IFF
Title: Managing Director of Regional Real Estate Services
Department: Real Estate Services (RES)
Department Purpose: The Real Estate Services Department provides a wide range of
real estate consulting and development services both internally
and externally, in order to manage and assist with planning,
financing, design construction and development of facilities for
nonprofit clients.
Reports to: Senior Vice President of Real Estate Services
The Organization
IFF improves the world by strengthening nonprofits and the communities they serve. As a
mission-driven lender, real estate consultant, and developer, IFF helps communities thrive by
creating opportunities for low-income communities and persons with disabilities. Key to our
success has been a deep sense of purpose, a broad perspective, and a relentless focus on
achieving positive results. Across the Midwest, we help clients from every sector, including
human service agencies, health centers, schools, housing developers, and grocery stores.
Staff contributes its extensive business experience with an unrivaled connection to the mission
of IFF and the nonprofit clients it serves. IFF is looking for candidates with a commitment to the
work it does and can demonstrate their creativity, detail-orientation, diligence, efficiency,
enthusiasm, flexibility, organization, thoughtfulness, and sense of humor.
Basic Job Function
The Managing Director of Regional Real Estate Services works closely with the Senior Vice
President of Real Estate Services (SVP of RES) to provide leadership and ensure the efficient and
successful operation of the regional RES offices. The Managing Director divides his or her time
between managing staff and projects, working on multiple real estate projects simultaneously;
participating in departmental planning meetings for projects and staff resource scheduling; The
Managing Director oversees the regional directors of RES, senior project managers, project
managers, senior owner’s representatives, owner’s representatives, project associates, and
consultants who serve in those roles. The Managing Director has primary responsibility for
maximizing the efficiency of real estate services in order to achieve financial goals and maintain
a high level of staff performance, quality of service and consistency of output. The Managing
Director also has direct responsibility for cultivating and securing business and participating in
the development of strategies to strengthen and grow the department in alignment with the
strategic plan.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Independently manages and develops RES Project Managers (PMs) & Owner’s
Representatives (ORs) whom are located across the IFF geographic footprint.
a. Supervises assigned staff including scheduling and job assignment,
counseling and coaching, staff development and training, performance
evaluation, and professional development, and, if necessary, disciplinary
actions, in accord with the IFF’s personnel policies and procedures and with
input and support from the SVP of RES.
b. Ensures work products meet standards for quality and, if needed, works
with individual staff to improve.
c. Acts as a general resource for answering questions, troubleshooting and
solving problems when they arise, and providing guidance and training to
staff.
d. Trains new staff and, in conjunction with the SVP of RES, recruits new team
members.
e. Develops and improves systems and procedures for project tracking and
team management within RES and oversees training of RES staff in these
systems and procedures
2. Acts as a leader providing support to the SVP of RES in leading and growing the
department.
a. Conducts analysis, identifies opportunities, and develops strategies in
conjunction with the SVP of RES in order to efficiently grow the department
for maximal financial viability and effectiveness in meeting IFF-wide goals.
b. Assists in preparing an annual business development strategy and plan and
sets goals with input from the SVP of RES, Regional Executive Directors, and
other IFF departments.
c. Participates in and/or leads development of new tools and/or initiatives.
d. Identifies opportunities and undertakes appropriate outreach and business
development activities to obtain real estate business.
e. Establishes relationships with key influencers and others who may be
referral sources.
f. Meets with potential clients, conceives of and develops consulting
proposals, and follows-up as necessary to obtain contracts.
Position Description – Managing Director of Real Estate Services, Regions
g. Recommends contract pricing in order to ensure contract amount is
commensurate with anticipated effort and cost.
3. Assumes operational responsibility for RES staff workload planning, project
assignments, and project financial management across the RES region.
a. Works with the SVP of RES and RES staff to forecast staffing needs.
b. Assigns staff to projects for most effective use of skills and resources.
c. Facilitates meetings with staff in order to develop and implement
strategies to improve RES efficiency and best utilize full scope of resources.
d. Tracks staff and team progress on projects to ensure maximal efficiency,
project future availability and financial sustainability.
e. Ensures smooth transition of projects between Project Managers and
Owner’s Representative staff as projects evolve from planning to
development.
f. Manages program-level contract budgets and schedules to ensure strong
fiscal condition and timely project completion.
4. Provides project management for certain key or strategic projects or initiatives.
a. Directs and completes key aspects of real estate consulting and
development projects and oversees contracts with subcontractors
performing work on IFF’s behalf.
b. Coordinates all aspects of project management for each project including
scheduling internal and external meetings as appropriate, following project
steps that have been delineated, managing project team members,
ensuring that project goals and milestones are being met
5. Maintains required job knowledge and skills and core professional competencies.
Attends and participates in required educational programs and staff meetings.
6. Performs other duties as assigned.
Performance Measures:
1. Manages and leads staff for maximum productivity.
2. Creates an environment where staff members are motivated and enthusiastic about
performance of their work.
3. Meets or exceeds revenue, contract, and growth goals.
Position Description – Managing Director of Real Estate Services, Regions
4. Support business development efforts to ensure RES growth
5. Receives high reviews from customer satisfaction surveys.
6. Implements department onboarding program for new employees and develops ongoing
training efforts for all staff.
7. Continually seeks efficiency and other improvements in all operations.
8. Maintains highest standard of excellence in all RES work products.
9. Plays key role in communicating and coordinating with other IFF departments to meet
strategic organization goals.
10. Assumes a leadership role internally and externally and maintains excellent relationships
with colleagues, peers, and others.
11. Provides meaningful input on departmental strategies and financial management and
successfully leads assigned projects.
12. Successful completion of projects according to goals set forth for each project, the
project budget and schedule, and the RES department’s policies and procedures.
Completed projects meet highest quality standards.
13. Ensures that written reports are complete, accurate and clear and follow policies and
procedures.
14. Ensures that internal and external meetings are facilitated in an organized way and are
meaningful to the participants, with outcomes of these meetings analyzed and well
presented.
Position Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in real estate, planning, policy,
business, social science or social work preferred.
Experience: At least ten years of experience in economic or community development,
real estate analysis or development, financial analysis, or construction management
with increasing responsibility and management and supervisory roles. Business
development and policy experience preferred.
Special Knowledge & Skills:
Direct experience with all aspects of real estate development projects, from planning and
feasibility stages through design and construction, including project proformas, program
development, and identification of financing sources. Experience in management and leadership roles, including managing staff across a wide footprint. Proven ability to identify, secure and maintain business relationships. Experience working with
clients and maintaining good client relationships. Capacity to act as a leader on both internal and external projects. Direct project management experience. Proven experience working with a team to conceive and implement multi-faceted projects. Ability to motivate staff to achieve a high level of performance. Analytical and strategic skills; ability to plan, manage and implement multiple projects; ability to plan, research, and implement complex projects. Excellent communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills. Strong financial, analytical, and writing skills. Good understanding of finance and lending. Ability to learn and use a wide variety of computer software related to project management, including word processing, PowerPoint, database programs, spreadsheet and project management packages.
Unusual Physical Requirements: Frequent travel is required for the Managing Director – Regions, specifically to support regional staff with project management and business development. Additionally, the Managing Director will have occasion to visit abandoned buildings and vacant lots and inspect, as well as inspection of construction project sites for progress.
Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.
IFF is an equal opportunity employer.
Application Instructions: Please submit a cover letter, resume and salary requirements to jkraemer@iff.org with “Managing Director of Regional Real Estate Services” in the subject line.