AMENDED ON 6/6/23: Application Deadline Extended to 6/30/23.

The Port of San Francisco is accepting applications for a permanent  exempt Deputy Director, Real Estate and Development!

Specific information regarding this recruitment process are listed below:

• Application Opening: 5/23/23
• Application Deadline: 6/30/23
• Compensation Range: $175,864 - $224,484 (Range A)
• Recruitment ID: RTF0134185-01090004

Appointment Type: Permanent Exempt (PEX). Pursuant to the City & County of San Francisco Charter, Section 10.104.6. Any person occupying a position under exempt appointment shall not be subject to civil service selection, appointment, and removal procedures. Exempt appointees serve at the Appointing Officer’s discretion.

Who We Are

The Port of San Francisco is an enterprise agency of the City and County of San Francisco and is governed by a Commission of five members appointed by the Mayor. The Port Commission is responsible for overseeing a broad range of waterfront commercial, maritime, and public access facilities that are held in public trust for the people of California. The Port’s jurisdiction covers approximately 7.5 miles of waterfront land from Pier 98, near Hunter’s Point in the southern part of San Francisco, to Fisherman’s Wharf in the northern part of the City.

The Port’s diverse business portfolio includes over 550 ground, commercial, retail, office, industrial and maritime industrial leases including cargo shipping, layberthing, excursion boats, ferry boats, fishing and fish processing/distribution, tourism, filming, harbor services, and cruise operations. With some of the most flexible cargo handling facilities on the West Coast, as well as naturally deep water, the Port can handle various types of cargo such as, dry-bulk, neo-bulk, roll-on/roll-off, and project cargoes.

The Port of San Francisco has many internationally recognized landmarks such as Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, the Exploratorium, the Ferry Building and Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. With its unique and historic properties, the Port is home to a variety of tenants and uses. The Port Commission over the last five decades has led a remarkable transformation of the Port; maintaining its industrial maritime heritage while developing new uses, including commercial and public activities, that have helped San Francisco remain one of the most visited and popular cities on the globe.

For more information about the Port of San Francisco, visit SFPort.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.  

Real Estate and Development Division

The Real Estate and Development Division repositions, markets, leases, and manages properties and leads development projects through public-private partnerships. Today, the Division generates approximately $80.1 million of the Port’s $103 million in annual revenue. The current real estate portfolio (which excludes most maritime) includes over 540 leases representing 413 commercial and industrial tenants who occupy approximately 20 million square feet of prime space including piers, sheds, wharves, seawall lots, and open industrial land.  The Division has a total of 20 staff (3 of whom directly report to the Deputy Director) with an operating budget of $10 million to manage iconic and internationally renowned properties valued in the billions of dollars.

The Deputy Director of Real Estate and Development manages all aspects of this complex, multi-tenanted portfolio of commercial, industrial, and retail properties (excluding maritime assets), and provides high-level guidance and direction on strategic real estate initiatives as well as annual portfolio goals and objectives. This at-will position reports to the Port’s Executive Director, is responsible for all real estate and development activities of the Port of San Francisco and has extensive interaction with the other six divisions in support of the overall Port’s mission.

The Deputy Director of Real Estate & Development provides formal supervision to the Assistant Deputy Director of Real Estate, Assistant Deputy Director of Development, and the Business Generation Manager. The Real Estate section of the Division has nine property managers who oversee the day-to-day needs and activities of the Port’s tenants (including new leases, tenant requests, terminations, and defaults). The Development section of the Division has five development project managers overseeing the neighborhood scale Mission Rock and Pier 70 projects, exclusive negotiations with developers at Piers 30-32 and Piers 38-40, as well as several single parcel projects.  The Deputy Director recruits and motivates staff, executes performance appraisals, and handles matters related to advancement and corrective action. The Deputy Director leads by example, models behaviors consistent with the Port’s values, and mentors and coaches team members to further develop competencies. This position is responsible for the strategic oversight of the Port’s portfolio of real estate assets.

The Deputy Director of Real Estate and Development devises portfolio strategies to recommend to the Executive Director, Port’s senior management team, and where applicable to the Port Commission.

In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the Real Estate and Development Division, the Deputy Director also develops business relationships through memberships in professional, industry/trade and civic organizations on a local and regional level to ensure the Port has a strong presence in the local market.

The Deputy Director of Real Estate & Development has a critical role in executive leadership at the Port and is one of six Port Deputy Directors who comprise the cross-functional team implementing the goals of the Port’s Strategic Plan 2021 - 2025 within the complex environment of the State trust (Burton Act).   

The Strategic Plan focuses on the following areas of responsibility in implementing the Port's operating, capital, and development program: 

• Economic Recovery – to develop and implement strategies to address the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and stabilize the Port’s financial position during an expected five-year recovery period. 
• Economic Growth – to grow business portfolio to create an economically successful and vibrant waterfront. 
• Equity – to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization and waterfront, and empower Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) in Port operations and opportunities through equitable policies and practices. 
• Resilience – to reduce seismic and climate change risks to protect the waterfront, City neighborhoods and infrastructure. 
• Sustainability – to advance environmental stewardship to limit climate change and protect the Bay. 
• Evolution – to evolve the waterfront to respond to changing public and Port needs. 
• Engagement – to engage constituents and the public on Port functions and activities.  

