Global Work Place Principal

The Cigna Group • Chicago, IL

9d

About The Position

The job profile for this position is Corporate Real Estate Principal, which is a Band 5 Senior Contributor Career Track Role.
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Principal, Head of Real Estate – Pharmacy Division
Reports to: Global Head of Global Workplace
Background
Cigna’s Pharmacy division manages a complex and mission-critical real estate portfolio that includes high-volume distribution centers, specialty and mail-order pharmacy facilities, office locations, and critical data centers that support pharmacy operations nationwide. The portfolio supports business units that deliver essential medications, specialty therapies, and patient-centric services across the United States.

Given the operational, regulatory, and logistical importance of pharmacy real estate, Cigna is seeking a seasoned real estate leader with significant experience in industrial leasing, mission-critical facilities, and large-scale operational portfolios. This Principal will be responsible for shaping strategy, optimizing performance, and overseeing execution across the entire Pharmacy real estate footprint.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in corporate real estate, with a track record managing complex industrial environments and partnership-driven stakeholder relationships.
Role Summary
The Principal, Head of Real Estate – Pharmacy Division, is the senior-most real estate leader dedicated to the Pharmacy business within Cigna. This individual will define and execute the real estate strategy for all pharmacy-related assets—ensuring that distribution, fulfillment, office, and data center facilities align with business growth, regulatory requirements, operational resilience, and financial performance.

Reporting to the Global Head of Global Workplace, the Principal will serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, pharmacy operations, supply chain, technology, and risk teams. This role is responsible for end-to-end real estate lifecycle management, from strategy and portfolio planning to transactions, design/construction oversight, operations, and workplace governance.

Requirements

• 10+ years in corporate real estate
• track record managing complex industrial environments and partnership-driven stakeholder relationships
• internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee the long-term real estate strategy for the Pharmacy division, ensuring alignment with Cigna’s enterprise objectives.
• Manage a diverse portfolio including distribution centers, specialty pharmacies, offices, and data centers.
• Forecast future real estate needs based on business growth, automation trends, regulatory changes, and operational priorities.
• Drive portfolio optimization through consolidation, expansions, relocations, and cost-management initiatives.
• Lead all real estate transactions, with emphasis on high-volume industrial leasing, renewals, acquisitions, and dispositions.
• Negotiate complex lease terms, ensuring favorable conditions that support operational resilience and flexibility.
• Maintain strong market intelligence on industrial, logistics, and mission-critical facility trends.
• Serve as the primary real estate liaison with Pharmacy leadership, supply chain teams, technology, finance, security, and risk management.
• Present portfolio performance, business cases, and investment strategies to senior executives.
• Build strong relationships with external partners, landlords, developers, and service providers.
• Ensure all facilities comply with pharmacy regulations (DEA, FDA, Board of Pharmacy), data center standards, safety codes, and environmental requirements.
• Execute real estate governance frameworks, ensuring data accuracy, transparency, and disciplined decision-making.
• Manage risk across the portfolio, including resilience, redundancy, and operational continuity.
• Evaluate cost-saving opportunities and operational efficiencies across the portfolio.
• Optimize total occupancy cost while maintaining required service levels.

Benefits

• health-related benefits including medical, vision, dental, and well-being and behavioral health programs
• 401(k)
• company paid life insurance
• tuition reimbursement
• a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year and paid holidays

What This Job Offers

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