Director, Global Real Estate

Littelfuse•Chicago, IL

2d•$166,000 - $240,460

About The Position

Littelfuse is seeking a Director, Global Real Estate to lead the strategy, optimization, and governance of its global real estate portfolio. This role is responsible for developing and executing an enterprise real estate strategy that supports business growth, cost-effectiveness, space utilization, and operational performance. The Director will guide key portfolio decisions, including consolidations, expansions, lease renewals, acquisitions, dispositions, and long-term footprint planning. The ideal candidate will possess global real estate expertise, strong commercial and financial judgment, and the ability to collaborate with business leaders and cross-functional partners to shape the company's future footprint.

Requirements

A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in corporate real estate, facilities management, portfolio strategy, or a related discipline within a global organization.
Demonstrated experience managing a geographically dispersed portfolio that includes manufacturing, distribution, engineering, and office facilities.
Strong understanding of owned and leased real estate structures, financial implications, and portfolio decision-making.
Proven success leading lease negotiations, facility consolidations, site closures, property transactions, and external-provider relationships.
Experience supporting real estate or footprint decisions within a complex industrial, manufacturing, or similarly asset-intensive organization.
Ability to assess investments, occupancy costs, lease liabilities, capital requirements, and business-case alternatives.
Demonstrated ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and influence senior and executive-level decisions.
Experience managing brokers, developers, landlords, consultants, and facility service providers.
Bachelor’s degree in real estate, finance, business administration, engineering, facilities management, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree or relevant professional certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

Define and Lead Global Real Estate Strategy
Global Portfolio Leadership: Own and manage the global real estate portfolio, including corporate offices, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and engineering locations.
Enterprise Portfolio Strategy: Establish long-term portfolio plans aligned with business priorities, operational requirements, and workforce needs.
Owned and Leased Portfolio Strategy: Develop recommendations regarding owned and leased properties, including renewals, relocations, closures, consolidations, acquisitions, and property sales.
Footprint Planning: Lead decisions regarding future office, manufacturing, distribution, and engineering-site investments.
Optimize the Global Portfolio
Portfolio Optimization: Balance growth requirements, operational needs, employee experience, utilization, and cost effectiveness across the global footprint.
Utilization and Capacity Analysis: Evaluate facility utilization and develop fact-based recommendations to expand, consolidate, close, relocate, or divest sites.
Manufacturing Footprint Support: Partner with operations and supply chain leaders on manufacturing footprint strategy, facility transitions, site closures, and integration activities.
Enterprise Value Creation: Identify opportunities to minimize occupancy costs, lease liabilities, and capital-project spending while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Lead Transactions, Governance, and External Partnerships
Transaction Management: Lead lease renewals, acquisitions, dispositions, relocations, consolidations, expansions, and other real estate transactions.
Commercial Negotiations: Oversee landlord negotiations, broker relationships, contract reviews, and external real estate service providers.
Legal and Risk Partnership: Partner closely with Legal on contracts, lease negotiations, transaction structures, risk assessments, and governance processes.
Service Provider Management: Set expectations and ensure accountability across brokers, developers, landlords, and facilities service partners.
Influence Enterprise Decision-Making
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Finance, Operations, Legal, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and business leadership on strategic facility decisions.
Financial and Business Analysis: Develop clear business cases and recommendations that consider cost, capital requirements, operational impact, growth, and risk.
Executive Advisory: Present portfolio options, trade-offs, and recommendations to senior leaders and influence complex, enterprise-level decisions.
Execution and Accountability: Translate approved strategies into actionable plans, decisions, and measurable portfolio outcomes.