Penn State Job Catalog

The Real Estate Strategist oversees the University’s real estate portfolio, actively managing every facet of acquisition, administration, and disposition of leased and owned properties; is responsible for managing the contract and lease negotiation process for the University, including tracking critical dates, completion of transaction documents, leading due diligence collection efforts, and providing guidance to stakeholders on industry best practices; assist the department with developing, implementing, and supporting the administrative infrastructure of a complex and widely dispersed real estate footprint, including process and procedure development, improvement, and implementation. 

• Play a critical role in managing the University’s real estate interests, including leases, acquisitions, dispositions, easements, and other transactional activities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams using strong interpersonal skills to drive solutions, provide real estate insights, and develop short and long-term portfolio strategies

• Manage site selection, due diligence, contract review, and new site acquisitions from offer to closing

• Oversee the entire transaction lifecycle, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and compliance with internal processes

• Negotiate optimal commercial transaction terms, leveraging market conditions to drive favorable outcomes and ensuring compliance with University policies, procedures, industry best practices and legal regulations

• Monitor and manage critical lease dates, approvals and project milestones, ensuring timely reporting and strategic, data-driven decision-making

• Prepare financial analyses, craft business cases and recommendations for executives and stakeholders

• Coordinate and collaborate with multiple stakeholders and University departments to ensure all impacts of a proposed transaction are fully vetted before initiation

• Coordinate development of department and annual rent expense budgets, together with mid-year re-forecast evaluation and monitoring monthly variances

• Research and interpret lease clauses to address internal customer questions and concerns

• Research of historic land records to confirm use and/or sale restrictions

• Support the resolution of Landlord and Tenant disputes

• Lead or participate in projects and initiatives as a department representative, cross-functional team member, or individual contributor

Level:

– Senior Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates advanced knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field. Works independently on moderately complex work assignments under limited oversight, reviews progress, and evaluates results. Monitors work and projects ensuring timeliness, quality, and efficiency. Identifies and mobilizes resources to achieve outcomes. Trains others and reviews progress with management. Presents ideas, concepts, and instructions in a clear and persuasive manner. Develops new techniques, concepts, and approaches and applies them to moderately complex and strategic and/or operational issues.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding

Problem Solving:

– Encounters moderately complex problems
– Applies specialized knowledge and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on moderately complex work assignments, reviews progress, and evaluates results
– May set priorities and organize work within general guidelines established by supervisor
– May review the work of others to verify accuracy and conformance to required procedures and special instructions

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Coaches others in using appropriate strategies for resolving conflict; negotiating reasonable compromises; and proposing and evaluating possible solutions
– Give candid and constructive feedback to others to influence and persuade managers and employees to accept and implement findings and recommendations

• Comp Grade – 12
• Minimum – $76,700.00
• MidPoint – $95,900.00
• Maximum – $115,100.00