Director of Real Estate - Southern CA residents

SELF-REALIZATION FELLOWSHIP CHURCH • Los Angeles, CA

34d • Remote

About The Position

Lead strategic real estate planning and asset management efforts across SRF’s diverse property portfolio, primarily located in California and throughout the United States, with select international holdings. Responsible for developing and executing both short- and long-term real estate strategies that align with SRF’s spiritual mission, support its ongoing growth, and ensure wise stewardship of its sacred legacy and operational properties. Play a key leadership role in modernizing SRF’s real estate and facilities functions, strengthening asset performance, overseeing acquisitions and divestitures, ensuring regulatory compliance, and guiding development projects. Work closely with senior monastics and staff to ensure that all real estate initiatives reflect SRF’s values and support the needs of its centers, temples, ashrams, retreat sites, and operational hubs. Other position-related tasks, as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, business administration, urban planning, finance, architecture, or a related field.
• Minimum 9 years of experience, including leadership of multi-property portfolios and strategic planning.
• Demonstrated success in long-term property planning and execution.
• Strong working knowledge of land use regulations, development entitlements, and permitting processes.
• Experience managing vendor relationships, lease agreements, and tenant services.
• Proficiency in financial modeling and analysis related to real estate and capital projects.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.
• Effective project management and communication skills.
• Collaborative leadership style with ability to work in a spiritually focused environment.
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders, including senior monastics, staff, consultants, and local communities.
• Deep appreciation and respect for SRF’s spiritual ideals and sensitivity to working in sacred spaces.
• Reside in Southern California.
• Willingness to travel occasionally, including to remote SRF properties.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Physical ability to inspect properties and construction sites as needed.
• Satisfactorily complete our background investigation.
• Sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or professional certification (e.g., CPM, CCIM).
• Experience in nonprofit, religious, or mission-aligned organizations.

Responsibilities

• Supervise Planning & Building Department team members, and real estate consultants.
• Lead and ensure the quality and efficiency of all work performed by the SRF Maintenance Departments.
• Assign various responsibilities as required.
• Develop and execute a long-range real estate strategy aligned with SRF’s mission, growth, and operational resilience.
• Conduct portfolio reviews to assess legacy properties, core sites, and opportunities for repurposing or disposition.
• Lead master planning, site acquisitions, feasibility studies, and entitlements for major developments.
• Standardize and modernize asset and property management practices.
• Oversee lease and tenant management, including rental housing and special-use facilities.
• Monitor occupancy, performance, maintenance, and capital needs.
• Guide organizational improvements in the broader Facilities Management Area structure, tools, and workflows.
• Integrate green building principles and sustainability measures, including solar, battery, and EV infrastructure.
• Develop and ensure SRF architectural branding and design guidelines reflect SRF’s spiritual and environmental values.
• Oversee real estate transactions, due diligence, and project execution for religious, residential, retreat, and operational buildings.
• Develop ROI frameworks (financial, mission-based, and impact-driven) to guide acquisitions and capital investments.
• Evaluate asset protection options, including separate legal entities.
• Develop and implement organization-wide policies and procedures to guide the improvement of ashram buildings, temples, centers, and groups, providing the Planning and Building Department with clear direction for the timely and effective oversight and management of projects of all sizes.
• Implement tools to track occupancy, lease data, utility usage, and property performance.
• Improve documentation, decision-making workflows, and reporting systems.
• Collaborate with broader Facilities Management Area, Legal, Finance, and SRF monastic leadership to ensure alignment on priorities.
• Represent SRF with public agencies, consultants, and real estate partners.
• Promote cross-departmental coordination on property-related initiatives.
• Supervise and mentor planning & building department, real estate team members and consultants.
• Ensure adherence to SRF policies, nonprofit governance standards, and spiritual stewardship of all properties.
• Honor and maintain a strict level of confidentiality.
• Responsible for following SRF’s policies and established processes.
• Other position-related tasks, as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package that features a variety of insurance coverage choices including group medical, dental, life insurance.
• A retirement plan.
• Paid sick time.
• Paid vacation time.
• Paid holiday time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees