Director, Global Space & Occupancy Planning

cw; United States; Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Cushman & Wakefield is seeking a Director of Global Space & Occupancy Planning to lead strategic workplace initiatives across a large, multi-region client portfolio. You will partner with CRE leadership, facilities, PMO, and HR to translate business needs into data-driven space solutions that optimize portfolio performance and employee experience.

The role requires 10+ years in CRE, strong leadership, and expertise in occupancy analytics, demand forecasting, and portfolio optimization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field.
• “10+ years of progressive experience in Corporate Real Estate, Occupancy Planning, Workplace Strategy, Portfolio Planning, or Space Management.”
• “5+ years of leadership experience managing regional or global teams.”
• “Experience leading occupancy planning programs within large, complex portfolios.”
• “Strong executive presentation and stakeholder management skills.”
• “Experience with hybrid workplace models and transformation initiatives.”
• “Expertise in occupancy analytics, utilization planning, demand forecasting, capacity modeling, and portfolio optimization.”

Responsibilities

• Lead global Space and Occupancy Planning across the client portfolio to align workplace strategy with business growth and real estate investments.
• Develop short- and long-range occupancy strategies for utilization, capacity planning, and space allocation.
• Advise leadership on workplace trends, hybrid strategies, and portfolio efficiencies.
• Translate business objectives into actionable occupancy and workplace solutions for executives.
• Establish governance, standards, and reporting for occupancy, allocation, and utilization across the portfolio.
• Lead a global team of space planners, occupancy planners, and related professionals.

Skills

Executive presence

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Hybrid workplace

Occupancy analytics

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture/Interior Design/CRE or related field

Tools

Serraview

Archibus

TRIRIGA

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Job Title

Director, Global Space & Occupancy Planning

Job Description Summary

The Director, Global Space & Occupancy Planning serves as the strategic leader responsible for the development, governance, and execution of space management, occupancy planning, workplace strategy, and portfolio optimization initiatives for a large, complex global client portfolio. This role partners directly with Corporate Real Estate leadership, business stakeholders, Facilities Management, Project Management, Workplace Experience teams, and regional leadership to translate evolving business requirements into data-driven workplace solutions that support employee experience, operational effectiveness, and long-term portfolio objectives.

The Director, Global Space & occupancy Planning oversees a multidisciplinary team of space planning, occupancy planning, move management, workplace strategy, and portfolio analytics professionals. The position is accountable for creating scalable planning frameworks, utilization strategies, scenario planning models, governance standards, occupancy forecasts, and portfolio recommendations that enable informed decision-making at both regional and executive levels. Success in this role requires a unique combination of strategic vision, executive presence, analytical rigor, operational excellence, and the ability to influence stakeholders across complex global environments while driving measurable business and real estate outcomes.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Portfolio Leadership
• Lead the global Space and Occupancy Planning function across client’s portfolio, driving alignment between workplace strategy, business growth objectives, and real estate investments.
• Develop short- and long-range occupancy strategies that optimize portfolio utilization, capacity planning, and space allocation.
• Advise client leadership on workplace trends, hybrid work strategies, portfolio efficiencies, and future-state workplace planning.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to executive stakeholders by translating business objectives into actionable occupancy and workplace solutions.
• Develop portfolio-level recommendations that improve utilization, reduce costs, mitigate risks, and enhance workforce experience.

Occupancy Planning & Analytics

• Establish and maintain global occupancy planning standards, methodologies, and governance processes.
• Lead demand forecasting, capacity modeling, scenario planning, and workforce growth analyses to support strategic decision-making.
• Direct comprehensive utilization studies and occupancy assessments to identify opportunities for optimization and operational efficiencies.
• Leverage portfolio data and workplace analytics to provide executive-level insights and recommendations.
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of occupancy, allocation, and utilization reporting across the portfolio.

Workplace Strategy & Transformation

• Partner with client leadership to develop workplace strategies that align with evolving workforce expectations and business priorities.
• Support portfolio transformation initiatives including consolidations, expansions, relocations, redesigns, and return-to-office strategies.
• Drive planning approaches that support flexibility, collaboration, employee engagement, and business continuity.
• Evaluate workplace effectiveness through utilization metrics, occupancy insights, and employee experience data.

Client Relationship & Executive Engagement

• Build trusted advisor relationships with senior client stakeholders across Real Estate, Facilities, HR, Technology, and Business Operations.
• Lead executive business reviews and strategic planning discussions with client leadership.
• Present complex occupancy data, portfolio scenarios, and workplace recommendations to executive audiences.
• Influence decision-making through clear storytelling, strategic recommendations, and data-driven insights.

Operational Excellence & Governance

• Establish global best practices, standards, playbooks, procedures, and service delivery frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with account, client, and corporate governance requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, quality, consistency, and scalability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to align planning activities with project delivery, facilities operations, and portfolio strategy.

Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and mentor a global team of space planners, occupancy planners, move managers, and workplace strategy professionals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and customer service excellence.
• Develop workforce planning strategies to ensure appropriate staffing levels and capability development.
• Establish performance objectives, succession plans, and professional development opportunities for team members.

Financial & Business Management

• Support strategic portfolio planning through financial analysis, occupancy cost benchmarking, and scenario modeling.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, forecasts, resource plans, and staffing models.
• Identify opportunities to improve space efficiency and real estate value across the portfolio.
• Partner with Finance and Real Estate leadership on business cases supporting workplace and portfolio investments.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Corporate Real Estate, Facilities Management, Urban Planning, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in Corporate Real Estate, Occupancy Planning, Workplace Strategy, Portfolio Planning, or Space Management.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing regional or global teams.
• Demonstrated experience leading occupancy planning programs within large, complex corporate portfolios.
• Strong executive presentation and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and drive strategic decision-making.
• Advanced analytical skills with experience translating data into business recommendations.
• Experience supporting hybrid workplace models and workplace transformation initiatives.
• Expertise in occupancy analytics, utilization planning, demand forecasting, capacity modeling, and portfolio optimization.

Preferred

• Experience supporting global enterprise clients with multi-region portfolios.
• Experience within professional services, technology, financial services, or knowledge-worker environments.
• CAFM/IWMS expertise including Serraview, Archibus, TRIRIGA, or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with workplace analytics platforms and business intelligence tools including Power BI and Tableau.
• Professional certifications such as MCR, SLCR, PMP, LEED, IFMA, or CoreNet Global credentials.

Compensation

The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email [e-mail]. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.

INCO: “Cushman & Wakefield”