Principal, Real Estate and Projects

OCC • Chicago, IL

1d • $158,800 - $219,200 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Principal, Real Estate Strategy and Projects role is responsible for shaping and executing the company's real estate strategy across business offices and data centers — determining where the company has space, how much, on what terms, and how that footprint evolves as the business grows and changes. This role owns portfolio strategy, site selection, lease transactions, and capital project delivery (renovations, build-outs, office moves), from initial business case through construction handoff. This role is an individual contributor role with no direct reports and partners closely with the Director of Facilities Management, who manages employee experience, office operations and maintenance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, Business Administration, Finance, Architecture, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 8+ years of progressive experience in corporate real estate, with meaningful exposure to portfolio strategy, lease transactions, and capital project delivery
• Strong understanding of commercial lease structures, negotiation dynamics, and real estate financial analysis
• Experience managing capital projects or construction from planning through delivery
• Excellent executive presentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to build and communicate long-range real estate strategy tied to business and workforce planning
• Experience working cross-functionally with facilities, technology, Human Resources, finance, and legal teams

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with lease administration and portfolio management platforms (e.g., Visual Lease, VTS, CoStar, Tango, Yardi)
• Background in workplace strategy or occupancy planning

Responsibilities

• Maintain oversight of the company's current office and data center portfolio, with locations in Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, and Washington, D.C.
• Develop and maintain the company's long-range real estate strategy, using scenario planning to align portfolio decisions—renew vs. relocate, expand vs. consolidate—with growth forecasts, hybrid work trends, and cost targets.
• Partner with business unit leaders to gather headcount projections and business needs, then develop and recommend space options and plans that accommodate current and future occupancy requirements.
• Own the real estate portfolio database and reporting — lease expirations, critical dates, square footage, occupancy costs — and use it to drive proactive planning rather than reactive decision-making
• Develop and distribute occupancy analysis reporting to effectively communicate occupancy/vacancy ratios, headcount projections, workplace conditions and future space needs, considering both short- and long-term needs
• Present portfolio strategy, transaction recommendations, and business cases to executive leadership
• Track and forecast real estate costs and partner with the Director of Facilities for budget planning the corporate real estate function
• Lead site selection for new or relocated offices — market research, touring, financial analysis, and negotiation. The company's current real estate portfolio includes offices in Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, and Washington, D.C.
• Manage the end-to-end lease lifecycle: renewals, renegotiations, terminations, and new leases
• Partner with an outside real estate broker to lead lease negotiations (rent, TI allowances, options, renewal rights) with landlords, in coordination with legal counsel.
• Manage relationships with brokers, landlords, property managers, and internal legal counsel
• Lead capital projects from business case through design, construction, and handoff — office build-outs, renovations, relocations, and capital improvement projects
• Present project direction and design to executive leadership for approval
• Define project requirements, driving technology teams and Facilities Management to identify and articulate their respective needs
• Develop and execute the overall project plan to deliver projects on time and within budget while maintaining quality and safety standards
• Lead space planning and project design to deliver spaces that reflect company culture and support a positive, productive workplace experience
• Manage architects, general contractors, engineers, furniture dealers, and other project vendors from bid through completion to deliver projects on time and on budget
• Define project scope, budgets, and timelines, and report progress to leadership
• Conduct site visits and inspections to monitor construction progress and quality control
• Coordinate permitting, code compliance, and inspections with local jurisdictions
• Identify and mitigate project risks, resolving issues that arise during construction or fit-out
• Coordinate move logistics and phasing, and technology setup with the Director of Facilities Management and the technology support teams.
• Develop and implement communication and change management plans to prepare employees and leaders for workplace changes
• Manage project close-out, including as-built drawings and obtaining lease-specified incentives (e.g., TI allowances)
• Hand off completed or renovated spaces to the Director of Facilities Management, ensuring operational readiness (systems documentation, maintenance requirements, warranties).
• Develop strong working relationships with business stakeholders across the organization, becoming a trusted partner they turn to for help thinking through growth, space needs, and how their workspace can better support their work
• Partner closely with the Director of Facilities Management on office moves, reconfigurations, and workplace experience initiatives
• Consult with and support the Director of Facilities Management on facility operations, serving as a resource on real estate, employee experience, systems, and workplace considerations that affect day-to-day operations
• Partner with technology teams—Networking, End-User-Experience, and AV—to seamlessly integrate their services into the space.
• Coordinate with Finance and Accounting on real estate accounting, lease accounting standards, and capital planning

Benefits

• A hybrid work environment, up to 2 days per week of remote work
• Tuition Reimbursement to support your continued education
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance
• Technology Stipend allowing you to use the device of your choice to connect to our network while working remotely
• Generous PTO and Parental leave
• 401k Employer Match
• Competitive health benefits including medical, dental and vision

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal