Director Of Real Estate

State of Maryland•Howard, MD

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Maryland Food Center Authority (MFCA) is a public instrumentality of the State. The MFCA mission is to develop, own, operate, improve, and maintain real estate projects that provide economical, sanitary and modern facilities for food distribution in the State of Maryland. The MFCA operates the Maryland Wholesale Produce Market and the Maryland Market Center, and the Rock Hall Clam House. Operations of the Authority are funded by entrance and registration fees, service fees, and rental income generated from the operation of its Produce Market and Maryland Market Center. The MFCA’s employees are not included in the Maryland State Personnel Management System and are instead governed by the independent policies and procedures of the MFCA. All MFCA employees are employed on an at-will basis. This position is a senior leadership role which reports to the MFCA Executive Director. The Director of Real Estate will modernize and optimize the Authority’s real estate function, including the planning, organizing, and directing of all leasing, property acquisition, and property disposition activities. This role will also design and implement standard operating procedures and compliance protocols to ensure a consistent, transparent, and strategic approach to real estate management and deliver on the Authority’s mission to provide economical, sanitary, and modern facilities for food distribution in the State of Maryland.

Requirements

At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience as a senior-level manager of commercial or government real estate operations, to include experience in lease negotiation and management, land acquisition and development, real estate strategy, and capital planning.
Familiarity with multitenant warehouse properties.
Experience with real estate valuation and appraisal.
Understanding of zoning, land use, and permitting in Maryland.
Demonstrated experience working with government leasing processes, approvals, and compliance requirements.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a hybrid environment.
Functional knowledge of Spanish.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Master’s degree in Business, Real Estate, Economics, or related fields.
Project management certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and/or property management certifications such as Certified Property Manager (CPM).

Responsibilities

Updating and implementing standardized tenant selection and vetting processes, including application review and evaluation criteria.
Managing lease construction and compliance through robust processes to ensure adherence to lease terms across the portfolio.
Negotiating and overseeing lease agreements and strategic real estate transactions, including long‑term portfolio strategy and risk assessment.
Analyzing and providing recommendations on potential property acquisitions or sales, land leases, or other transactions.
Coordinating closely with the Executive Director on lease reviews and approvals through the Maryland Board of Public Works.
Partnering with the Director of Market Operations to ensure facilities, policies, and practices meet Authority goals and tenant needs.
Collaborating with Director of Finance and other leaders on lease accounting, capital planning initiatives, budget forecasting, and long‑range real estate investment planning.
Serving as a key advisor to the leadership team on real estate policy, regulatory considerations, and market trends, ensuring decisions are data‑driven and aligned with Authority objectives.