VP - Real Estate

Ancora Education

8h•Remote

About The Position

The Vice President (VP) of Real Estate reports to the SVP of Operations and works closely with the Senior Leadership Team, external Real Estate Services, and legal counsel. This pivotal role is responsible for developing and executing real estate strategies that directly support the company's growth objectives, with a significant focus on facilitating the successful launch of facilities for new programs, proactively managing current and future lease obligations, and driving expansion through greenfield development and strategic acquisitions across the enterprise. The role requires a deep understanding of commercial real estate, strong negotiation skills, financial acumen, and the ability to translate business needs into actionable real estate plans that produce expected financial ROI.

Requirements

BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN REAL ESTATE, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, OR A RELATED FIELD.
MINIMUM OF 5 YEARS OF PROGRESSIVE EXPERIENCE IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT, WITH A SIGNIFICANT FOCUS ON SITE SELECTION, LEASE NEGOTIATION, GREENFIELD DEVELOPMENT, AND ACQUISITIONS.
PROVEN EXPERIENCE IN SUPPORTING THE LAUNCH OF NEW BUSINESS INITIATIVES OR PROGRAMS THROUGH STRATEGIC REAL ESTATE PLANNING AND EXECUTION.
DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF COMMERCIAL LEASE AGREEMENTS, REAL ESTATE LAW, AND MARKET DYNAMICS.
DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS IN MANAGING COMPLEX REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS AND PROJECTS.
STRONG FINANCIAL ACUMEN, INCLUDING BUDGETING, FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, AND INVESTMENT EVALUATION.
EXCELLENT NEGOTIATION, COMMUNICATION (WRITTEN AND VERBAL), AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS.
ABILITY TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND INFLUENCE STAKEHOLDERS AT ALL LEVELS.
PROVEN ABILITY TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY, PRIORITIZE TASKS, AND MEET DEADLINES IN A FAST-PACED ENVIRONMENT.
PROFICIENCY IN REAL ESTATE SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY.
TRAVEL UP TO 50% OR AS NEEDED BY THE BUSINESS DEMAND.
WILLINGNESS TO WORK NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, AND/OR HOLIDAYS.
ABILITY TO WORK IN A FAST-PACED ENVIRONMENT AND MEET DEADLINES OF MULTIPLE CONCURRENT TASKS.
ABILITY TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE AND EASILY ADAPT TO CHANGES IN WORK ENVIRONMENT OR SCHEDULE.
ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY AND PROVIDE A POSITIVE, PROFESSIONAL IMPRESSION VIA PHONE, EMAIL, TEXT AND IN-PERSON TO STUDENTS AND STAFF FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS.
ABILITY TO WORK AND SUCCEED INDIVIDUALLY AND AS PART OF A TEAM IN A HIGHLY STRUCTURED AND REGULATED WORK ENVIRONMENT.
ABILITY TO WORK REMOTELY IN ANY/ALL STATES IN WHICH ANCORA IS LICENSED/APPROVED TO DO BUSINESS.

Nice To Haves

MASTER'S DEGREE IN REAL ESTATE, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, OR A RELATED FIELD.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement comprehensive real estate strategies aligned with the company's overall business plan, with a specific emphasis on supporting the rollout of new trade programs across various locations. This includes identifying optimal site selection criteria, market analysis, and long-term portfolio planning.
Serve as the primary point of contact for all landlords, fostering strong and collaborative relationships. Catalyst in negotiating lease agreements, amendments, and renewals, and resolve any landlord-tenant issues effectively.
Partner closely with the Senior Leadership Team, Campuses and Functional departments to understand the real estate requirements for program launches. This includes identifying, evaluating, and securing competitive pricing for each location within aggressive timelines, ensuring alignment with program-specific needs (e.g., space requirements, infrastructure, accessibility).
Oversee the comprehensive management of the company's existing real estate portfolio, including all lease agreements. This involves proactive monitoring of lease terms, critical dates, and obligations to ensure compliance and identify opportunities for optimization. Develop and implement strategies for future lease renewals, expansions, and potential terminations. Maintain a resource tracker and archive of all lease agreements in place as current.
Lead the identification, evaluation, and execution of greenfield development projects. This includes site selection, due diligence, negotiation of development agreements, management of design and construction processes, and ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.
Identify and evaluate potential real estate acquisition opportunities that align with the company's strategic growth objectives. Lead the due diligence process, negotiate purchase agreements, and manage the integration of acquired properties. Oversee the disposition of underperforming or non-strategic assets.
Manage the relationship and performance of the external Real Estate Services Company, ensuring they are effectively supporting the company's real estate needs and delivering value. Collaborate effectively with external legal counsel on lease agreements, acquisitions, and other real estate transactions.
Develop and manage the annual real estate budget, ensuring cost-effectiveness and maximizing return on investment. Oversee lease administration, rent payments, and capital expenditure projects. Provide regular financial reporting on the real estate portfolio.
Work closely and collaboratively with various verticals, including Operations, Finance, Marketing, Admissions and Product Development, to ensure seamless integration of real estate strategies with overall business operations.
Ensure all real estate activities comply with relevant laws, regulations, and company policies. Identify and mitigate potential real estate-related risks.