Director of Real Estate

Working under the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Director of Real Estate serves as the primary resource on all real estate matters at the University of Kansas (University) for all campuses and affiliates. This one-university position provides leadership and oversees the operations related to the university's real property assets, to include asset management, portfolio management, property management, development, disposition, and leasing while ensuring compliance with established university plans, policies, and directives. The ideal candidate will be resourceful and have a customer-service focus. They must thrive in a fast-paced environment and work well with minimum supervision.

• Lead the university's real estate strategy to optimize the use of university-owned and leased properties.
• Provide vision and guidance for long-term real estate planning, identifying opportunities for growth, consolidation, and development of the real estate portfolio.
• Establish and implement policies and procedures for real estate management and leasing across the institution ensuring compliance with existing Federal, State, and Kansas Board of Regents policies and procedures.
• Advise, present and report to university leadership recommendations on strategic real estate opportunities, risks, and market conditions
• Develop negotiation strategies for existing and potential real estate holdings.
• Provide technical and financial expertise to evaluate and negotiate complex transactions on all campuses, including the Lawrence/Edwards campus and Medical Center Campus as well as all affiliated corporations and auxiliaries.

20% - Real Estate Portfolio Management:

• Oversee the full lifecycle of real estate management, from acquisition to disposition, for both owned and leased properties.
• Ensure that properties are efficiently managed, maintained, and utilized to support the university's academic, research, and administrative functions.
• Maintain a comprehensive inventory of all properties, tracking leases, conditions, and performance metrics.
• Administer ground leases and ensuring compliance with lease terms and conditions.
• Provide pre-transaction analysis (e.g., pro-forma modeling, zoning & campus plan analysis, feasibility and sensitivity, etc.) and related research for all university real estate issues.
• Solicit and engage professional contractors, as needed, to assist the University in its efforts to acquire/dispose of real estate (e.g., appraisers, attorneys, title companies, real estate brokers/agendas).
• Oversee third-party property managers, as applicable

15% - New Leased Space Needs & Negotiations:

• Lead the identification and review process for any new leased space requirements across university departments.
• Work closely with university leadership to understand and anticipate space needs and coordinate the strategic placement of new leased properties.
• Manage the negotiation and leasing process, ensuring favorable terms and alignment with the university's budget and strategic priorities.
• Coordinate the evaluation of potential new properties, conducting due diligence, financial assessments, and market analysis.

15% - Real Estate Development & Acquisition:

• Drive the identification, planning, and execution of real estate development projects that align with the university's goals, including new buildings, facilities, and campus expansion.
• Evaluate and recommend real estate acquisitions, sales, or leases to optimize the university's holdings and financial position.
• Ensure that development projects meet university requirements and comply with zoning, environmental, and regulatory standards.

10% - Financial Oversight & Budgeting:

• Maintain asset management of owned assets with overarching goal of improving financial returns, mitigating risk, and ensuring first class operating standards as well as developing and managing short and long-term capital requirements.
• Provide regular financial modeling, budgeting and forecasting on property performance, occupancy, financial outcomes, and cost-saving initiatives to senior leadership.
• Monitor market trends, including rent rates and real estate values, to ensure that the university is leveraging favorable terms in leasing and development.
• Build, maintain, and update asset databases to generate established reports in a timely manner.

10% - Leadership & Collaboration:

• Collaborate and coordinate with multiple university and campus offices such as the Office of General Counsel, Office of Audit, Risk, and Compliance, Facilities, KU Endowment Association, University of Kansas Health System, Athletics, and other stakeholders as needed on University acquisitions, disposals, leases, licenses, gifts, donations and sales of property.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external stakeholders, including property owners, brokers, legal counsel, and government agencies.

10% - Compliance & Risk Management:

• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, including zoning laws, building codes, and real estate contracts.
• Proactively identify and manage risks related to property ownership, leasing, and development activities.
• Implement strategies to protect the university's real estate assets and mitigate potential legal or financial liabilities.
• Research and distribute tax documents, tax maps, and deed information as needed to provide others with accurate and current real estate information.

1. Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Business Administration, Urban Planning, or a related field and a minimum seven (7) years' relevant experience, or, a Master's degree or higher in a relevant area of specialization and minimum five (5) years' relevant experience.
2. Experience in leasing, development, and property acquisition.
3. Experience in real estate portfolio and asset management.
4. Proven experience in negotiating complex leases and development contracts as evidenced by application materials.
5. Demonstrated analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills with an attention to detail as evidenced by application materials.
6. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills as demonstrated in application materials.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations.

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

• Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
• Resume/CV.
• List of three (3) professional references.

Only complete applications will be considered.

Review of applications will begin Tuesday, September 2nd and continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.

Heather Blanck; heather.blanck@ku.edu

$150,000

Tuesday September 2, 2025

Monday October 13, 2025