanding of UK health and safety requirements, supported ideally by qualifications such as NEBOSH or IOSH.
- Contractor and supplier management. Experience managing maintenance contractors and service providers, monitoring performance and ensuring services were delivered to the required standard.
- Statutory compliance. The ability to maintain appropriate records, monitor compliance requirements and ensure building-related obligations were managed effectively.
- Team leadership. Experience supervising facilities employees, supporting their development and maintaining strong service standards.
- Financial awareness. The ability to contribute to budgets, identify cost-saving opportunities and apply value-for-money principles without compromising service quality.
- Project management. Experience supporting or delivering facilities projects while maintaining effective communication with stakeholders and contractors.
In a professional services firm the facilities team is visible to partners, staff and visiting clients alike, which raises the bar on presentation and responsiveness for a role that is otherwise pitched at assistant level.
Our Approach
Maxwell Stephens began with a detailed review of OC&C's requirements to understand the operational, technical and cultural demands of the role. We then used our specialist facilities management network to identify candidates with relevant corporate FM experience and a proven track record in areas including contractor management, health and safety, compliance, project delivery and financial oversight.
Our search focused not only on technical experience but also on attitude and communication. OC&C required someone who would be proactive, dependable and customer-focused, with the confidence to take ownership of day-to-day responsibilities while working closely with the Facilities Manager and wider business.
Candidates were assessed through a detailed selection process covering technical competence, leadership capability, qualifications and cultural fit. Particular attention was given to professionals with relevant NEBOSH or IOSH qualifications and practical project-management experience.
The Outcome
Following a targeted search and rigorous assessment process, Maxwell Stephens placed an experienced Assistant Facilities Manager with OC&C Strategy Consultants. The successful candidate brought strong corporate facilities management experience across both hard and soft services and quickly became an effective member of the Facilities team:
- Improved contract and maintenance management. The Assistant Facilities Manager took responsibility for key maintenance contracts and supplier relationships, improving oversight of service delivery and ensuring contractors performed against agreed requirements.
- Stronger compliance. The candidate helped maintain statutory and health and safety compliance across the workplace, providing greater confidence that relevant responsibilities were being appropriately managed.
- Effective team leadership. The candidate supervised members of the Facilities team, supported staff development and organised training to strengthen knowledge and performance, creating clearer accountability and more consistent service delivery.
- Better financial control. The Assistant Facilities Manager contributed to the development of the annual property and office-services budget and supported the implementation of value-for-money initiatives, helping identify opportunities to control expenditure and reduce operational costs while maintaining required service levels.
- Proactive health and safety management. A strong understanding of health and safety requirements enabled the candidate to take a proactive approach to workplace risk and compliance, supporting the continued provision of a safe environment for employees and visitors.
- Project delivery. The candidate supported facilities management projects and service improvements, coordinating contractors and stakeholders to ensure works were implemented effectively and with minimal disruption.
- Stronger support for strategic FM. By taking ownership of operational responsibilities, the Assistant Facilities Manager enabled the wider Facilities function to operate more effectively and supported the Facilities Manager in longer-term planning and improvement activity.
Why This Placement Worked
The placement gave OC&C Strategy Consultants an Assistant Facilities Manager capable of combining operational FM expertise, compliance knowledge, supplier management, financial awareness and people leadership. The appointment strengthened day-to-day workplace operations while also supporting longer-term improvements in cost control, service quality and risk management.
It reflects Maxwell Stephens' experience identifying facilities management professionals who can operate effectively within demanding corporate environments and provide both hands-on operational support and strategic value.
If you need an experienced Assistant Facilities Manager to strengthen your workplace operations, Maxwell Stephens can help. Get in touch with our team.