Job Summary

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.

Responsible for developing 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.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Real Estate Planning: 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.
• Landlord Relations: 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.
• Program Launches: 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).
• Lease Management and Administration: 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.
• Greenfield Development: 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.
• Acquisitions and Dispositions: 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.
• External Partner Management: 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.
• Financial Management and Budgeting: 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.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: 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.
• Risk Management and Compliance: Ensure all real estate activities comply with relevant laws, regulations, and company policies. Identify and mitigate potential real estate-related risks.

Experience and Education Required

• 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.
• Other responsibilities, as needed

Experience and Education Preferred

• Master's degree in Real Estate, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

Work Environment

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is usually not exposed to weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Note

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, or requirements associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change.

I have read and understand the above job description. I further understand that this is not an all-inclusive list and does not constitute a contract. My employment remains at will as with all employees of Ancora Education.