Vice President, Real Estate and Property Management

We envision a world where safety is a universal human right, and we all share a collective responsibility to protect and uphold it. We strive for a society where people are safe in their communities, homes, bodies, and minds.

Our Approach to Our Work

We know that every client's situation is unique, and that clients are the experts in their own lives. We encourage survivors to tell their story in their own words and provide information and choices rather than directions. We offer support and expertise so that each client can make informed decisions about their own safety and the safety of their families.

Summary:

As part of the organization's operations team, the Vice President for Real Estate and Property Management leads all aspects of facilities, real estate, and capital management in service to the programs and teams across the organization, ensuring that staff, clients, and partners have safe, functional, and efficient spaces to carry out the mission. Reporting to the Deputy CEO, the Vice President is a key member of Safe Horizon's Senior Team, responsible for meeting the organization's facility, procurement, and security needs. This role provides strategic and operational leadership to a 40-member team overseeing the day-to-day maintenance of Safe Horizon's facilities, including a network of residential shelters and their repair and maintenance budgets. The Vice President also directs capital projects and associated budgets, manages a substantial portfolio of real estate agreements, oversees the agency's purchasing function, and ensures compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations.

Responsibilities:

• Provide executive leadership for the organization's real estate, facilities, and emergency management functions.
• Develop and manage the department's operating and capital budgets, ensuring fiscal discipline and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Oversee the day-to-day operation, maintenance, and repair of a diverse portfolio of residential shelters and office facilities.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams responsible for facilities operations, emergency preparedness, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable health, safety, regulatory, and funder requirements, and serve as the senior point of contact for inspections and audits.
• Develop and implement a long-term facilities and space utilization strategy aligned with programmatic and budgetary needs.
• Identify, evaluate, secure, and develop new properties to support organizational growth and program expansion.
• Negotiate, administer, and manage a substantial portfolio of real estate agreements.
• Lead long-term capital planning, construction, renovation, major repairs, and preventive maintenance strategies to ensure the safety, reliability, sustainability of all facilities including major repair projects from concept through completion.
• Oversee emergency management planning and response, including serving as an on-call executive during critical incidents.
• Engage, manage, and evaluate consultants, contractors, landlords, and vendors to ensure quality, cost control, and timely delivery.
• Advance the use of technology and data systems to manage facilities, real estate agreements, service requests, and agency assets.
• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with internal stakeholders, government agencies, landlords, and external partners.
• Maintain regular site presence to assess conditions, understand operational challenges, and build relationships with onsite teams.

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in facilities operations and real estate management.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex operating and capital budgets.
• Proven success negotiating and closing complex real estate transactions and lease agreements.
• Experience working within governmental and/or nonprofit environments.
• In-depth knowledge of New York City fire safety, building codes, security operations, and health and safety regulations affecting construction, maintenance, and repair.
• Strong understanding of construction methods, project delivery, and facilities lifecycle management.
• Experience engaging, directing, and evaluating consultants and vendors, including real estate brokers, appraisers, and facilities service providers.
• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate Management, Public Administration, Business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience; a master's degree desired.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, large workloads, and critical deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to operate effectively and collaboratively within a complex, multi-stakeholder organization.

• Strong verbal, written, and technological skills, including advanced proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
• In-depth knowledge of commercial and residential real estate laws and practices in New York City, with demonstrated experience negotiating complex lease agreements.
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, and lead high-performing teams.
• Experience implementing and leveraging facilities and real estate management systems, including platforms for lease administration, maintenance requests, procurement, and asset tracking.
• Demonstrated success initiating, managing, and delivering capital construction and renovation projects, with the ability to read and interpret architectural and engineering drawings and specifications.
• Extensive experience in contract administration, including vendor oversight, compliance, and risk management.
• Expert knowledge of fire safety, security operations, building department regulations and codes, and safe work practices governing construction, maintenance, and repair activities.

• Non-profit experience