Real Estate Operations Manager

Crystal Clean, Inc.; Hoffman Estates (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental and Vision insurance

Wellness Program

Flexible Spending Accounts

Life Insurance

Long-Term Disability

Employee Assistance Program

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Crystal Clean, Inc. is seeking a Manager, Real Estate Operations to lead real estate portfolio management, lease administration, and strategic planning across multiple sites in the United States.

You will support legal leadership, coordinate with finance, and drive efficiency through standardized processes and strong vendor relationships. The role requires extensive experience in commercial real estate transactions, excellent negotiation skills, and the ability to manage complex timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 8+ years in commercial real estate, or a high school diploma with 10+ years of experience.
• Experience managing real estate transactions, facility projects or capital improvement initiatives.
• Experience establishing KPI reporting processes.
• Experience supporting permitting, occupancy certificates and zoning reviews.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong negotiation and networking abilities.
• Ability to adhere to schedules and maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review real estate documents, including LOIs, leases, amendments, estoppels, and other transactional documents.
• Manage lease expirations and coordinate renewals, relocations, expansions, consolidations, and dispositions.
• Utilize CoStar Real Estate Manager to streamline operations, create reports, track lease data, and maintain legal files.
• Assist in short- and long-term strategic planning for the real estate portfolio.
• Develop SOPs for real estate and facilities projects, including new locations, moves, and transactions.
• Create vendor requests in accounts payable and process special check requests.
• Work with jurisdictions to obtain Certificates of Occupancy for new locations.
• Build relationships with landlords, brokers, permitting consultants, and other vendors.
• Monitor compliance for leases, zoning, occupancy certificates, environmental regulations, and related requirements.
• Collaborate with lease accounting and finance to review budgets and CAM reconciliations; oversee database management and third-party lease administration.
• Coordinate with EHS to address facility hazards and environmental risks.
• Own and manage CARs and MOCs for all real estate projects.
• Travel up to 5%.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Relationship building

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate or related field

10+ years experience with real estate operations

Tools

CoStar Real Estate Manager

Job description

The Manager, Real Estate Operations manages real estate and facility/site improvement projects across departments, including lease administration, transaction support, and strategic portfolio planning. This role reports to and supports Company legal leadership.

Essential Functions

• Prepare and review real estate documents, including LOIs, leases, amendments, estoppels, and other transactional documents.
• Manage and track lease expirations, coordinating with executive leadership to evaluate renewal, relocation, expansion, consolidation, and disposition opportunities.
• Utilize CoStar Real Estate Manager software to streamline operations, create reports, track lease data, manage critical dates and property information, and maintain legal files for all real estate transactions.
• Assist management with the creation of short-term and long-term strategic planning for the entire real estate portfolio.
• Assist in the creation and execution of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for real estate and facilities projects, such as new facility requests, move management, relocations, and overall transactions.
• Create vendor requests in the accounts payable portal for new landlords or real estate vendors and process special check requests.
• Work with local jurisdictions to obtain Certificates of Occupancy for new locations.
• Develop a deep understanding of the Company's business and the needs of its operating locations, including branches, hubs, depots, treatment and recycling facilities, and railroad sites.
• Develop slides and presentations for approval of real estate transactions and assist with crafting negotiation strategies to close transactions with optimal terms for the Company.
• Work with Company departments and managers to develop standards, objectives, and characteristics for each property type to ensure each property meets or exceeds business goals.
• Develop strong relationships with vendors, including landlords, real estate brokerage resources, and permitting consultants, to support real estate goals.
• Monitor and ensure full compliance for property-related activities, including leases, zoning, certificates of occupancy, environmental regulations, and other requirements.
• Partner with the lease accounting and finance teams to review annual budgets and monthly or quarterly reports; approve invoices, CAM reconciliations, and property taxes; and oversee database management and the third-party lease administration vendor.
• Work with the EHS team to address facility hazards and potential environmental risks associated with leased and owned properties.
• Own, track, and manage CARs and MOCs for all real estate projects.
• 5% travel
• Perform additional duties as directed.

Education & Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and at least 8 years of experience in commercial real estate transactions, lease administration, property acquisitions, or corporate real estate operations OR a high school diploma/GED and at least 10 years of the same experience.
• Experience in project management involving real estate transactions, facility projects, or capital improvement and fit-out projects
• Experience establishing and implementing a robust process for KPI reporting
• Experience supporting permitting, certificates of occupancy, and zoning reviews
• Knowledge of real estate
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong negotiation and networking skills
• Ability to adhere to established schedules and deadlines
• Ability to maintain confidential information

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with real estate management platforms
• PMP Certification

Work Environment: Primarily indoor office environment; noise level is generally quiet. May require sitting for long periods. Regularly requires talking, hearing, seeing, and often reaching with hands. Regularly requires standing and walking. Regularly requires use of a computer keyboard, mouse, telephone, and other office equipment.
Crystal Clean LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Crystal Clean expressly values diversity, equity, and inclusion, and encourages the applications of individuals from diverse backgrounds, so that Crystal Clean reflects the communities and customers that we serve.

This Position Includes The Following Benefits

• Health, Dental and Vision insurance
• Wellness Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement