Director of Strategic Operations, Metropolitan Tract

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

1d • $225,000 - $265,008 • Hybrid

About The Position

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty. UW Facilities, Real Estate Development has an outstanding opportunity for a Director of Strategic Operations, Metropolitan Tract, to join their team. Application Requirement: The University of Washington has retained Seattle Financial Staffing, LLC dba Northwest Recruiting Partners to support this recruitment. Please send your resume and cover letter to Lisa Glenn at [email protected] or for additional information or questions call Lisa at 509.670.1388. About this Opportunity This role leads day-to-day operations and strategic implementation for the Metropolitan Tract, the University's landmark 11-acre commercial real estate portfolio in downtown Seattle. In the post-COVID era of elevated vacancy rates, this role combines tactical operational excellence with strategic thinking to execute recovery strategies, implement placemaking initiatives, and ensure optimal portfolio performance. This portfolio is in a prime location in downtown Seattle and will require collaboration with city and regional organizations such as the City of Seattle officials, Downtown Affiliated Associations and other relevant organizations. This position provides subject matter expertise and materials to support executive level decision making, including President, Vice President, and Regents, and the Advisory Committee on Real Estate (ACRE), relative to capital improvements/expenditures for UW owned land and resources. Reports to the AVP Real Estate Development, Chief Real Estate Officer (CREO). Performance of asset management duties on the Metropolitan Tract is a highly visible and critical role for the University. The position will require interaction with executive levels of private and public sector stakeholders. Frequent collaboration is also required with members of the University's executive level of business officers and the University's Advisory Committee on Real Estate (ACRE); an advisory Board consisting of national real estate experts. The support of the CREO and UW Real Estate Director positions and membership in the CPD/Facilities leadership team is also critical and when necessary, includes significant exposure to high level UW administration and governance bodies. The University owns and controls over $5B in capital assets and although a portion is independently managed by UW Medicine, the role will significantly impact the University's stewardship of these assets.

Requirements

• Demonstrate personal integrity and trustworthiness
• Anticipate, recognize and resolve problems
• Maintain responsiveness and accountability
• Use interpersonal skills to navigate projects through complex collaborative institutions
• Maintain positive, success-oriented attitude
• Exercise professionalism with tact and courtesy
• Exhibit responsible work ethic
• Manage stressful situations and changing priorities effectively
• Continuously promote safe work environment
• Bachelor's degree in real estate, finance or similar field, or CPA preferred
• Minimum 10 years' commercial real estate experience with 5+ years in senior management roles
• Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration
• Technical Skills: Lease analysis, property budgeting, cash modeling, forecasting, and financial audit management
• Mixed-use, urban commercial real estate and/or institutional property management experience
• Understanding of leasing structures and contract negotiations
• Leadership & Communication: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills balancing strategic and operational priorities
• Strong project management skills managing multiple complex initiatives simultaneously

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in real estate, finance or similar field, or CPA preferred
• Construction management, development processes, and capital project oversight experience
• Extensive knowledge of Seattle/Pacific Northwest commercial real estate markets
• Understanding of post-COVID commercial real estate challenges and recovery strategies
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for senior leadership and external stakeholder engagement
• Ability to translate strategic vision into actionable operational plans

Responsibilities

• Metropolitan Tract Asset Management
• Operational Management: Manages third-party property managers responsible for day-to-day operations of office space, hotel, residential apartments, and retail space
• Oversees leasing team negotiating contracts for over 1.4 million square feet in downtown Seattle
• Serves as key contact with ground lease tenants including Fairmont Olympic Hotel owners and Rainier Square Tower and 400 University developer/owner
• Financial Management and Analysis: Analyzes investment opportunities and provides capital allocation recommendations, including adaptive reuse and redevelopment options
• Monitors debt service requirements and coordinates refinancing strategies with finance team
• Develops financial models for mixed-use conversions and alternative revenue streams to address declining office rents
• Leads value engineering initiatives to maximize returns from under-performing assets
• Manages major lease negotiations, tenant retention programs, and new business development initiatives
• Ensures optimal financial performance through rigorous budget management, expense control, and revenue optimization
• Stakeholder Relations: Serves as primary contact for community partners and major tenants in this highly visible University role
• Collaborates with executive-level business officers and the University's Advisory Committee on Real Estate (ACRE)
• Coordinates with UW's marketing and communication teams on messaging
• Requires strategic thinking as landlord, adapting to varied customer goals and reporting to diverse audiences
• Placemaking & Community Engagement: Designs and implements placemaking strategies to enhance the Metropolitan Tract as a vibrant urban destination
• Builds relationships with community organizations, cultural institutions, and local business leaders
• Coordinates programming for retail spaces, public areas, and event venues to drive foot traffic
• Manages partnerships with civic organizations related to downtown and regional growth
• Leads public realm improvement projects and streetscape activation initiatives
• Portfolio Repositioning & Development Strategy: Leads comprehensive analysis of underperforming office assets for adaptive reuse and redevelopment opportunities
• Develops strategic repositioning plans addressing decline in occupancy and falling rental revenues
• Executes mixed-use conversion feasibility studies for excess office space, including residential, hospitality, life sciences, and experiential retail options
• Coordinates with planning consultants and architects on zoning analysis and development capacity studies
• Implements revenue diversification strategies reducing dependence on traditional office leasing
• Manages pre-development activities including market analysis, financial modeling, and partnership structuring
• Oversees relationships with potential development partners, investors, and joint venture opportunities
• Manages entitlement processes and community engagement for major redevelopment initiatives
• Executes phased development strategies maintaining cash flow while repositioning under-performing assets
• Support the UW Real Estate Team: Supports the Real Estate Team overseeing other UW owned and leased assets.
• Perform Other Duties as Required

Benefits

• outstanding benefits
• opportunities for professional growth
• chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees