Director-Real Property
Director-Real Property
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Job Description
Salary range is $154k to $268k with a midpoint of $211k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint however we may go slightly higher based on experience internal equity and market.
Sound Transit also offers a competitivebenefits packagewith a wide range of offerings including:
- Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans a dental plan and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents including a spouse or domestic partner.
- LongTerm Disability and Life Insurance.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Retirement Plans: 401a 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
- Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
- Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
- Pet Insurance.
- ORCA Card: All fulltime employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
- Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
- Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits youll find that we provide worklife balance opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues
GENERAL PURPOSE:
Reporting to the Executive Director of the Center of Excellence the Director of Real Estate provides strategic and operational leadership for all real property functions across Sound Transits multibilliondollar capital portfolio. This position is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive real estate strategies that directly support the agencys program delivery operational needs and longterm land stewardship goals.
The Director oversees all aspects of property acquisition relocation and management across all lines of businessensuring full compliance with federal and state laws and regulations as well as agency policies procedures and guidelines while maximizing federal funding participation. The role also provides expert real estate services and strategic advice to internal agency partners in finance facilities operations and transitoriented development (TOD).
This position is crucial for the successful implementation of the agencys highcapacity transportation system and includes responsibility for: developing and implementing strategies for acquiring large volumes of real property necessary for the highcapacity system; overseeing the planning development and execution of property acquisition plans; and planning oversight and management of the full lifecycle of real estate activity including:
- Acquisition of all property rights for capital expansion efficiently and in compliance with legal standards
- Relocation of displaced persons
- Management of agencyowned property prior to and following construction
- Leasing and disposition of surplus properties
- Real estate support for facilities operations finance and TOD
- Management of inhouse acquisitions and support for the condemnation process coordinating with legal counsel on appraisal support mediations and litigation as needed to assist in resolving acquisition issues.
The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience with all aspects of real property acquisition process as reflected in the Essential Functions Section below as well as the demonstrated ability to:
- Develop and lead Sound Transits annual Real Property Strategy Plan including measurable KPIs and performance goals aligned with agency priorities.
- Explore early acquisition strategies and costsaving measures to accelerate project delivery while maintaining a balanced budget and improving longterm value while ensuring compliance with federal and state laws guidelines and directives and adherence to agency policies and procedures to maximize federal participation in funding projects.
- Design and implement effective community engagement approaches ensuring property owners and impacted communities are treated with fairness transparency and respect.
- Represent the agency at the executive and board level conveying complex property actions and program strategies with accuracy clarity and executive presence.
This is a highly visible leadership role requiring a balance of strategic foresight real estate technical depth collaborative leadership and comfort operating in publicfacing highstakes environments.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional positionspecific duties.
As a key member of Sound Transits leadership team the Director of Real Estate drives results through strategic foresight and planning expert judgment and collaborative executionensuring the agencys real estate assets and acquisition strategies support sustainable equitable and costeffective transit delivery.
This role leads a highimpact division responsible for the full lifecycle of real estate services across the agencys multibilliondollar capital program. The Director brings seasoned leadership to internal teams consultant partners external stakeholders and executive decisionmakers to ensure that Sound Transits projects are delivered with excellence fiscal stewardship and community trust and in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations as well as agency policy procedures and guidelines.
- Unique Scope of Land Acquisition
This role is responsible for overseeing a historic volume of land acquisition across the Puget Sound region encompassing more than 2000 property purchases over a sevenyear period and managing an estimated portfolio valued at approximately $1 billion.
- Executive Leadership & Strategic Direction
Sets the strategic vision for Sound Transits real estate function and leads implementation across all capital programs. Advises senior leadership and regularly presents to the Sound Transit Board on strategy risk compliance and outcomes. Partners crossfunctionally with internal departments city partners legal counsel and stakeholders to align real estate activities with agency objectives and delivery goals.
- Real Estate Strategy Compliance & Innovation
Leads the development and implementation of the annual Real Property Strategy Plan including performance metrics cost targets and measurable KPIs. Ensures that all property transactions comply with applicable federal state and agency laws and policiesmaximizing federal participation. Explore early acquisition strategies innovative delivery models and costsaving solutions consistent with Sound Transits legal requirements to maximize federal participation in funding projects while improving project schedule certainty and community outcomes without compromising the overall budget.
- Community Engagement & Stakeholder Relations
Develops and leads respectful transparent real estate engagement strategies with impacted communities and property owners. Serves as a key liaison to external partners including elected officials cities and public agencies. Represents the division in public meetings hearings and Board briefings. Resolves sensitive and controversial propertyrelated issues through diplomacy and strategic negotiation.
- Team Leadership & Organizational Development
Manages mentors and evaluates the performance of assigned real estate staff. Oversees staff training succession planning workload prioritization and team structure to ensure strong performance and professional growth. Develops and implements developmental work plans and provides coaching discipline or corrective action as needed.
