Director, Real Estate

Director, Real Estate

Salary

$165,339.20 - $330,678.40 Annually

Location

390 Robert St. N St. Paul, MN

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

2026-00212

Division

Regional Administration

Department

Real Estate

Opening Date

05/21/2026

Closing Date

6/6/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

WHO WE ARE

The Metropolitan Councils Regional Administration Division is accepting applications for a Director, Real Estate.

This position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidates permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services.

More information about us is on our website.

Metropolitan Councils Real Estate Office develops and executes real estate management strategies to address the Met Councils current and long-range needs for real estate property including acquisitions, development, leasing, and disposition of assets.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Director, Real Estate provides strategic leadership for the timely and effective provision of the services and transactions necessary to meet Metropolitan Council real estate property needs and requirements, including acquisition, disposition, leases, licenses and relocation in compliance with all federal and state statutes, rules and regulations governing real estate property transactions as well as headquarters facility management. This position coordinates real estate activities across the Council and develops work plans, policies, and procedures that support the Councils real estate business strategy.

What you would do in this job

• Develop and execute real estate management strategies to address the Councils current and long-range needs for real estate property including acquisitions, development, leasing and disposition of assets.
• Provide leadership on real estate strategies to address Council and program needs and align with industry best practices and compliance requirements.
• Direct the provision of real estate management services to acquire, lease, and dispose of real estate property and property rights.
• Proactively manage relationships with business units to understand upcoming projects and challenges and review current and future needs and priorities for real estate management services.
• Effectively negotiate complex real estate agreements with both public and private interests.
• Manage, assign, review and develop staff through servant leadership.
• Develop and communicate goals and benchmarks to evaluate the Real Estate Management teams performance and customer service.
• Oversight of Council headquarter Facilities including space planning and select departments move to neighboring building, field issues in construction, move, and design and provide executive summary and recommendations to leadership.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Education & Experience

Any combination of completed education (in Business Administration, Real Estate, Finance, Law, Engineering or a closely related field) and progressively responsible experience in real estate management, including 5 years of supervisory/management experience.

• Masters degree and eight (8) years of experience including five (5) years in a management role.
• Bachelors degree and ten (10) years of experience including five (5) years in a management role.
• Associates degree and twelve (12) years of experience including five (5) years in a management role.
• High School/GED and fourteen (14) years of experience including five (5) years in a management role.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Knowledge of public sector real estate programs.
• Thorough knowledge of real estate management principles and best practices.
• Knowledge of property value and appraisal methods, property descriptions, records, legal documents and procedures involved in property transactions.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations governing acquisitions.
• Knowledge of land surveying.
• Knowledge of strategic planning and project management principles.
• Skills in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Critical thinking skills are sufficient to understand legal and business risks.
• Skills in collaboration and relationship-building both internally and externally. Negotiation skills sufficient to address and resolve issues with diplomacy and tact.
• Skills in directing real estate programs that require coordination and negotiation with governmental entities, private developers, and individuals.
• Ability to promote an equitable, positive, and respectful work environment that values culture and diversity among all employees.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering plans and drawings.
• Ability to analyze factors which influence the value of property to sufficiently determine property values.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing to clearly convey complex issues to decision makers.
• Ability to negotiate complex real estate and business issues.
• Ability to lead, manage, develop and motivate staff, and effectively plan and distribute workload.
• Ability to think strategically, analyze issues and make sound recommendations and decisions.

What you can expect from us:

1. We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

2. We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.

3. We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Additional information

Union/Salary Grade: Non-Represented Classified/ Grade E-1

FLSA Status: Exempt

Safety Sensitive: No

Full Salary Range: $79.49 - $158.98 hourly / $165,339.20 - $330,678.40 annually

Anticipated Hiring Range: $79.49 - $100.96 hourly / $165,339.20 - $210,000.00 annually

Work Environment: Work is performed in a standard office setting. Some positions may require travel between primary work site to other work sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.

2. We rate your education and experience.

3. We conduct a structured panel interview.

4. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a criminal background check if the job youre applying for is safety-sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.

