Director of Real Estate and Public-Private Partnerships

Type of Position: Construction and Planning

Institution: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville – Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S.

About the Role

The Director of Real Estate and Public-Private Partnerships provides strategic management and administrative oversight for the university's real estate portfolio and the analysis, development, implementation, and oversight of public-private partnerships (P3s). The Director serves as the university's subject matter expert on real estate transactions, property acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, property management, development opportunities, and complex partnership agreements. Working collaboratively with university leadership, legal counsel, finance, facilities management, auxiliary services, academic units, and external partners, the Director develops innovative strategies that maximize institutional assets while minimizing risk. The position is responsible for identifying opportunities that support the institution's academic mission, strategic growth, financial sustainability, and campus development objectives.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Responsibilities

• Strategic management and oversight of the university’s real estate portfolio
• Analysis, development, implementation, and oversight of public-private partnerships (P3s)
• Serve as subject matter expert on real estate transactions, property acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, property management, and development opportunities
• Negotiate complex real estate transactions, public-private partnerships, and development agreements
• Develop innovative strategies to maximize institutional assets while minimizing risk
• Identify opportunities supporting academic mission, strategic growth, financial sustainability, and campus development
• Collaborate with university leadership, legal counsel, finance, facilities management, auxiliary services, academic units, and external partners

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in real estate, business administration, finance, or a closely related field
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in real estate, higher education administration, or institutional asset management
• Experience negotiating complex real estate transactions, public-private partnerships, and development agreements
• Demonstrated experience managing real estate portfolio and complex projects
• Experience with financial analysis and project management
• Experience with high-level negotiation, communication, and relationship-building

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in business administration (MBA), finance, or real estate
• Juris Doctor (JD)
• Experience in higher education real estate management
• Experience working within a public institution, governmental entity, public authority, or higher education environment subject to public legal, regulatory, governance, and records requirements
• Experience developing and managing public-private partnership projects
• Experience with municipal finance, bond financing, tax-exempt financing, and economic development incentives

Skills

• Comprehensive knowledge of commercial real estate principles and practices
• Understanding of university governance and higher education operations
• Knowledge of land acquisition, leasing, zoning, development, and entitlement processes
• Knowledge of Public-Private Partnership projects
• Ability to complete market and financial modeling and investment analysis
• Excellent contract negotiation and administration ability
• Skilled in strategic planning and organizational development
• Skilled in risk assessment and mitigation
• Skilled in project management and valuation methodologies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to build consensus among cross-functional stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously

Benefits

• University contributions to health, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Tuition waivers for employees and their families
• 12 official holidays
• Immediate leave accrual
• Choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary