Director of Real Estate

World Finance • Greenville, SC

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Leads World Acceptance Corporation’s branch real estate and facilities function across more than 1,100 branch locations in 16 states and the Branch Service Center. Oversees the real estate and facilities lifecycle, including site strategy, lease negotiation, build-out, maintenance, and branch closures. Owns the strategy and occupancy cost of the lease portfolio and partners with Operations leadership, Legal, Finance, and Accounting to support branch growth, relocations, consolidations, and acquisitions while controlling cost and risk.

Develops and executes portfolio strategy; oversees lease negotiations, portfolio management, facilities, branch build-outs, vendor relationships, budgets, cost control, and reporting. Leads and develops the real estate and facilities teams and supports additional projects as needed. The role is based in an office environment and requires occasional travel to branch markets and properties, including overnight stays.

Requirements

• 8–10 years of experience in corporate real estate, leasing, or facilities management.
• 3–5 years of experience leading managers or teams.
• Proven ability to set strategy and lead managers in a multi-site, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong commercial lease negotiation skills and command of lease economics.
• Financial acumen, including budgeting, cost analysis, and evaluating real estate decisions against branch performance.
• Experience managing third-party vendors, contracts, and large volumes of concurrent projects.
• Ability to use data to drive decisions and communicate findings clearly to executive leadership.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence across organizational levels and with landlords, brokers, and vendors.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365.
• High degree of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Must be able to constantly remain in a stationary position; occasionally move around inside the office to access files and office machinery; constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery; and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a multi-site retail, branch, or financial services environment.
• Experience with CoStar and lease administration systems.
• Real estate license or professional designation, such as CCIM, CPM, or FMP.
• Working knowledge of lease accounting requirements (ASC 842).

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-year real estate strategy aligned with company growth, relocation, consolidation, and acquisition objectives.
• Manage the lease portfolio pipeline, including expirations, renewals, relocations, and closures, ensuring decisions are made ahead of critical dates.
• Partner with Operations leadership and Analytics to use branch performance and market data in decisions to open, relocate, merge, or close branches.
• Establish and maintain standards for site selection, branch layout, and branch appearance.
• Oversee site selection, letters of intent, and lease negotiations for new, relocated, and renewal branches; personally lead high-value or complex transactions.
• Set negotiation parameters and approval thresholds, and ensure corporate approvals are obtained before leases are executed.
• Partner with Legal to define standard lease terms, acceptable risk positions, and template language.
• Direct early lease buyouts and disposition of excess or vacated property to minimize remaining lease liability.
• Ensure executed leases are accurately handed off to lease administration and lease data and critical dates are maintained; partner with Accounting on ASC 842 lease accounting requirements.
• Oversee signage, furniture, flooring, and build-out for new, relocated, remodeled, converted, and acquired branches, delivering projects on schedule, within budget, and to brand standards.
• Own vendor strategy, including selection, contracts, pricing, quarterly business reviews, and performance management.
• Ensure permits, code requirements, and landlord approvals are secured for branch projects.
• Oversee branch repair and maintenance, enforcement of landlord maintenance obligations, the national document-shredding program, and Branch Service Center facilities and mailroom operations.
• Partner with Marketing and Operations on rebranding and branch modifications to maintain a consistent appearance across the branch network.
• Develop and manage occupancy, facilities, and capital budgets, and track actual spending against budget.
• Report portfolio metrics to senior leadership, including occupancy cost per branch, upcoming lease expirations, project status, vendor spend, and realized savings.
• Review and approve invoices and lease-related payments within delegated authority; identify and pursue opportunities to reduce occupancy and facilities costs.
• Lead, coach, and develop the real estate and facilities teams; set functional goals and define roles and handoffs among the real estate, facilities, and locations teams.
• Drive continuous improvement in processes, systems, and tools used across the function.
• Lead and assist with ad hoc projects as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed