Executive Director - Enterprise Real Estate Operations

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations of a national portfolio of facilities, including clinical laboratories, research laboratories, warehouse and logistics centers, retail and donor-facing sites, and corporate office locations.
• Oversee building systems operations, preventive maintenance programs, repair activities, and facility service delivery standards.
• Ensure operational reliability, infrastructure uptime, and continuous improvement across all facilities.
• Develop and implement enterprise-wide facilities standards, policies, and operational procedures.
• Travel requirements are up to 25% to support enterprise operations.
• Develop and execute long-range facilities and infrastructure strategies aligned with organizational priorities and growth initiatives.
• Lead enterprise capital planning, including lifecycle replacement programs, deferred maintenance planning, and infrastructure modernization initiatives.
• Prepare and manage annual operating and capital budgets for enterprise facilities operations.
• Identify opportunities for portfolio optimization, operational efficiencies, and cost containment.
• Oversee facility construction, renovation, expansion, and infrastructure improvement projects across the portfolio.
• Manage project scope, budgeting, scheduling, procurement, permitting, commissioning, and occupancy coordination.
• Partner with architects, engineers, contractors, and consultants to ensure successful project delivery.
• Support strategic expansion, consolidation, and integration initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, accreditation standards, and safety requirements.
• Maintain inspection readiness and support internal and external audits.
• Partner with Environmental Health & Safety, Quality, and operations teams to mitigate operational and regulatory risks.
• Oversee emergency preparedness and business continuity planning related to facilities infrastructure.
• Environmental controls.
• Refrigeration and cold storage systems.
• Critical HVAC systems.
• Backup power infrastructure.
• Controlled access environments.
• Environmental monitoring systems.
• Support infrastructure requirements for temperature-sensitive operations and regulated laboratory environments.
• Utility procurement and incentive programs.
• Energy hedging and supply agreements.
• Sustainability and energy reduction initiatives.
• Local law and environmental compliance.
• Energy-related capital improvement projects.
• Lead procurement, negotiation, and management of enterprise facilities service contracts and vendor relationships.
• Develop and manage Requests for Proposals (RFPs), service agreements, and vendor performance metrics.
• Ensure vendors meet operational, financial, compliance, and service-level expectations.
• Standardize vendor management practices and optimize service delivery models nationally.
• Coordinate facilities support for enterprise security and emergency response initiatives.
• Lead and develop a national team of facilities and operations professionals.
• Establish departmental goals, define strategic priorities, and monitor operational performance metrics.
• Foster a culture of accountability, service excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Real Estate colleagues, Operations, Research, IT, Corporate Security, Finance, Human Resources, and other enterprise stakeholders to support organizational objectives.
• Participate in professional activities to keep current on industry trends and regulations.
• Participate in the organization's change management process.
• Make recommendations to improve organizational processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Real Estate, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressive facilities, real estate operations, or infrastructure leadership experience.
• Experience managing large, geographically dispersed portfolios in healthcare, laboratory, nonprofit, life sciences, logistics, or similarly regulated environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading capital projects, infrastructure modernization initiatives, and enterprise facilities operations.
• Experience managing multimillion-dollar operating and capital budgets.
• Strong knowledge of building systems, regulatory compliance, and critical infrastructure operations.
• Engineering licenses are preferred.
• Valid Driver's License.
• Hands on experience with detailed diagrams, plans, and drawings to design the systems required for the project.
• Experience with setting department work priorities and/or project deadlines.
• Experience deciphering technical documentation and instructions, cut sheets, diagrams, and floor plans.
• Experience with Interfaces with other operational managers and leaders on supporting functions such as overseeing regulated waste, asset management, assisting in lab moves, repairs, hookups, upgrades, and space planning.
• Experience with Interfaces with the landlords on building-related matters and repairs, routing MEP maintenance schedule, coordinating service with landlords/vendors, janitorial service, securing service bids, and arranging contractors as needed with proper approval.
• Cultural competency and the ability to communicate effectively in a culturally sensitive manner with both individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills.
• Ability to provide efficient, timely, reliable, and courteous building services.
• Ability to effectively present information.
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret complex documents.
• Ability to solve problems involving several options in situations.
• Ability to develop work order and task reports, author scopes of work, and establish schedule templates.
• Ability to perform physical work requires manual dexterity, agility, strength, and coordination.
• Ability to lead and develop a large team.