Director, Real Estate

WillScot; Scottsdale, Northern (AZ, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Retirement plan with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Bonus opportunities

Job summary

WillScot is seeking a Director of Real Estate to lead strategic and operational oversight of its owned and leased properties across a defined territory. You will develop multi-year real estate strategies, guide site selection, and manage portfolio optimization to meet financial objectives, including lease negotiations and ROI evaluations.

The role requires an analytical, proactive leader capable of balancing long-range planning with cost-effective execution, overseeing the full lifecycle from

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant area of study (business, real estate, finance, economics); MBA preferred
• 10+ years of experience in real estate transactions with corporate real estate exposure
• Strong track record in site selection, lease/purchase negotiations, and property management
• Expertise in negotiations, financial modeling, planning, and reporting
• Proficiency with data management and GIS systems
• Excellent presentation and communication skills for executive audiences
• Experience managing a team and multiple initiatives concurrently
• Strategic thinker with strong business judgment and decision making

Responsibilities

• Partner with cross-functional teams to forecast space needs and market opportunities
• Develop and execute corporate real estate strategies aligned with financial goals
• Source locations, analyze feasibility, model scenarios, and justify options
• Manage lease events and project milestones across the portfolio
• Monitor market conditions and portfolio trends; provide data-driven recommendations
• Oversee lease negotiations, acquisitions, renewals, dispositions, and due diligence
• Provide guidance on deal, landlord, and execution challenges to the team
• Ensure zoning, regulatory, and environmental compliance throughout projects
• Lead end-to-end real estate lifecycle, including entitlements and tenant improvements
• Collaborate with finance on ROI, NPV, and lease vs own analyses
• Integrate strategies with enterprise objectives and field leadership
• Set goals, metrics, and development plans for direct reports and teams

Skills

Real estate negotiations

Financial modeling

P&L analysis

Portfolio management

Data analysis

GIS data handling

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive communication

Project management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/real estate/finance/economics

MBA preferred

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

GIS software

Job description

At WillScot, our team of nearly 5000+ people makes our company a Great Place to Work® and we believe our people are what give us a competitive advantage in the industry. Our differentiation begins with our values, which are lived through our employees and aligned to the needs of our customers and communities. From day one, we invest in your growth and your future, while giving back to the communities we serve. Learn more about WillScot and who we are, here .

As North America’s leading provider of complete temporary space solutions, we have helped customers across 260+ locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, get the innovative flexible workspace and portable storage solutions that are right for their timeline and their project, Right From the Start. Learn More .

ABOUT THE JOB:

Willscot is seeking a Director of Real Estate who will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of the organization’s portfolio of owned and leased properties within the assigned territory. This role is responsible to assist in developing and leading the company’s multi-year real estate strategy and execution across new development, renewals, relocations, and portfolio optimization in alignment with corporate financial and operational objectives including site selection and portfolio management, lease negotiations, renewals, property valuations, P&L optimizations, property assessments, and other real estate related issues. This position requires an analytical, strategic and proactive candidate who can balance long-term real estate planning with practical, cost-effective solutions.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:

Project Support

• Partnering with cross-functional teams to forecast space needs based on business projections and market opportunities.
• Develop and execute comprehensive corporate real estate strategies aligned with operational requirements and financial objectives.
• Source opportunities, analyze existing and potential new locations, determine market requirements, build business models with financial sensitivities, provide feasibility options and business justifications, identify risks, and recommend the best options that align with the overall organizational strategy.
• Proactively manage the real estate portfolio by tracking and reporting on upcoming lease events, critical project milestone dates, and other initiatives that require real estate involvement to deliver.
• Continuously evaluate market conditions, operational performance, and portfolio trends to revise strategy and provide data-driven recommendations to senior leadership.
• Oversee all real estate transactions within assigned territory including lease negotiations, acquisitions, renewals, dispositions and M&A due diligence.
• Serve as a senior escalation point for deal, landlord, operations and execution challenges, providing guidance and decision-making support to the team.
• Negotiate favorable lease agreements, amendments, purchase contracts, and other real estate documentation.
• Ensure compliance with zoning laws, regulatory requirements, and environmental considerations.
• Lead the entire real estate life cycle of the portfolio including site identification, layout design, entitlements, capital expense budgeting, lease execution, landlord delivery, tenant improvements, lease administration and surrendering the premises at end of term.
• Demonstrate strong financial aptitude in evaluating real estate opportunities and portfolio decisions including partnering with finance team to evaluate ROIs, New Facility Justifications, and Lease vs. Own analyses.
• Ensure real estate strategies and projects are fully integrated and compliant with zoning laws, regulatory requirements, environmental considerations and enterprise objectives.
• Support field leadership with market insights, portfolio updates, and strategic recommendations.
• Establish clear goals, performance metrics, and development plans for direct reports and extended team members ensuring a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant area of study (business, real estate, finance, economics); MBA preferred
• 10+ years of experience in real estate transactions (corporate real estate experience preferred) with a solid understanding of design, development and construction processes for tenant build-out.
• Strong track record of successful real estate transactions including site selection, lease and purchase/sale negotiations, property administration, and property management.
• Extensive expertise in negotiations, reviewing legal contracts, financial modeling, project management, lease optimization, issue resolution, planning, and reporting
• Strong computer skills with experience managing large amounts of data, analyzing complex datasets and working with data in GIS systems.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize complex problems and information, then summarize recommendations to senior leaders in a clear and digestible format.
• Strong financial acumen, including budget management, financial analysis, P&L understanding, and ROI evaluation.
• High attention to detail with strong analytical and organizational capabilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to work across departments and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to create presentations and communicate effectively with senior level executives required.
• Prior experience managing a team and empowering associates to achieve goals and objectives.
• Real estate project management experience, including managing multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
• Strategic and critical thinking with strong business judgment and decision-making capabilities.
• Collaborative mindset and team-oriented approach to problem-solving.
• Adaptable and effective in dynamic, fast-paced business environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, specifically Excel, Word and PowerPoint

Ability to travel up to 30% required.

This posting is for a(n) Existing Position.

Disclaimer: This posting describes the general nature and level of work performed and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, skills, or physical abilities required. Team members may be required to perform duties outside normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.

• All regular WillScot positions offer a generous benefits package to help our employees and their families Be Well.
• This includes medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, paid time off (including Company holidays), tuition reimbursement, a retirement savings plan with company match, and more!
• More information about benefits may be found here.
• Many positions also have variable pay opportunities including commission, bonus, performance rewards, or other incentive programs.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.