Director, Real Estate & Facilities

Appian; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Appian seeks a visionary facilities leader to transform its real estate strategy and workplace experience as it scales its AI-powered platform globally. You will balance growth, sustainability, and employee experience across a dynamic portfolio while driving capital investments and cost optimization.

You will lead a global Real Estate & Facilities team, partnering with executives to translate strategy into actionable designs and scalable operations across multiple office locations worldwide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Facilities Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in corporate real estate, facilities management, and workplace strategy.
• Expertise in workplace strategy, space planning, and facility operations for tech or high-growth enterprises.
• Capital budget management including forecasting, financial modeling, and multi-million dollar project oversight.
• Advanced proficiency with MS Office, MS Project, Google Suite, facilities management systems, and physical security platforms.
• Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple initiatives.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing multi-office global environments and Workplace or Facilities programs.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred; knowledge of AutoCAD/Revit is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead a global real estate portfolio strategy aligning investments with growth.
• Oversee multi-million dollar capital budget planning, forecasting, and project pipeline management.
• Translate workplace strategy into actionable facility designs with cross-functional partners.
• Negotiate vendor contracts and lease terms to maximize value and minimize risk.
• Oversee facilities operations including security, maintenance, space planning, and services.
• Manage construction, build-outs, and office reconfigurations with on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Drive hybrid-work, sustainability goals and evolving employee needs.
• Establish metrics and dashboards to measure performance and ROI on real estate.
• Lead and develop the Facilities team, fostering service excellence.

Skills

Real estate strategy

Facilities management

Leadership

Budget forecasting

Project management

Vendor management

Security systems

Office technology tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Facilities Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

Here at Appian, our values of Intensity and Excellence define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ensuring that everything we do is done with care and quality. We approach every challenge with ambition and commitment, holding ourselves and each other accountable to achieve the best results. When you join Appian, you’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing hard things, together.

Lead the global strategy and execution of Appian's corporate real estate portfolio, capital projects, and workplace operations—shaping inspiring environments that fuel innovation and support our rapidly scaling AI-Powered Process Automation business.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Real Estate and Facilities team serves as a strategic partner to business units by aligning Appian's corporate physical footprint with enterprise growth goals in AI-Powered Process Automation. This team optimizes capital deployment and drives long-term portfolio value while designing, delivering, and operating inspiring, inclusive, and agile workspaces. You will champion corporate culture, enhance employee well-being, and empower a global workforce to innovate across multiple office locations worldwide.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As Appian scales its AI-Powered Process Automation platform globally, we need a visionary facilities leader to transform our real estate strategy and workplace experience. This role offers the rare opportunity to shape the physical environments where groundbreaking enterprise technology is built—balancing growth, sustainability, and employee experience across a dynamic global footprint. You will drive meaningful impact by ensuring our spaces reflect our innovation-first culture while optimizing millions in capital investment

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Lead a comprehensive global real estate portfolio strategy that aligns facility investments with business growth objectives and optimizes total cost of ownership across multiple geographies

Oversee multi-million dollar capital budget planning, forecasting, and project pipeline management for office expansions, renovations, and new site acquisitions

Partner with executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to translate workplace strategy into actionable facility designs that enhance employee experience and operational efficiency

Negotiate and manage complex vendor contracts, service agreements, and lease terms to maximize value and mitigate risk across the global portfolio

Oversee facilities operations including physical security systems, building maintenance, space planning, and workplace services to ensure safe, compliant, and high-performing environments

Execute project management for construction, build-outs, and office reconfigurations by interpreting blueprints, coordinating contractors, and delivering on-time, on-budget results

Drive workplace innovation initiatives that support hybrid work models, sustainability goals, and evolving employee needs in a fast-paced growth environment

Establish metrics, reporting frameworks, and operational dashboards to measure facility performance, space utilization, and return on real estate investments

Manage and develop a high-performing Facilities team, fostering a culture of service excellence and continuous improvement

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Facilities Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field

10+ years of progressive experience in corporate real estate, facilities management, and workplace strategy

Demonstrated expertise managing workplace strategy, space planning, and facility operations for technology or high-growth enterprises

Capital budget management experience including forecasting, financial modeling, and multi-million dollar project portfolio oversight

Advanced proficiency with MS Office, MS Project, Google Suite, facilities management systems, and physical security platforms

Exceptional project management capabilities with ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives and competing priorities

5+ years of leadership experience managing multi-office global environments and Workplace or Facilities programs and teams

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

MBA or advanced degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business Administration, or related discipline

Experience with AutoCAD, Revit, or other design and space planning software applications

Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills with ability to influence senior executives and cross-functional teams

Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and execute strategic initiatives in fast-paced, high-growth technology environments

The base salary range represents a good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant work experience, qualifications, internal peer equity, and market and business conditions that exist when extending an offer. A discretionary bonus may be awarded in recognition of individual and company performance