Senior Director, Global Real Estate

About the role

Senior Director, Real Estate owns the firm's global real estate strategy and portfolio, leading activities across strategy, workplace design, transactions, and financial management of the global lease portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Portfolio Strategy & Governance: Define and own the global real estate strategy, portfolio plan, and occupancy strategy aligned to firm growth and integration; build and lead a new global real estate organization with the capabilities, operating model, and regional reach required to support a changing portfolio; set workplace design standards and guardrails applied across the portfolio; establish real estate governance, data, and analytics to support capital and occupancy decisions; continuously evaluate and propose automation and AI adoption opportunities within real estate and design & construction processes, partnering with Global Transformation & Integration on centralized prioritization and delivery.
• Transactions & Partner Management: Own the transactions strategy and oversee execution through the firm's appointed real estate transactions partner; oversee external design & construction partner relationships, ensuring best‑in‑class outcomes with fees appropriately charged to capital projects; manage an outsource provider‑ and partner‑first delivery model, holding partners accountable to performance and service standards.
• Design & Construction Oversight: Own the global design standards, recommending changes in office designs and layouts in accordance with business needs and regional/local adaptations where necessary; ensure projects are delivered on scope, schedule, and budget, and to firm design standards.
• Data, Analytics & Performance: Establish metrics and targets for efficiency, cost, and customer satisfaction across the real estate portfolio; build, monitor, and act on reports and dashboards that track performance and progress against targets, elevating the function's data, analytics, and business‑intelligence maturity (e.g., occupancy cost, cost per square foot/seat, lease timelines, utilization, vacancy exposure, capital project budget vs. actual); use data‑driven insights to inform decisions, prioritize improvements, and demonstrate value to firm leadership.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership: Partner with Workplace Operations on place‑based execution (occupancy, moves, fit‑outs) via a dotted‑line relationship with Regional Managers; collaborate with Finance on capital planning, accounting and financial reporting treatment, and project economics; represent the function with strong executive presence, delivering clear, concise, executive‑ready communications and deliverables; co‑design the function's detailed target model with the Global Administrative Services Leader.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, business, architecture/engineering, or a related field (advanced degree a plus).
• 15+ years of corporate real estate experience, including portfolio strategy and transactions oversight.
• Experience leading a partner‑led delivery model (brokerage, design, and construction vendors).
• Strong financial acumen, including capital planning and project economics.
• Proven ability to provide strategic oversight of a global or multi‑country portfolio.
• Excellent stakeholder‑management and executive‑communication skills.

Pay

The base salary range for this position is between $187,500 and $312,500. Placement within the range is at Grant Thornton’s discretion and is based on factors such as job‑related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, geographic location, and internal equity.

Schedule

This role follows Grant Thornton’s hybrid work model, requiring in‑person attendance at least three days per week at a Grant Thornton office or client site.

Benefits

Grant Thornton offers personalized and comprehensive benefits that recognize and empower diverse identities, roles, and aspirations. For an overview of benefit offerings, please visit the benefits page. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus based on individual and firm performance. Interns and seasonal employees receive medical, dental, and vision coverage, an employee assistance program, a minimum of 72 hours of paid sick leave, and paid firm holidays; seasonal employees may also participate in the 401(k) savings plan.

About Us

Grant Thornton delivers professional services through Grant Thornton LLP (audit and assurance) and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (tax and advisory). With $2.7 billion in revenues, more than 50 offices across the U.S., Ireland, and other territories, and 12,000 professionals, the firm provides a cross‑border culture and career‑growth opportunities. It is part of Grant Thornton International Limited, a network in over 150 global markets.

About the Team

The team supports flexible work locations, schedules, and well‑being options, emphasizing inclusion, diversity, equity, and a supportive environment. For more information, visit gt.com/careers.