Real Estate Transaction Specialist

Northern Trust • Chicago, IL

3d • $114,700 - $194,900 • Hybrid

About The Position

Responsible for leading and executing real estate transactions within our office portfolio. This role ensures alignment with enterprise strategy, cost optimization, risk management, and delivery of workplace objectives. Partnering closely with business units, finance, legal, project management and facilities to deliver data-driven, timely, and compliant real estate decisions. Carries out complex initiatives with multiple disciplines and/or ambiguous issues. Displays a balanced, cross-functional, collaborative, team centered perspective.

Requirements

• Corporate real estate experience required with time spent inside a corporate organization as an end-user.
• In-depth Functional / Industry Knowledge is required.
• Proven experience developing governance meetings, presentations, documentation and materials in support of stakeholder management.
• Highly flexible and adaptable to change.
• Understanding of lease administration, lease audit, lease compliance and financial reporting from the landlord and tenant perspective.
• Leadership and organizational skills are required to determine the Business Unit's goals.
• A College or University degree and/or relevant proven work experience is required.
• Financial management of projects and contract and negotiation experience is required.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future.
• Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Nice To Haves

• MBA or MCR preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end on time execution of real estate transactions, including lease renewals, renegotiations, restructures, new site acquisitions and dispositions, expansions, contractions, and early terminations.
• Develop and implement transaction goals aligned with portfolio and business objectives.
• Manage external brokers and advisors to ensure optimal negotiation outcomes.
• Oversee lease administration inputs, critical dates, and documentation accuracy.
• Develop financial models comparing scenarios and alternative workplace strategies.
• Analyze total occupancy cost, rent, operating expenses, capital exp, and incentives.
• Prepare business cases and funding requests with clear ROI and risk factors.
• Benchmark deal terms and market conditions to support negotiation strategy.
• Direct responsibility for developing governance meetings, presentations, documentation and materials in support of timely stakeholder management.
• Partner with business leaders to review space demand projections, and operational needs.
• Collaborate with Workplace Services leadership for direction on enterprise alignment including Facilities Management, Project Management, Lease Administration, Legal and Finance.
• Ensure transactions comply with internal policies, approval processes, and governance.
• Manage key risks including financial exposure, lease obligations, and timing dependencies.
• Maintain documentation for audits and internal reporting requirements.

Benefits

• retirement benefits (401k and pension)
• health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability)
• paid time off
• parental and caregiver leave
• life & accident insurance
• other voluntary and well-being benefits
• discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree