Principal, Real Estate and Projects

theocc; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Theocc is seeking a Principal, Real Estate Strategy and Projects to shape and execute the company’s real estate strategy across offices and data centers, determining space needs, timing, and terms as the business grows.

This role owns portfolio strategy, site selection, lease transactions, and capital project delivery from business case through construction handoff, partnering with Facilities Management, legal counsel, and brokers to optimize occupancy, costs, and workplace experience.

Responsibilities

• Maintain oversight of the real estate portfolio with offices and data centers in major markets.
• Develop and maintain long-range real estate strategy using scenario planning aligned with growth, hybrid work trends, and cost targets.
• Gather headcount projections and business needs to propose space options and occupancy plans.
• Own the portfolio database and reporting on leases, critical dates, square footage, and occupancy costs.
• Develop occupancy analysis reporting to communicate space needs, headcount projections, and workplace trends.
• Present portfolio strategy, recommendations, and business cases to executive leadership.
• Track and forecast real estate costs and support budget planning for the corporate real estate function.
• Lead site selection for new or relocated offices with market research, tours, financial analysis, and negotiation.
• Manage end-to-end lease lifecycle including renewals, renegotiations, terminations, and new leases.
• Coordinate with outside brokers on rent, TI allowances, options, and renewal rights with legal counsel.
• Manage relationships with brokers, landlords, property managers, and internal legal counsel.
• Lead capital projects from business case to design, construction, and handoff (office build-outs, renovations, relocations, and improvements).
• Define project requirements, drive technology and facilities teams, and develop plans to deliver on time and within budget.
• Oversee space planning and project design to reflect company culture and productive workplaces.
• Coordinate vendors from bid to completion and ensure quality and compliance with safety standards.
• Develop communication and change management plans to prepare employees for workplace changes.
• Hand off completed spaces with all documentation and warranties to facilities management.

Job description

*****THIS POSITION IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR VISA SPONSORSHIP*****

What You'll Do:

The Principal, Real Estate Strategy and Projects role is responsible for shaping and executing the company's real estate strategy across business offices and data centers - determining where the company has space, how much, on what terms, and how that footprint evolves as the business grows and changes. This role owns portfolio strategy, site selection, lease transactions, and capital project delivery (renovations, build-outs, office moves), from initial business case through construction handoff. This role is an individual contributor role with no direct reports and partners closely with the Director of Facilities Management, who manages employee experience, office operations and maintenance.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily.

Real Estate Strategy & Portfolio Planning

• Maintain oversight of the company's current office and data center portfolio, with locations in Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, and Washington, D.C.
• Develop and maintain the company's long-range real estate strategy, using scenario planning to align portfolio decisions-renew vs. relocate, expand vs. consolidate-with growth forecasts, hybrid work trends, and cost targets.
• Partner with business unit leaders to gather headcount projections and business needs, then develop and recommend space options and plans that accommodate current and future occupancy requirements.
• Own the real estate portfolio database and reporting - lease expirations, critical dates, square footage, occupancy costs - and use it to drive proactive planning rather than reactive decision-making
• Develop and distribute occupancy analysis reporting to effectively communicate occupancy/vacancy ratios, headcount projections, workplace conditions and future space needs, considering both short- and long-term needs
• Present portfolio strategy, transaction recommendations, and business cases to executive leadership
• Track and forecast real estate costs and partner with the Director of Facilities for budget planning the corporate real estate function

Transactions & Site Selection

• Lead site selection for new or relocated offices - market research, touring, financial analysis, and negotiation. The company's current real estate portfolio includes offices in Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, and Washington, D.C.
• Manage the end-to-end lease lifecycle: renewals, renegotiations, terminations, and new leases
• Partner with an outside real estate broker to lead lease negotiations (rent, TI allowances, options, renewal rights) with landlords, in coordination with legal counsel.
• Manage relationships with brokers, landlords, property managers, and internal legal counsel

Capital Projects & Construction Delivery

• Lead capital projects from business case through design, construction, and handoff - office build-outs, renovations, relocations, and capital improvement projects
• Present project direction and design to executive leadership for approvalDefine project requirements, driving technology teams and Facilities Management to identify and articulate their respective needs
• Develop and execute the overall project plan to deliver projects on time and within budget while maintaining quality and safety standards
• Lead space planning and project design to deliver spaces that reflect company culture and support a positive, productive workplace experience
• Manage architects, general contractors, engineers, furniture dealers, and other project vendors from bid through completion to deliver projects on time and on budget
• Define project scope, budgets, and timelines, and report progress to leadership
• Conduct site visits and inspections to monitor construction progress and quality control
• Coordinate permitting, code compliance, and inspections with local jurisdictions
• Identify and mitigate project risks, resolving issues that arise during construction or fit-out
• Coordinate move logistics and phasing, and technology setup with the Director of Facilities Management and the technology support teams.
• Develop and implement communication and change management plans to prepare employees and leaders for workplace changes
• Manage project close-out, including as-built drawings and obtaining lease-specified incentives (e.g., TI allowances)
• Hand off completed or renovated spaces to the Director of Facilities Management, ensuring operational readiness (systems documentation, maintenance requirements, warranties).

Cross-Functional Partnership

Develop strong work