Director of Real Estate Services

At VCU, we Make it Real through learning, research, creativity, service and discovery- the hallmarks of the VCU experience. A premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best employers for diversity, VCU is a great place to work. It's a place of opportunity, where your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work.

About Capital Assets and Real Estate

Capital Assets and Real Estate (CARE) provides strategic and comprehensive real estate services and management that align with and support the university's strategic plan and institutional goals, while at the same time giving consideration to the economic development and engagement activities coordinated with the university's leadership. Important to the success of the university's real estate development is the unit's role in liaising and collaborating with facilities planning and academic and administrative units to ensure critical communication and coordination. Talented individuals join our team because they share our purpose to build relationships across the institution and drive innovation. We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to an inclusive environment for all employees.

About the Role

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Capital Assets and Real Estate, the Director of Real Estate Services will have comprehensive oversight of the day-to-day real estate operations and responsibility for leading a high performing team. This includes oversight and execution of real estate transactions, portfolio and property management functions for the University and the University's related entities. This role will evaluate operations and provide important data and insights that will influence strategic direction. The Director will also assess and adjust procedures and processes to maximize efficiencies while achieving departmental objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

The ideal candidate is a strategic thought partner, responsible for property acquisitions and dispositions, commercial and residential leasing, property management, market research, leveraging private commercial and market resources, facility use agreements, easements, and coordination around various development, upfit or construction projects. The role will liaise with stakeholders from the VCU Health System and build key relationships. The Director will also support the implementation of other real estate related University projects with anticipation that the function will increase in responsibility over time.

Other duties include:

• Developing contracts and agreements, and providing contract administration and monitoring with applicable terms and provisions
• Overseeing and coordinating a large volume of diverse and wide-ranging real property transactions for the University, including office, retail, rental housing and land. Property management requirements including leasing of owned properties, preparation of building operating statements, reporting of financial performance, general property accounting, and managing capital budget. This position serves as the University's primary contact for these operations
• Liaising closely with legal counsel, both University and independent, as well as other stakeholders including senior University officials, consultants, brokers, design and construction professionals
• Managing the leasing of off-campus properties to meet departmental space needs
• Managing University-owned rental properties, administering University leases and managing all aspects of Foundation-owned properties
• Leading and supervising a collaborative team of professional staff within the Capital Assets and Real Estate office (current staff of four property professionals)
• Maintaining all University property-related records and legal instruments, including deeds, easements, leases, surveys, environmental reports, appraisals, home inspections, maps and plans
• Collecting property rents due the University and disbursing rents owed by the University, authorizing expenditures from these accounts and maintaining University rental properties
• Processing requests for leasehold improvements on properties leased by the University
• Managing storage space according to the needs of various departments at VCU
• Other duties as assigned, such as chairing the Space and Real Estate working group

Minimum Hiring Standards

• Bachelor's degree and at least five years' experience in real estate transactions, property management, business operations and leading and managing a team or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Working knowledge of real estate concepts such as valuation and negotiation principles, policies, techniques, real estate law, property descriptions, land title reports, instruments of ownership, property management, leasing, surveys, deeds, titles, plats, and contract writing and interpretation in institutional, commercial, and governmental settings; knowledge of basic real estate financial analysis
• Detail oriented with the ability to write legible, clear, and concise reports and in examining title reports, surveys, property descriptions, appraisals and environmental surveys/reports
• Keen relationship management and interpersonal skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills; effective presenter both written and oral
• Successful candidates should have demonstrated experiences in fostering a diverse and inclusive environment and an expressed commitment to do so while at VCU
• Effective Supervisory experience and ability to lead and manage a high performing team
• Proven ability to use prudent judgment to identify and evaluate alternative solutions and make effective business decisions and recommendations
• Experience developing key partnerships with municipal, business, and community partners in collaboration on shared resources and solutions
• Ability to work across diverse groups, both internal and external, to establish and maintain effective working relationships with team members, academic units, property owners, consultants, attorneys, etc.
• Experience working collaboratively with interdepartmental teams
• Ability to develop and compare acquisition/lease budgets to provide high level, accurate data related to transaction costs
• Adept in creating innovative real estate strategies to increase revenue enhancing opportunities that are in alignment with the University's strategic plan
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters
• Must exhibit a collegial working style, a personality that lends itself to working well with a broad range of stakeholders
• A good sense of humor is a plus

Preferred Hiring Standards

• Master's degree in business, finance, real estate management, public administration or related field, or equivalent experience with considerable real estate transactional experience
• Extensive real estate transactional experience, preferably within a higher education setting
• A recognized professional designation (CCIM, CPM, AICP, MAI, etc.) with significant and long-standing experience in commercial or institutional real estate or a similar field

Physical and Cognitive Requirements

Physical Demands & Activities

Light Lifting (<20 lbs): Essential
Moderate Lifting (20-50 lbs): Marginal
Heavy Lifting (>50 lbs): Marginal
Pushing/Pulling: Essential
Standing: Essential
Sitting: Essential
Repetitive Motion: Essential
Walking: Essential
Climbing: Essential
Reaching: Essential
Bending: Essential

Environmental Conditions

Extreme heat/cold: Marginal
Extreme Noise: Marginal
Vibrations: Marginal
Fumes: Marginal
Mists/gases: Marginal

Emotional Demands

Fast pace: Essential
Average Pace: Essential
Multiple Stimuli: Essential
Intense Customer Interaction: Essential
Frequent Change: Essential

Mental/Sensory Demands

Memory: Essential
Reasoning: Essential
Hearing: Essential
Reading: Essential
Analyzing: Essential
Logic: Essential
Verbal Communication: Essential
Written Communication: Essential



Salary Range: Commensurate with experience



Position Details:

Department: Real Estate Services
Employment Type: UF - University Employee FT
Restricted Status: No
FTE: 1
Exemption Status: Exempt



Contact Information:

Contact Name: Channing Holloway

Contact Email: csholloway@vcu.edu