Sr Director Real Estate & Facilities

First for a reason:

At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.

Implements the strategy for governance and management of property and facilities management for First Student. Manages the Real Estate related Environmental Program with policies that ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements.

Major Responsibilities

• Lead the Real Estate, Environmental and Facilities Management group in the creation and execution of strategy and associated plans

• Develops and implements the Real Estate and Facilities Management strategic and operational plans in order to meet the ever evolving and changing real estate needs of the business.

• Develops Environmental strategy, objectives, and targets.

• Ensures property portfolio is constantly reviewed with senior management to ensure there is a rolling efficiency and disposition program in place.

• Ensures that a program of planned preventative maintenance is in place and carried out, working within capital constraints of the First Student, that is compliant with current legislative requirements, particularly with regards to asbestos, hazardous materials, and the disability acts. Reports any health, safety, and environmental issues to the VP Safety.

• Directs appointed Real Estate brokers in a collegiate and professional manger to ensure best value combined with good performance.

• Develops and implements real estate processes which include clear remits, objectives, and procedures that comply with internal audit requirements.

• Negotiates an appropriate annual budget including performance measures to enable delivery of the property strategy allocated in agreement and conjunction with First Student management.

• Serves as a close liaison with senior management to forecast, manage, and monitor capital cash flows.

• Analyzes trends to target specific areas of concern by way of campaigns and initiatives, and identifies opportunities to reduce business costs through better environmental management.

• Establishes and maintains First Student's environmental database and a management information system that includes information on all rent reviews, renewals, and similar activities

• Collates and validates environmental KPI's.

• Directly leads a team of 8 - 10 professionals as well as the outsourced activities related to Facilities Management and other various activities

• Coordinates First Student's environmental training program and ensures environmental training is delivered to the responsible site personnel (General/Contract Manager and Maintenance/Shop Manager) at each location.

• Oversees the UST/AST Compliance Program.

• Communicates with Real Estate department, senior management, and staff through regular written reports, structured meetings, etc.

• Directs and supports the professional and technical staff of Real Estate. Works with project managers and environmental team to ensure that Real Estate objectives are met in a timely and cost effective manner.

Minimum Education or Certifications Required

• BS/BA

• North American real estate recognized certifications required (i.e. Real Estate Sales/Brokers License, Certified Property Manager - CPM)

• 15 years experience working in a Corporate Real Estate or Development department; Minimum of 10 years environmental experience.

• 10 years of managing personnel

• Strong interpersonal skills to ensure excellent networking within and outside the organization is in place

• Capable of working independently handling a large volume of work. Able to effectively manage projects, direct reports, and consultants

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are required

• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel

• Possess outstanding organizational skills with strong attention to detail and adherence to deadlines

• Up to 20% travel

In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request https://www.phila.gov/media/20210423160847/Fair-Chance-Hiring-law-poster.pdf.