Region Real Estate Leader

Would you like to work for a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction, and advisory services with over 250.000 people around the world? Would you like to be part of a global Supply Chain Services - Real Estate Services team that employs 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? If so, you will want to read this. 

About Supply Chain Services

Our global Procurement team includes more than 300 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. We are responsible for sourcing across four categories of spend:

• Real Estate (including Workplace Services and Real Estate Technology and Innovation) 
• Technology Sourcing & External Content
• Travel, Meetings & Events (including Brand, Marketing and Communications)
• Talent

The opportunity

The Regional Real Estate Leader 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, facility management, and portfolio benchmarking for Americas locations. Works with the Americas Area Real Estate Leader and other Region and Area leaders to proactively manage the firm’s real estate portfolio, including developing guidelines for workplace standards and alternative workplace strategies, benchmarking space usage against those guidelines, developing strategies to redeploy under-utilized assets, and developing strategies to take advantage of unique market conditions. The Region Real Estate Leader portfolio consists of approximately 100,000m² of office space and manages a combined spend of > $40 million per annum.

Your key responsibilities

• Work with area and global real estate leaders to develop the real estate strategy. Provide thought leadership, leading practices and supporting technology, to optimize the real estate portfolio. Develop global guidelines for improving metrics, and produce alternative workplace strategies, to drive efficient plans that maximize space utilization
• Proactively manage the organization’s real estate portfolio. This will involve establishing processes for acquiring and disposing of office space, including lease renewal, reconfiguration, renegotiation, and relocation. Develop and maintain a leading class process for real estate implementation and identify where improvements can be made 
• Manage business relationships, confirming that these comply with EYs procurement and independence policies
• Lead key initiatives for the region(s), to improve processes, reduce occupancy costs and maximize space utilization 
• 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
• Monitor the functionality and efficiency of the organization’s model and benchmarks. Confirm that these are comparable with competitors and other industry leaders 
• Select new office space. Analyze alternative locations (financially and subjectively), negotiate business terms and legal terms, and develop the approval process. 
• Oversee sub-lease administration and rent collection 
• Manage regional occupancy costs, by negotiating competitive lease agreements with beneficial rental rates. 
• Work closely with the Region Design and Projects Leaders who are responsible for the management of project costs and capital expenditure, with full responsibility for budgets  
• 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 
• Manage ongoing relationships with brokers, attorneys, architects, project managers, facility management providers, contractors, and furniture and material providers. Confirm that these parties comply with EYs 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
• Perform ad hoc real estate services, as requested by the organization’s Area and Global Real Estate Leaders
• Moderate travel across the Americas area and may be required to travel outside of Americas annually

To qualify for the role you must have

• Advanced degree in a related discipline, or equivalent work experience
• Approximately 10 or more years of experience 
• Real Estate and Legal experience required

Ideally, you’ll also have 

• Real Estate Industry designations such as CCIM, MCR, SLCR, RICS
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills as well as presentation skills 
• Exceptional management skills
• Exceptional teaming skills and ability to work across categories and functions 
• Exceptional influencing skills 
• Exceptional negotiating skills
• Experience of working in a virtual team
• Strong relationship building skills and ability to interact and manage extended teams and external vendors
• Ability to manage or direct multiple complex projects with direct impact to the organisation and member firms
• Microsoft office required

Supervision Responsibilities

• Manages and oversees regional team(s) – inclusive of extended teams e.g. Corporates Services, Brokers, PMs etc.
• Manages supplier / vendor and service provider relationships

• 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.