Executive Director - Enterprise Real Estate Operations

Responsibilities

The Executive Director, Enterprise Real Estate Operations is responsible for the strategic leadership and operational oversight of an enterprise portfolio of clinical, research, logistics, retail, and corporate facilities for a mission-driven nonprofit organization. This includes responsibility for facilities operations, capital planning, construction management, regulatory compliance, security infrastructure coordination, vendor management, workplace services, and enterprise resilience initiatives. In this role you will establish departmental goals, define strategic priorities, and ensure effective cross-functional communication and collaboration across the enterprise. The Executive Director requires a strategic, hands-on leader with deep experience managing complex laboratory, industrial, and commercial environments within a highly regulated operating environment. In addition, this position oversees energy management initiatives, including utility incentive programs, energy procurement and hedging strategies, supply agreements, local law compliance, and energy-related capital projects.

Enterprise Facilities Operations:

• 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.

Strategic Planning & Capital Management:

• 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.

Construction & Project Management:

• 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.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management:

• 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.

Laboratory & Critical Environment 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.

Energy & Sustainability Management:

• 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.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve energy efficiency and operational sustainability across the portfolio.

Vendor Procurement & Contract Management:

• 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.

Security Infrastructure Coordination:

• Access control systems.
• CCTV and surveillance systems.
• Intrusion detection systems.
• Visitor management systems.
• Physical security upgrades.
• Coordinate facilities support for enterprise security and emergency response initiatives.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• 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

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Real Estate, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• 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.

License/Certifications:

• Engineering licenses are preferred.
• Valid Driver's License.

Travel: Ability to travel 25%

Knowledge:

• 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.

Skills:

• 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.

Abilities:

• 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.

For applicants who will perform this position in New York City or Westchester County, the proposed annual salary is $240,000 p/yr. to $250,000 p/yr. For applicants who will perform this position outside of New York City or Westchester County, salary will reflect local market rates and be commensurate with the applicant’s skills, job-related knowledge, and experience.