Director of Real Estate and Leasing Services

Company: Commonwealth of Virginia
Location: Charlottesville
Posted on: September 14, 2023

Job Description:

The University of Virginia (UVA) seeks a collaborative and innovative executive to serve in the role of Director of Real Estate and Leasing Services. Reporting to the Architect for the University , the Director will provide strategic vision, leadership, and oversight for real property and leasing activities for the University of Virginia, UVA Health, and the University of Virginia's College at Wise. The Director will collaborate closely with the University of Virginia Foundation Real Estate Asset team who often purchases and manages real property on behalf of the University. The Director will plan, organize, and supervise all activities involved in the administration, negotiation, exchange, acquisition, and disposition of real property, leases, easements, and rights of entry; and will coordinate and collaborate with various internal and external stakeholders including local government, private property owners, University-affiliated organizations/foundations, and state and federal agencies, among others.

In this position, the Director must be a thoughtful and engaging leader who excels at customer service and community engagement, as well as continuous improvement and innovation. The successful candidate will be an inspirational leader with a proven track record of providing strategic direction in a vibrant organization of similar size, scale, and complexity. Candidates must possess outstanding interpersonal skills to build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. In addition, the successful candidate must demonstrate a commitment to the University's core values around diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as foster strong, collaborative relationships.

The Director will join the University at a time of excitement, opportunity, and a shared sense of purpose . With a visionary President, James E. Ryan and a dynamic and dedicated leadership team including EVP and Provost Ian Baucom , EVP and COO, Jennifer "J.J." Wagner Davis , and CEO and EVP for Health Affairs, Dr. Craig Kent , and exceptional faculty, staff, and students, UVA has excellent momentum to achieve its ambitious goals. The Great and Good, 2030 Strategic Plan , provides a roadmap for the future of UVA as it enters its third century.

For more information, please visit: https://executivesearch.virginia.edu/searches

KEY PRIORITIES

The Director is responsible for managing and executing the University's real estate and leasing programs and ensuring alignment of real estate strategy with strategic institutional priorities. The key priorities of this role include, but are not limited to the following:

Strategic Vision
Provide strategic vision, leadership, and oversight for real property and leasing activities for the University of Virginia, UVA Health, and the University of Virginia's College at Wise. Develop strategies to meet space needs across the University, in Charlottesville and throughout the Commonwealth.

Leadership
Oversee department staff, implementing measures to develop and maintain a strong team environment and a goal-oriented and evaluative approach to all real estate and leasing activities.

Engagement and Collaboration
Partner with various constituencies across the University - Facilities Management, Office of the Architect for the University, University Counsel, Office of Property and Liability Risk Management, Financial Operations, UVA Health, individual schools and units, and with University affiliated organizations - to execute real estate and leasing transactions.

Expertise and Additional Responsibilities

Provide technical real estate expertise to University constituencies and advise senior leadership on real property matters.

Provide technical land use and development expertise to University constituencies.

Analyze and synthesize complex, sensitive, and confidential information for presentation to individuals at various levels, both internal and external to the University.

Identify appropriate lease and/or purchase alternatives; negotiate agreements for the purchase, sale, rental, lease, and use of real property; and draft legal documents for leases, purchase and sale contracts, facility use agreements, easements, and rights of entry.

Manage nearly 140 leases, containing in excess of 1.2 million square feet of rental space.

Manage due diligence and consultant contracts (e.g., title searches, engineering surveys, appraisals, environmental investigations, etc.)

Coordinate approvals for demolition of facilities and disposition of surplus real property.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

The Director must be a goal-oriented and strategic leader with a passion for higher education coupled with demonstrated success working at the senior level of an academic institution or complex organization to set and achieve ambitious goals. The ideal candidate will bring a proven track record of senior-level and proactive leadership and team building skills; outstanding communication and interpersonal skills; and experience in real estate, property management, and/or lease administration.

The ideal candidate must have exceptional relationship skills along with diplomacy, tact, and an ability to collaborate and partner with multiple internal and external constituencies including faculty, academic and administrative leaders, colleagues across Grounds, and other key stakeholders. The Director must possess a high degree of emotional intelligence and be sensitive to the needs of other divisions, departments, and units with competing objectives.

Other desired qualifications and leadership characteristics include:

A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in leadership roles with demonstrated success functioning in a complex and demanding environment; overseeing real estate, property, and lease portfolios; managing and balancing multiple priorities; and developing and achieving executive-level, strategic goals and initiatives.

Experience as a proven leader in higher education, government, or business organization of relevant size and complexity; evidence of vision, service orientation, and commitment to collaboration.

Strong negotiating skills, ability to navigate challenges and manage conflict.

Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to establish and maintain working relationships at all levels of an organization.

Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to effectively deliver concise, compelling messages (verbal and written).

Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to oversee and motivate a team to achieve aggressive goals.

A record of demonstrated success in improving services and customer service.

Unquestionable integrity coupled with a commitment to operational excellence.

Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a foundational value central to the University's mission.

A bachelor's degree is required. An advanced degree and/or additional professional certification in real estate or related field is preferred.

Compensation and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience.

To Apply or Nominate

The University of Virginia is eager to build a diverse pool of talented individuals. The search committee is working with UVA Executive Search Group (ESG), an internal executive search firm in the Office of the President.

Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to Nalini Turner, Managing Director, at naliniturner@virginia.edu . To apply, submit a letter of interest and resume. The search will be carried out with full confidentiality and will remain open until filled.

COVID Vaccination Requirement and Guidelines

Please visitthe UVA COVID-19 Job Requirements and Guidelines webpageprior to applying for current information regarding vaccination requirementsandguidelines for employment at UVA.

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician's Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.

Keywords: Commonwealth of Virginia, Charlottesville , Director of Real Estate and Leasing Services, Executive , Charlottesville, Virginia