Real Estate Lead, Americas

Cisco•San Jose, NC

7d•$148,800 - $208,200•Hybrid

About The Position

The Real Estate Strategy & Planning team within Cisco's Workplace Resources (WPR) organization acts as the strategic architect of Cisco’s corporate footprint. This team translates evolving business priorities into agile, high-value real estate strategies across both enterprise office hubs and mission-critical technical infrastructure. As the Real Estate Lead for the Americas, you will manage an annual real estate budget exceeding $100M USD and lead marquee transactions—from large-scale regional hubs to specialized data center facilities. This role involves managing lease transactions and lease administration across North and Latin America.

Requirements

Proven Portfolio Leadership: 9+ years of progressive corporate real estate, transaction management, or property investment experience managing large, multi-market corporate portfolios.
Transaction & Scale Acumen: Demonstrated track record of leading large commercial leases and complex market strategies across the Americas; international experience will also be considered.
Market Versatility: Strong background navigating diverse commercial markets, with familiarity in tech office dynamics and data center / mission-critical environments.
Financial & Analytical Fluency: Adept at real estate financial modeling, capital budgeting, and translating US GAAP/lease accounting principles into strategic decisions.
Regulatory & Entitlement Savvy: Working knowledge of site due diligence, easements, environmental considerations (such as CEQA/SEPA), and local municipal approval processes.
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Real Estate, Engineering, or a related field (MBA preferred).

Nice To Haves

Industry designations such as MCR (CoreNet) or RICS, with financial modeling, project management, or Lean Six Sigma skills as differentiators.

Responsibilities

Drive High-Impact Transactions: Lead end-to-end lease negotiations, acquisitions, renewals, subleases, and dispositions, crafting creative commercial deal structures that mitigate cost while maximizing operational value, enabling experience and flexibility.
Shape Regional Portfolio Strategy: Partner directly with our WPR teams to collaboratively advise and create solutions for our businesses’ occupational needs regarding where and how Cisco should expand, consolidate, or reposition leased properties.
Build Executive Business Cases: Build, review, and utilize data-driven financial models (cash flow, P&L, and US GAAP lease accounting) to present compelling recommendations to Senior Leadership.
Champion Innovation & AI: Identify and integrate AI tools and modern analytics to streamline lease administration, critical date governance, market benchmarking, and executive portfolio reporting.
Orchestrate Global Partners: Direct premier brokerage firms, development advisors, and legal counsel to ensure best-in-class execution and adherence to lease obligations, building codes, local land-use, environmental, and municipal guidelines.
Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Advise and integrate the needs of Design & Construction, Workplace Operations, Legal, Tax, Finance, and Sustainability into our leases and operating practices to ensure strong team partnership in the wider project delivery to our business clients.

Benefits

medical, dental and vision insurance
a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution
paid parental leave
short and long-term disability coverage
basic life insurance
10 paid holidays per full calendar year
1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
1 paid day off for employee’s birthday
paid year-end holiday shutdown
4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees (non-exempt)
flexible vacation time off program (exempt)
80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter
up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies (for non-sales roles)
performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary (for sales roles)