We believe our employees are a key to our agencys success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

• Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund
• Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan
• Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%
• Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free:

• Well@Work clinic
• bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year
• parking at many job locations
• fitness centers at many job locations
• Employee Assistance Program
• extensive health and wellness programs and resources

01

Applicant Instructions: It is important that your application shows all relevant education and experience you possess. The supplemental questions listed below are to further evaluate your education and experience and to determine your eligibility for this position. Answer each question completely, and please do not type "see resume." Otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete, and you will not receive further consideration for this position. The experience you indicate in your responses should also be consistent with the Work History section of this application. If you attach a resume and/or cover letter to your application, it will be reviewed at the education and experience review step. I have read and understand the above instructions regarding my application and supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

How did you first hear about this job opening?

• CareerForce Center
• Community Event/Organization
• Employee Referral
• Facebook
• Glassdoor
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Metro Transit Bus Advertisement
• Twitter
• Website: governmentjobs.com
• Website: metrocouncil.org
• Website: metrotransit.org
• Website: minnesotajobnetwork.com
• Other

03

If you selected Other, please describe where you first heard about this job. If you selected Employee Referral please enter the employees first and last name, ID number (if known), and job title. Type N/A if not applicable.

04

Please select the option below that reflects your education and experience level.

• A masters degree in business administration, real estate, finance, law, engineering or a closely related field AND eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in real estate management, including five (5) years of supervisory/management experience.
• A bachelors degree in business administration, real estate, finance, law, engineering or a closely related field AND ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in real estate management, including five (5) years of supervisory/management experience.
• An associate degree in business administration, real estate, finance, law, engineering or a closely related field AND twelve (12) years of progressively responsible experience in real estate management, including five (5) years of supervisory/management experience.
• A high school diploma/GED AND at least fourteen (14) years of progressively responsible experience in real estate management, including five (5) years of supervisory/management experience.
• Some education in business administration, real estate, finance, law, engineering or a closely related field AND/OR some experience in real estate management, including supervisory/management experience, but less than the options above.
• None of the above.

05

Please select the areas below with which you have work experience (select all that apply).

• Experience with public sector real estate programs.
• Thorough experience with real estate management principles and best practices.
• Experience with property value and appraisal methods, property descriptions, records, legal documents and procedures involved in property transactions.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations governing acquisitions.
• Experience in land surveying.
• Experience in strategic planning and project management principles.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Critical thinking experience sufficient to understand legal and business risks.
• Experience collaborating and building relationships both internally and externally.
• Negotiation experience is sufficient to address and resolve issues with diplomacy and tact.
• Experience directing real estate programs that require coordination and negotiation with government entities, private developers, and individuals.
• Experience promoting an equitable, positive, and respectful work environment that values culture and diversity among all employees.
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering plans and drawings.
• Experience analyzing factors which influence the value of property to sufficiently determine property values.
• Experience effectively communicating orally and in writing to clearly convey complex issues to decision makers.
• Experience negotiating complex real estate and business issues.
• Experience leading, managing, developing, and motivating staff.
• Experience effectively planning and distributing workloads.
• Experience thinking strategically, analyzing issues and making sound recommendations and decisions.
• None of the above.

06

Describe one specific example of how you integrated racial equity into your work processes. If you do not have this experience, type none or N/A.

07

The Metropolitan Council recognizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and generative tools are increasingly used in application processes. While the Council permits the use of AI to assist in the preparation of application materials, all applicants must certify the following statement:

• I affirm that all information provided in my application including any uploaded documentation is true and accurate. I further affirm that I have personally reviewed, verified, and approved all content, including any content generated with the assistance of AI. I will provide all interview responses directly and in real-time without unauthorized assistance. I will not use AI avatars or external assistance in answering including computer-generated suggestions, or any recording and transcription tools during the interview process unless I have received prior approval from Human Resources for a disability-related reasonable accommodation.

Required Question

Employer Metropolitan Council

Address 390 Robert St. N.

St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101

Website https://metrocouncil.org