Regional Real Estate Portfolio Lead

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).  It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges.

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

Global Corporate Solutions and Corporate Real Estate

Reporting to the Managing Director and World Bank Group Chief Administrative Officer, Global Corporate Solutions (GCS) brings together the functions of Corporate Services, Corporate Real Estate, and Corporate Security.   All units report to the Director (GCSDR).

GCS’s Corporate Real Estate Division (GCSCR) supports IBRD, IDA, MIGA, and ICSID in realizing and executing their real estate needs worldwide.  It is a key interlocutor between Senior Management, operational management, and staff of the four organizations.  GCSCR’s primary purpose is to create safe, cost effective, sustainable, and functional space to meet the business needs for each unit so that they can perform the work that is needed to support the WBG mission to reduce poverty and raise prosperity for their clients. 

To achieve its purpose, GCSCR led by the Senior Manager, is structured into 3 divisions: (i) HQ Real Estate Development & Management (GCSHQ) and (ii) Global Real Estate Development & Management (GCSIR) and (iii) Global Strategy and Planning (GCSSP). GCSCR also acts as the Secretariat for the WBG’s Real Estate Governance Framework, including supporting the WBG Real Estate Governance process.   

GCSCR is comprised of approximately 70 staff, leverages over 500 contractors and manages an annual facilities capital investment plan of $100 million globally. GCSCR works closely with the Regions on the Bank’s more than 100 country offices and manages several of the Bank’s owned and leased country offices. 

The Regional Real Estte Portfolio Lead will support the GCSCR Senior Manager and Management Team and will collaborate across GCS, facilitating seamless knowledge exchange across all units.  This role serves as a vital link between GCSCR and the GCS Front Office.  The focus of this position is to formulate and manage responses to Senior Management regarding GCSCR’s work program. The Specialist should possess the ability to transition seamlessly from conceptual visioning to providing detailed responses to leadership queries. The successful candidate will be instrumental in consolidating and communicating our policies for the real estate portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The position reports to the Manager, GCSIR. 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. Extensive experience of delivery in emerging markets with experience in similar large corporates or international organizations and their practices, processes and procedures is required. 

Key areas of responsibility include: 

• Client Engagement: Advising Country Office Staff and Management in all real estate, property administrative, project management and facilities/property management related endeavors.
• Corporate Real Estate: Oversight of ongoing review, revision, development, and implementation of WBG global real estate, facilities management, workplace environment planning, procurement standards, policies, and processes. Portfolio Management (Site evaluation and selection for office relocations, expansions, contractions, or new locations. Evaluation and negotiation of lease conditions and terms – financial and operational), Lease Management, Real Estate Strategy & Planning.
• Governance: Ensure that the team follows the required WBG governance procedures.
• Operations & Facilities Management: Regional oversight of 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: Extensive oversight of 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. Project budget evaluation and fit-out/building cost estimation (order of magnitude).
• Strong collaboration and coordination with multiple internal and external service providers, including but not limited to other project implementation managers, budget staff, procurement staff, IT specialists, security providers, 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 and drive cost-effective delivery of services, promoting stronger analytical support, transparency, simplicity, standardization, and automation.
• Capital budget development planning and input for real estate and property/facilities project needs.
• People management: Lead and develop a regional team.
• Contract Management: Reviewing and advising on various facilities/property management related contracts.
• Data & Metrics: Oversight to ensure quality and relevance of metrics driven data gathering and maintenance of data for business decision analysis.
• Communications: Ongoing robust internal communications to manage internal client expectations.

Selection Criteria:

• Masters 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 emerging markets.
• Experience with all aspects of interior fit-out projects – defining requirements, space planning, architectural systems, building systems and equipment, furniture systems, finishes, infrastructure, etc.
• Experience preparing construction plans, specifications, cost estimates and contract documents, coordinating inputs from relevant service providers and outside vendors on all aspects of a project through final completion.
• Ability to review and approve building renovation designs to ensure alignment with building systems and equipment, sustainability principles, finish standards and compliance with fire, life and safety codes and procedures, etc.
• Licensed/Certified Architect/Engineer/Project Management /Real Estate Professional/Facilities/Audit Professional Certifications.
• AutoCAD or similar architectural software literacy would be a plus.
• Tririga/Clarity or similar project management software literacy would be desired.
• Excellent working knowledge of key MS office tools (Word, Excel, Project, PowerPoint).

This role requires you to demonstrate success in supporting and encouraging a positive culture of delivery and innovation. Specific requirements include:

• Collaboration – proven ability to work effectively across cultures, and demonstrable ability to establish “partner” relationships with the clients.
• Proven Real Estate and Project management experience of complex projects in growth markets with technical knowledge related to leasing, building operations, architecture, mechanical and electrical engineering.
• Client focused, results oriented, practical, common-sense approach to problem solving is critical.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in at a global level in a decentralized  organization
• Excellent people management skills and ability to coach and mentor staff.
• Strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills
• Business orientation with financial skills including ability to evaluate cost/benefit data/metrics and develop business cases for decision-making and strong proposal writing skills.
• 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.

Source:  https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=27315&site=1