Senior Director, Global Real Estate & Facilities

Baxter • Deerfield, IL

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

This is where your work makes a difference. At Baxter, we believe every person—regardless of who they are or where they are from—deserves a chance to live a healthy life. It was our founding belief in 1931 and continues to be our guiding principle. We are redefining healthcare delivery to make a greater impact today, tomorrow, and beyond. Our Baxter colleagues are united by our Mission to Save and Sustain Lives. Together, our community is driven by a culture of courage, trust, and collaboration. Every individual is empowered to take ownership and make a meaningful impact. We strive for efficient and effective operations, and we hold each other accountable for delivering exceptional results. Here, you will find more than just a job—you will find purpose and pride. Position Overview The Senior Director - Global Real Estate and Facilities is accountable for the strategy, governance, and performance of Baxter's global real estate portfolio, workplace services, and facilities operations. This executive will define and execute a comprehensive real estate and workplace strategy that supports the company's growth objectives, operational priorities, and long-term transformation agenda. The role leads the optimization of Baxter's worldwide footprint, integrating real estate strategy, facilities management, workplace experience, capital project execution, and portfolio governance to drive business value, operational excellence, and financial performance across owned and leased assets. As a trusted advisor to senior leadership, this individual will influence key decisions related to portfolio optimization, workplace strategy, capital investments, risk management, and operational efficiency. Through strong internal leadership and external partnerships, the role will ensure the delivery of a best-in-class workplace environment that enhances employee experience, enables business performance, and supports Baxter's evolving global needs.

Requirements

• Experience in executing global real estate transactional strategies; defining cost-effective operational systems, processes and tactics across the full range of CRE functional disciplines which support company initiatives and drive productivity and financial goals, including:
• Extensive experience leading global real estate and facilities operations.
• Strong expertise in transactions, project management, and portfolio optimization.
• Proven leadership managing large teams, vendors, and global service providers.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills at executive levels.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing large-scale budgets and capital programs.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, Real Estate, Architecture, Construction Management, or related field with a minimum of 15 years global industrial/commercial real estate experience in a corporate environment.
• Global Life Science experience preferred
• Previous experience in the development, leadership and execution of global real estate; including property portfolio management, strategy, transactions, project management and stakeholder engagement and leadership.
• Able to provide global oversight and expertise to effectively acquire, manage and dispose regional real property assets at strategic and tactical levels.
• Understanding of the full life cycle of real estate portfolio and project management.
• Effective financial acumen and real property asset management and optimization skills required; including understanding of GAAP, cash flows, impact to bottom line, capital, operating expense, capital markets, interest rates, investments, currency fluctuations, and fiscal/ monetary policies which affect real estate and real estate transactions.
• Strong ability to partner across business groups and internal Baxter stakeholders while leveraging effective networks of external providers and resources.
• Prior management of enterprise-wide global projects and strong negotiating skills are critical.
• Understands how to define, implement and optimize property portfolios and transaction management at the strategic and tactical level.
• Ability to lead, direct and motivate others; managing multiple priorities and many projects across the company.
• Real Estate License or related professional designation required.

Nice To Haves

• Global Life Science experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of a global integrated real estate and facilities strategy aligned with corporate priorities.
• Establish and govern global standards, policies, and operating frameworks for real estate transactions, facilities management, capital planning, and workplace services.
• Oversee all global real estate transactions including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, renewals, and restructuring.
• Provide executive oversight of global facilities management including operations, maintenance, and workplace experience.
• Oversee capital planning and execution for real estate and facilities projects globally.
• Own global real estate and facilities budgets, delivering cost savings and financial optimization.
• Lead vendor strategy, procurement, and performance management across global service providers.
• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, regulatory standards, and risk management requirements.
• Develop and enhance the role of CRE as a proactive driver of corporate success, stakeholder and shareholder value; leveraging the global real estate portfolio, operations, systems, teams and vendor networks to effectively lead and support.
• Align global real estate and facilities portfolio with business and corporate objectives.
• Lead sourcing strategies, vendor negotiations, and service delivery models.
• Drive portfolio and workplace optimization including hybrid strategies and utilization improvements.
• Provide strategic analysis and advisory to senior leadership on real estate decisions.
• Build executive stakeholder relationships and influence cross-functional alignment.

Benefits

• medical and dental coverage that start on day one
• insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), with the ability to purchase company stock at a discount
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), with options for employee contributions and company matching
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• educational assistance programs
• paid holidays
• paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service
• family and medical leaves of absence
• paid parental leave
• commuting benefits
• Employee Discount Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• childcare benefits

What This Job Offers

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