Real Estate Leader - Associate Director

The opportunity

Would you like to work for a global leader in Assurance, Consulting, Strategy & Transaction services with over 300.000 people around the world? Would you like to be part of a global Real Estate team that leverages innovation and technology to disrupt the status quo and generate business value? Would you like to play a role in building a better working world every day?

Our global Real Estate team includes more than 100 people working across 31 countries. We are relentless trendsetters, employing the latest in innovation and technology to better service the business. In a world of disruption, we embrace transformation and work to find best-in-class services and suppliers to help us stay ahead of the curve.

An exciting opportunity to join a Global team of Real Estate Professionals at EY who are responsible for end-to-end management EY’s Global Real Estate portfolio. The Real Estate Leader (REL) is responsible for providing comprehensive real estate services in support of the firm’s business activities. These activities include real estate portfolio management, acquisition and disposition of office space, lease administration, sublease administration, design and construction services, and portfolio benchmarking for locations across the Region.

The REL works closely with the AMERICAS Real Estate Leader and the Region’s business leaders to recommend and execute Real Estate strategies that are consistent with the Global Real Estate strategies. This includes aligning with our workplace strategy, EY@Work.

You will be part of the team who is responsible for EY’s Real Estate Services across the US consisting of over 100 locations and 3m sf of occupied office space. You will be the initial point of contact for all property related matters within region, delivering Real Estate ideas, alternatives and recommendations that create value for EY and a great place to work for our employees. This role brings together strategy, transaction lifecycle management and execution to drive real estate portfolio optimisation and to deliver value and positive, measurable outcomes for our business

Your key responsibilities

• Work with AMERICAS Real Estate Leader and the Region’s business leaders to identify how to develop and deploy the Global Real Estate strategy.
• Develop strong and productive business relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure business and real estate alignment, to optimise opportunities and value.
• Lead key initiatives for the Region, improving real estate processes, reduce occupancy costs and optimise space utilization.
• Develop and deliver real estate business cases.
• Lead feasibility studies with the Region’s business leaders (service line and Core Business Services (CBS)) about how to implement the global strategy and take ownership of working through any specific Region requirements.
• Proactively manage the Region’s real estate portfolio. This will involve establishing common processes for acquiring and disposing of office space, including lease renewal, reconfiguration, renegotiation, and relocation that are consistent globally. Develop and maintain a leading class process for real estate implementation and identify where improvements can be made.
• Responsible for managing the real estate budget including: budget preparation, monitoring of spend against budget, analysis of budget discrepancies and ownership of action plan to achieve budgetary targets.
• Manage external business relationships, providing excellent vendor management, confirming that these are compliant with EY’s procurement and independence policies.
• Benchmark space usage against guidelines. Develop strategies to redeploy under-utilized assets, and to take advantage of unique market conditions.
• Identify surplus real estate assets and develop strategies for disposing of these. This will include sub-leasing, renegotiating lease terms, early terminations, lease assignments or landlord recaptures.
• Work with the AMERICAS Leader to select new office space. Analyse alternative locations (financially and subjectively), negotiate and leverage business terms and legal terms, and manage the approval process. Manage the design, construction and move process, including contracts.
• Teaming with Design and Project Leaders to manage the construction of leasehold improvements.
• Establish project timelines and monitor lease requirements and project timing. Confirm that staffing and external vendors are performing tasks on time. Monitor lease expiration dates, and confirm that all projects are completed on time.
• Assists in leading the department, staff, internal groups and external vendors, helping them manage all real estate projects and processes.
• Manage ongoing relationships with brokers, lawyers, architects, project managers, contractors, and furniture and material providers. Confirm that these parties comply with EY’s procurement and independence policies. Encourage new thinking in the organization and support innovative learning processes. coach team members and give them feedback
• Negotiate and coordinate the legal review of all leases
• Accountable for the quality, accuracy and timeliness of leasehold and management information on databases and reporting. Supports lease administrators in ongoing management of lease admin tools.
• Ensure Real Estate Solutions satisfy EY’s Workplace Services, Facility Management, Design Standards, and Environmental requirements.
• Perform ad hoc real estate services, as requested by the organization’s Global and AMERICAS Real Estate Leaders.
• Provide the Real Estate elements of EY’s Business Continuity plans in region.
• Provide recommendations and subject matter expertise to align and leverage Region, AMERICAS and global metrics and best practices.

Skills and attributes for success

• The ability to solve problems, execute complex tasks, manage information, allocate resources and monitor performance. Ensuring success for EY by analysing data, making good decisions and optimising processes.
• A proven track record of execution, balancing the interest of multiple stakeholders to deliver a firmwide positive outcome.
• Influence all levels of the organization and help set, develop and deliver real estate strategy.
• Financial acumen, you understand the effect on the P&L of numerous real estate options.
• Effectively influence and drive execution within a team that doesn’t have reporting lines to you.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills as well as presentation skills.
• Proactive, an organized self-starter.
• Exceptional management skills.
• Exceptional negotiating skills.
• Strong relationship building skills and ability to interact with external vendors.
• Ability to manage or direct multiple complex projects with direct impact to the firm.

What we look for

To qualify for the role you must have

• Advanced degree in a related discipline, or equivalent work experience
• At least ten years Real Estate and Corporate Real Estate experience

Ideally, you’ll also have

• Ability to see the bigger picture and propose alternate solutions as required
• Must be able to make sound judgments after collecting and analysing multiple sources of information
• Good attention to detail
• Critical thinker with an ability to evaluate a situation or a problem with a careful and clear thought process
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office

Supervision Responsibilities

• Manages and oversees small to medium staff comprised predominantly of external vendors.
• Manages vendor relationships

#LI-Remote

• Continuous learning: You’ll develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next.
• Success as defined by you: We’ll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.
• Transformative leadership: We’ll give you the insights, coaching and confidence to be the leader the world needs.
• Diverse and inclusive culture: You’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.