- Service Delivery & Program Management
Coordinates real estate delivery across projects and lines of business collaboratively working with project teams to assess crossproject priorities and provides internal support for finance TOD operations and project controls. Conducts organizational studies monitors service efficiency and assesses the need for and recommends changes to staffing levels functional processes and division policies. Ensures regulatory compliance and continuous improvement in service delivery.
- Contract & Consultant Oversight
Manages consultant contracts and professional service agreements related to property acquisition appraisals title relocation and property management. Ensures contractor performance aligns with scope schedule budget and agency policies including DBE and EEO and environmental stewardship.
- Budget Oversight & Fiscal Accountability
Oversees preparation and management of the real estate divisions annual operating and capital budgets. Ensures accurate forecasting expenditure tracking and documentation in partnership with Project Controls and Finance. Reviews and approves financial transactions related to property acquisition leasing and consulting services.
- Board & ExecutiveLevel Communication
Prepares and delivers clear concise and accurate communications to senior leadership executive staff and the Sound Transit Board. Summarizes complex real estate strategies legal processes and funding considerations to support timely informed decisionmaking and public accountability.
- Agency Representation & Industry Engagement
Serves on internal and external committees task forces and advisory groups. Maintains awareness of emerging trends industry best practices and changes in laws and regulations. Represents Sound Transit at professional meetings public forums and interagency coordination efforts.
- ValuesBased Leadership
Champions Sound Transits core values and equity commitments. Supports economic development programming safety and quality in all work practices and team culture. Promotes ethical conduct continuous improvement and a collaborative highperforming workplace environment.
- Contributes to a culture of diversity equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transits Equity & Inclusion Policy.
- It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules regulations and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities which could include systems operations and/or other employees.
- It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
- Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience: Bachelors degree in Business Administration Insurance Real Estate Finance or closely related field; Eight years in real estate including right of way acquisition relocation property management and relocation assistance for federally funded programs; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Six years of leadership budgetary planning and workforce management experience.
Required Licenses or Certifications:
- Must have actively maintained Senior Right of Way Agent designation awarded through the International Right of Way Association for a minimum of five years prior to hire.
Required Knowledge and Skills:
1. Technical Real Estate Expertise
- Advanced knowledge of real estate principles practices and procedures related to acquisition appraisal relocation property management and surplus disposition.
- Deep understanding of rightofway processes the requirements of the Uniform Relocation Act property valuation lease negotiation and portfolio management.
- Ability to interpret title reports rightofway plans legal descriptions and construction drawings.
- Skilled in reading and understanding architectural engineering and construction plans as they relate to land use and acquisition.
- Familiarity with real estate support functions for transitoriented development operations and facility site selection.
- Knowledge of federal transit project development and property acquisition requirements including FTA coordination and documentation standards.
2. Leadership Strategy & Program Management
- Demonstrated experience with successfully developing and managing the principles and practices required for program development budget administration and project management in a complex multiproject environment.
- Proven ability to lead crossfunctional teams manage consultants and delegate authority effectively.
- Experience overseeing largescale capital delivery and managing competing priorities across multiple business lines.
- Strong supervision skills including planning for expanding and contracting consultant needs training coaching performance evaluation and workforce development.
3. Legal & Regulatory Knowledge
- Indepth knowledge of federal state and local laws codes and regulations governing real estate transactions relocation assistance condemnation and environmental due diligence.
- Experience working within FTA regulations and grant requirements including compliance with the Uniform Relocation Act (URA) The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and property acquisition standards to support federal funding participation.
- Expertise in legal instruments used in public sector real estate such as easements deeds leases and purchase agreements.
- Understanding of the URA as well as principles governing eminent domain litigation and mediation.
- Knowledge of procurement processes public contracting and other agency requirements.
4. Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
- Strategic thinker.
- Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to clearly convey complex real estate matters to executive audiences boards elected officials and the public.
- Demonstrated success in community engagement customer service and conflict resolution with property owners and stakeholders.
- Ability to write business correspondence prepare technical reports and present confidently in public forums.
- Skilled in negotiation mediation and stakeholder alignment on sensitive or highprofile issues.
5. Operational & Administrative Skills
- Proficient in modern office software and systems including Microsoft Office project tracking tools and financial databases.
- Knowledge of effective recordkeeping practices report generation and documentation in support of audits and compliance.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and adapting to changing priorities.
- Familiarity with agency budgeting practices cost forecasting and performance monitoring.
Physical Demands / Work Environment:
- Work is performed in a hybrid office and field environment.
- Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery extreme weather conditions physical harm hazardous chemicals and/or extreme noise.
- Position is responsible for visiting sites or properties for acquisitions.
- The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.
Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race color religion national origin sex (including gender identity sexual orientation and pregnancy) age genetic information disability veteran status or other protected class.
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
