Manager, Assets & Transactions

National Express•Warrenville, IL

1d•Remote

About The Position

Summit School Services companies share a strong commitment to provide the highest level of transportation safety, quality transportation, outstanding customer service and positive employee relations. Our corporate headquarters, located in Warrenville, Illinois, houses the administrative and corporate support functions for the organization. Our 250+ local customer service centers (CSCs) are supported by regional operations teams located throughout North America. This position will report to the VP/AGC, Contracts and Compliance with a dotted line to the Director of Real Estate and will be responsible for general portfolio management, including the negotiation of new and existing leases, extending term at existing locations, negotiating termination agreements when necessary. Ideal candidate will have 10+ years of experience in a corporate environment with commercial (light industrial) real estate negotiation experience. Experience in negotiating commercial leases and portfolio management experience is required. This individual must be willing to work in a team environment and possess strong communication, negotiation and planning skills. This individual will possess an attitude focused on customer service and be comfortable working with diverse groups, remotely. Manager, Real Estate Assets and Transactions Provide day-to-day short and long-term strategic guidance and support to operations managers, business development, and other corporate partners concerning issues that arise regarding real estate and facility needs throughout North America. Prepare basic lease amendments and extensions. Work with contracts team on lease negotiations. Support the Director, Real Estate and new business development team in searches for new locations. Provide guidance and support to operations and corporate partners regarding site location, relocations, facility issues and special projects, including proactive identification of future needs for new locations and facility improvements. Coordinate with the field in negotiating business and economic terms for lease agreements and amendments in line with business objectives while limiting exposure to the company. Negotiate lease extensions and renewals across the portfolio. Engage proactively with business development to identify where additional term is needed to protect bid pricing. Identify opportunities for savings on fixed rent options. Support the Director of Real Estate in identifying and vetting sites by engaging brokers, identifying comparable properties, providing market value information on proposed and existing real estate interests, and identifying potential issues and site development needs. Provide guidance to facilities as needed in responding to lease inquiries. Support the acquisition team in real estate investigations and analysis. Serve as the primary business liaison with landlords. Maintain and administer the company’s lease administration database (Visual Lease), ensuring all leases, critical dates (renewals, expirations, notice deadlines), financial terms, and supporting documentation are accurate, complete, and current. Generate portfolio reports and ensure data integrity for financial reporting and compliance purposes. Responsible for monthly rent roll and all other landlord charges and reimbursements. Audit leases, rents, CAM statements and other landlord reimbursement requests. Perform other tasks as may be assigned from time to time.

Requirements

BA/BS Degree required
Minimum of 10 years of substantive real estate lease negotiation experience with significant experience in industrial real estate
Portfolio management experience
Knowledge of negotiation strategies
Ability to read and understand leases
Strong financial analysis experience preferred
Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
Must be proficient at producing and analyzing comps
Self-starter with ability to organize and prioritize a large volume of concurrent tasks
Ability to work within strict timeframes and resolute deadlines
Strong analytical and decision-making abilities
Strong communication, dispute resolution, and negotiation skills
Negotiate transaction business terms
Analyze and evaluate market data
Negotiate LOI and associated follow ups
Ensure negotiated terms are policy compliant.

Nice To Haves

advanced degree and/or professional real estate certifications preferred
Knowledge and experience in light industrial leasing
Due diligence review experience (company has an active M & A team).
General knowledge of common environmental issues for transportation industry
Experience interpreting zoning ordinances, obtaining approvals, variances, etc.
Ability to work effectively and professionally with brokers, attorneys, paralegals and other internal and external resources

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day short and long-term strategic guidance and support to operations managers, business development, and other corporate partners concerning issues that arise regarding real estate and facility needs throughout North America.
Prepare basic lease amendments and extensions.
Work with contracts team on lease negotiations.
Support the Director, Real Estate and new business development team in searches for new locations.
Provide guidance and support to operations and corporate partners regarding site location, relocations, facility issues and special projects, including proactive identification of future needs for new locations and facility improvements.
Coordinate with the field in negotiating business and economic terms for lease agreements and amendments in line with business objectives while limiting exposure to the company.
Negotiate lease extensions and renewals across the portfolio.
Engage proactively with business development to identify where additional term is needed to protect bid pricing.
Identify opportunities for savings on fixed rent options.
Support the Director of Real Estate in identifying and vetting sites by engaging brokers, identifying comparable properties, providing market value information on proposed and existing real estate interests, and identifying potential issues and site development needs.
Provide guidance to facilities as needed in responding to lease inquiries.
Support the acquisition team in real estate investigations and analysis.
Serve as the primary business liaison with landlords.
Maintain and administer the company’s lease administration database (Visual Lease), ensuring all leases, critical dates (renewals, expirations, notice deadlines), financial terms, and supporting documentation are accurate, complete, and current.
Generate portfolio reports and ensure data integrity for financial reporting and compliance purposes.
Responsible for monthly rent roll and all other landlord charges and reimbursements.
Audit leases, rents, CAM statements and other landlord reimbursement requests.
Perform other tasks as may be assigned from time to time.