Real Estate Manager

Role Synopsis: The Real Estate Manager assists in day-to-day administrative and operational support with respect to facility lease administration, space management, and facility-related services, supplies and expenses across all company locations.

This role requires experience with lease administration, cross-functional collaboration, and vendor relations.  This position reports to the Company’s VP, General Counsel & Secretary, but will also work closely with the Operations and Finance teams.

Essential Functions:

Lease Administration: Partner with SBU leadership, real estate brokers and legal counsel to support lease negotiations and lead lease administration.  This includes leveraging the Company’s lease management software to monitor critical lease dates, liaise with appropriate stakeholders, review and monitor compliance with key lease terms, and provide support with lease negotiations.
Geographic Footprint Optimization: Proactively identify, explore and pursue facility co-locations, taking into account customer, employee and supplier impact; relocation expenses; facility requirements; anticipated cost savings; timing; and strategic considerations.
Vendor Management: Responsible for facilities cost management and pursuing savings opportunities across the Company’s real estate portfolio of more than 270 locations.  This includes, but is not limited to:
Utilities and energy usage (including negotiating utility agreements in non-regulated states)
Facilities services such as landscaping, HVAC maintenance and repair, alarm systems, and waste removal
Warehouse equipment and supplies such as packaging, MRO supplies, and material handling equipment
Facility employee supplies such as office supplies, uniforms and personal safety products
Other maintenance and facility agreements
Facility Maintenance: Work with the General Counsel and Operations team to address facility maintenance and repair issues in accordance with the Company’s lease agreements.  Additionally, responsible for the facility maintenance needs of the Company’s headquarters in Addison, IL. 

Experience and Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field of study preferred
10+ years’ experience with lease administration, support of real estate portfolio management, and indirect procurement of products and services used within office and warehouse facilities and by employees of those facilities.
Physical Demands – This position will involve sitting and telephone / computer use for a minimum of 8 hours a day.
Computer Skills – Proficient skills in Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with LeaseCalcs or similar lease administration software is preferred (but can be trained).
Job Location – Office-based position at the Company’s headquarters in Addison, Illinois.  Minimal travel may be required (less than 5%).

Skills and Knowledge

This position requires the ability to work on multiple projects and tasks simultaneously with minimal supervision.
The candidate must have strong organizational skills to handle administration of a large lease portfolio. 
Additionally, the candidate must have experience negotiating with, and managing, third parties who provide facility-related products and services.
The successful candidate must be a self-starter, demonstrate initiative and ownership of areas of responsibility, be an effective communicator, exhibit pride in his/her work product, maintain a positive work attitude, and have strong interpersonal skills.

Key Competencies

Attention To Detail:  Thoroughness in accomplishing a task through concern for all the areas involved, no matter how small. Monitors and checks work or information and plans and organizes time and resources efficiently.
Negotiation:  Effectively advocates on behalf of the Company, including utilizing creative solutions to reach outcomes that support business objectives.
Organizational Understanding:  Understands the agendas and perspectives of others, recognizing and effectively balancing the interests and needs of one’s own group with those of the broader organization.
Initiative:  Does more than is required or expected in the job; does things that no one has requested that will improve or enhance facilities and services, avoid problems, and reduce cost and waste. Plans ahead for upcoming problems or opportunities and takes appropriate action.
Problem-Solving/Analytical Thinking:  Builds a logical approach to address problems or opportunities; manages the situation at hand by drawing on own knowledge and experience and/or calling on other references and resources, as necessary.
Planning & Organizing:  Establishes a systematic course of action for self or others to ensure accomplishment of a specific objective. Sets priorities, goals and timetables to achieve maximum productivity.
Collaboration: Develops cooperation and teamwork while participating in a group of people, working toward solutions that generally benefit all involved parties.
Communication: Creates an atmosphere in which timely and high-quality information flows smoothly both up the organization and down, inside the organization; encourages open expression of ideas and opinions.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.  If you are an individual with a disability and require an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact recruiting@sunsrce.com to request reasonable accommodation. Only requests for accommodation in the application process will be returned from this email address.  This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here, aquí).  Sun-Source | Privacy Policy