Real Estate Portfolio Manager

Gensler; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading design firm in the United Kingdom is seeking a Real Estate Portfolio Manager to oversee real estate transactions and ensure smooth execution of processes. The role involves collaboration with various internal teams and external partners, requiring a strong understanding of corporate real estate and excellent communication skills. Ideal candidates should have 8-10 years of related experience and relevant educational background, focusing on creating better workplace environments through strategic real estate management.

Benefits

Medical and dental insurance

Pension

Profit sharing

Twice annual bonus opportunities

Professional development reimbursement

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in corporate real estate, leasing transactions, or project management.
• Proven experience negotiating leases and managing broker relationships.
• Strong understanding of construction processes and market dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of real estate transactions including leases and renewals.
• Partner with project management and construction teams to align lease terms and budgets.
• Work with Real Estate leadership to address operational issues.

Skills

Negotiating leases

Cross-functional alignment

Excellent communication

Problem-solving

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Real Estate, Finance, or Law

Tools

Lease management systems

Financial modeling

Real estate dashboards

Job description

At Gensler, we believe that we can create a better world through the power of design, and our workplaces are essential to the creativity, inspiration, and success of our global talent.

Your Role

As Real Estate Portfolio Manager, you will support Gensler’s Director of Real Estate and the Hub’s Regional Operating Officer (ROO) to help manage the firm’s breadth of real estate activities across our global footprint and as we enter new markets. You will help ensure that transactions are executed smoothly and that tenant improvements are delivered on time and within budget. As a key member of Gensler’s real estate team, you will collaboratively drive our real estate processes.

This role blends strategic portfolio thinking with hands‑on execution. You will work collaboratively, helping align diverse perspectives and build internal consensus around real estate decisions involving leasing, construction management, and facilities optimization. Curiosity about local markets and the power of workplace design, along with effective communication skills, will be key to success. International experience is a plus.

 This role is based on‑site in our London office 5 days a week.

What You Will Do

Transaction Management & Broker Partnerships

• Help manage the full lifecycle of real estate transactions—including leases, renewals, relocations, subleases, and exits—in partnership with the Director of Real Estate, Hub ROO, and Regional leadership.
• Serve as a point of contact for external brokers across multiple markets; provide clear direction on site criteria, evaluate recommendations, and help negotiate key business terms.
• Support market analysis, site selection, financial scenarios, and broker list and fee tracking.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external advisors (brokers, landlords, attorneys) to support LOIs, lease documentation, and legal reviews.
• Maintain portfolio‑level oversight of co‑working locations for reporting and planning purposes in partnership with Corporate Counsel.

Construction & Project Coordination

• Partner with internal project management, design, and construction teams to align lease terms, budgets, and delivery schedules.
• Participate in due diligence, feasibility reviews, and early design discussions as needed.
• Monitor project milestones, flag risks, and help resolve issues impacting timelines, costs, or occupancy.
• Coordinate landlord work and tenant improvements to ensure delivery aligns with negotiated agreements.
• Support tracking and benchmarking of capital expenditures across the portfolio.

Facilities Optimization & Issue Resolution

• Work with Real Estate leadership, regional teams, facilities partners, and landlords to address operational issues such as leaks, HVAC failures, or building system disruptions.
• Help ensure landlords meet repair and maintenance obligations and support resolution of significant occupancy issues.
• Partner with finance teams on annual review of lease and operating expense adjustments for conformance with lease provisions.

Portfolio Management, Communication & Collaboration

• Track critical lease dates and portfolio data using Gensler’s real estate dashboard.
• Communicate regularly with Regions on progress, risks, and milestones for active transactions.
• Contribute to standardizing real estate processes, templates, and governance.
• Support review of regional real estate business cases and investment summaries.
• Coordinate with Operations, Facilities, Finance, Legal, IT, HR, and Marketing to align transaction timing with operational and business needs.
• Capture best practices from completed office projects to inform future work.
• Build familiarity with new market entry processes and their connection to real estate strategy.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Real Estate, Finance, or Law.
• 8-10 years experience in corporate real estate, leasing transactions, brokerage, or project/construction management.
• Proven experience negotiating leases, managing broker relationships, and executing transactions, preferably for firms with multi‑site or global real estate portfolios.
• Strong understanding of construction processes, tenant improvements, lease structures, real estate law, and market dynamics.
• Experience in roles that require cross‑functional alignment and collaboration.
• Excellent communication, relationship building, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment.
• Familiarity with lease management systems, financial modeling, and real estate dashboards.
• Professional certifications (e.g., MCR, SLCR, CCIM, LEED) a plus.

Life at Gensler

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical and dental insurance, season ticket loans, pension, profit sharing and twice annual bonus opportunities.

As part of the firm’s commitment to professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional qualifications and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programmes or classes. We view our professional development programmes as strategic investments in our future.