Regional Real Estate Portfolio Lead

IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets and the world’s largest multilateral source of loan and equity financing and advisory services for private sector in the developing world. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2023, IFC committed a record $43.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. Working with 2,000 businesses worldwide, IFC draws on more than six decades of experience to create opportunities and solutions where they are needed most.

IFC is headquartered in Washington DC and has 108 Country Offices globally across six continents, totaling approximately 2.3 million gross square feet (>1.3 million gross square feet in Washington and >1.0 million gross square feet outside the United States). These facilities are a mix of owned and leased real estate.

IFC’s Real Estate and Facilities Management (CBARE) is part of IFC’s Budget & Administration Department (CBA) and is responsible for IFC’s corporate real estate, project management, facilities management real estate capital budgeting and corporate sustainability.

CBARE strives to form value-added partnerships with internal clients to support them through real estate and facilities management related activities while ensuring that these activities are fully aligned with IFC’s corporate objectives and creating efficiencies.

IFC is seeking dynamic individuals (3) to join CBARE as Regional Real Estate Portfolio Leads to serve i) Africa ii) Asia and iii) Europe/Middle East/Central Asia & Turkey.  The role focuses on all areas of Global Real Estate: Transactions, Project Management, Facilities Management and requires a strong mix of technical experience in corporate real estate, property and/or facilities management and a strong track record in managing a decentralized team. Substantive experience of delivery in emerging markets with experience in similar large corporates or international organizations and their practices, processes and procedures is required.

This position requires a high degree of customer engagement with excellent people management, facilitation, and negotiation skills, as well as requisite schedule and budget management capabilities.  This position demands a highly financial and analytic skillset, a consultative mindset with strong presentation and organizational skills, must work well in a collaborative team, needs a “seek-to-understand” mindset, and should have proven abilities to influence and drive change. This role requires extensive international travel.

Responsibilities:

• Client Engagement: Advise Regional/Country Office Management in all real estate, property administrative, project management and facilities/property management related endeavors.
• Real Estate Strategy: Supervise the implementation of global real estate, facilities management, workplace environment planning, procurement standards, policies, and processes.
• Portfolio Management: Lead site evaluation and selection for office relocations, expansions, contractions, or new locations. Evaluation and negotiation of lease conditions and terms – financial and operational.
• Governance: Ensure that the Real Estate and Facilities team follows the required WBG governance procedures.
• Operations & Facilities Management: Steer ongoing facilities management of the physical offices that includes maintenance and operations, design and construction, space allocation and management, capital improvement projects, and all property administrative services to ensure that facilities are operated in a safe, healthy, secure, sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective manner, supporting WBG staff globally.
• Project Management: Supervise project implementation, including planning, development, broad direction for facilities and real estate related project work that include Real Estate Expansions, Relocations, Consolidations, Reconfigurations, and new Building Constructions. Lead project budget evaluation and fit-out/building cost estimation (order of magnitude).
• Foster and model strong collaboration and coordination with multiple internal and external service providers and stakeholders, including but not limited to other CBARE staff, GCS, regional/country leadership, finance, procurement, IT specialists, security, architects, engineers, developers, real estate brokers, landlords, construction managers, furniture providers, etc.
• Controllership: Maintain robust financial approaches, policies, and procedures in line with central standards and policies and other corporate expectations.
• Efficiency: Advocate for and drive cost-effective delivery of services, promoting stronger analytical support, transparency, simplicity, standardization, and automation.
• Drive Capital budget development planning and input for real estate and property/facilities project needs.
• People management: Lead and develop a regional team of staff. Ability to motivate others and foster teamwork.
• Contract Management: Review and advise on various facilities/property management related contracts.
• Data & Metrics: Drive quality and relevance of metrics driven data gathering and maintenance of data for business decision analysis.
• Communications: Maintain ongoing robust internal communications to manage internal client expectations.
• Understand stakeholder expectations and concerns and help manage/adapt efforts to meet varying stakeholder requirements.
• Guide and coach internal clients through processes related to real estate and facilities, with emphasis on policies, guidelines, and standards.

Selection Criteria:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent advanced degree in Real Estate, Architectural, Facilities Management, Project Management, Engineering, or similar closely related field with a minimum of at least 8 years in a corporate setting, including at international locations and in emerging markets.
• Strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills – proven ability to collaborate and communicate effectively at different levels across cultures, and demonstrable ability to establish “partner” relationships with the clients.
• Proven Real Estate, Facilities Management and Project Management experience of complex projects in growth markets with technical knowledge related to leasing, building maintenance operations, architecture, mechanical and electrical engineering.
• Client focused, results oriented, practical, common-sense approach to problem solving is critical.
• senior management as well as various levels of staff and management across the organization.
• Excellent people management skills and ability to coach and mentor staff and contractors.
• Financial acumen including ability to evaluate cost/benefit data/metrics and develop business cases for decision-making and strong proposal writing skills.
• Ability to interpret qualitative and quantitative research data and synthesize into meaningful and actionable recommendations.
• Strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills in English. Strong report/proposal writing skills.
• Sound business judgment and demonstrated ability to deliver results under stressful timetables and environment.
• Proven ability to work in challenging markets and a diverse client base.
• Experience with all aspects of interior fit-out projects – defining requirements, space planning, architectural systems, building systems and equipment, furniture systems, finishes, infrastructure, etc.
• Excellent working knowledge of key MS office tools (Word, Excel, Project, PowerPoint).
• Strong time management skills and demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.
• Energetic, creative, and demonstrated ability to function in a fast paced, ambiguous environment working with multiple and diverse responsibilities.
• Demonstrated organizational acumen with high degree of emotional intelligence and ability to remain composed under stressful situations.
• Involvement with relevant industry organizations and knowledge of key thought leadership
• Flexibility to work both independently and cooperatively in an agile environment, including virtual collaboration with remote colleagues.

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=27316&site=1