Key responsibilities of the Deputy Director include:

• Directs the Port’s real estate portfolio including considering new leases, lease amendments, lease enforcement, lease workouts and mutual terminations and providing tenant services;
• Provides staff support and strategic guidance on complex negotiations with tenants and developers;
• Assess and seeks opportunities to capitalize on local and regional market conditions;
• Recommends improvements and repositions the mix of uses and/or tenants throughout the portfolio;
• Utilizes best practices in citizen and tenant engagement to identify and address emerging needs;
• Creates opportunities for local and diverse businesses along the waterfront;
• Negotiates and resolves difficult, complex issues with a collaborative approach while representing the best interest of the Port and public funds;
• Monitors portfolio performance, financial indicators, and revenue generation and growth;
• Prepares and presents in a variety of public forums on a full spectrum of real estate and development issues including to Port senior staff, Port Commission, Board of Supervisors, policymaking officials, the media, and State and Federal regulatory agencies.

Education 

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in real estate, finance, business, economics, law, or a related field is required.

Experience

Six (6) years of commercial asset management experience that includes performing economic management of owned or leased assets, facility planning and strategy, asset performance analysis, preparing capital investment plans, participating in and/or leading teams comprised of multiple disciplines, and assessing and processing new space requests.

Please note: at least two years of the experience mentioned above should include reviewing the work of staff who conduct commercial real estate modeling and financial analysis that incorporates flexibility, complex structures, and sensitivity analysis.

License and Certification      

Possession of a valid California driver’s license (to be presented at time of appointment).   Employees must be insurable under the Port’s automobile liability insurance.  Insurability must be maintained throughout employment.

Substitution

Education Substitution: Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis (up to a maximum of two (2) years). One (1) year is equivalent to thirty (30) semester units/forty-five (45) quarter units.

Experience Substitution: Possession of a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or Master's degree may substitute for one (1) year of the required professional experience.

The stated desirable qualifications may be considered at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have a verifiable and highly successful career with a record of demonstrated leadership in real estate and delivering results.

The ideal candidate will have port, marine (or other relative experience such as an airport) at an equivalent level with strong knowledge and familiarity with operating budgets of similar scope and magnitude, market rate leasing and strategic planning/initiatives.

Additionally, the ideal candidate will have a great appreciation of the role of the Port as a vital economic engine for jobs and prosperity in San Francisco and the region, while at the same time, embrace and promote the role of being an outstanding community partner.

Personal characteristics and attributes strongly desired in the ideal candidate includes:

• Creative hands-on leader, troubleshooter, and strategic thinker who can bridge the gap between status quo and a future vision, and who plays an instrumental role in helping the department adopt technologies and practices that advance the department’s goals. This individual works well across disciplines and inspires and mentors team members. 
• Demonstrated leadership complimented by a high level of initiative, interpersonal, and cultural sensitivity, creative and flexible problem-solving skills, and excellent internal and external communication skills.
• Ability to provide leadership to the Real Estate Division to inspire, motivate, and empower staff to achieve established goals.
• Exceptional customer service to Port tenants and an awareness of business needs, especially those impacting small business organizations.
• Effectively work in and with high performance teams that include multiple agencies and financial consultants and manage in an environment where diverse and sometimes conflicting interests must be considered; as well as the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other Port deputy directors, managers, commissions, boards, elected officials, tenants, community, regulatory groups, and Port partners.  
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with an approachable demeanor, consensus building skills and ability to communicate clearly and relate genuinely with people from varied backgrounds in a respectful and courteous manner. 
• High level of emotional intelligence, ethical standards, professional transparency and integrity. 
• Ability to adapt, establish and maintain effective working relationships with city agencies, officials and representatives of local and community-based agencies, organizations and interested groups. 
• Integrity, intellectual honesty, and belief in the value and necessity of equity and diversity.  

Verification

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#verification. Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Compensation: The normal annual salary range (A) is $175,864 - $224,484. Appointment above the maximum of the normal range may be considered based on documented and substantiated recruitment and retention issues or exceptional skills. A special approval process is necessary for appointment above the normal salary range. Further compensation information about this class is available in the compensation manual.

Benefits: The City and County of San Francisco offers a comprehensive benefit program for its Managers. For complete details, please visit:https://sfdhr.org/MEA-Miscellaneous-Benefit-Summary

Selection Procedures

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which may include the following: 

• Supplemental Questionnaire 

Qualified candidates will be sent a Supplemental Questionnaire after the closing of this filing period. Applicants will be given a deadline to return the Supplemental Questionnaire. The Supplemental Questionnaire is designed to measure knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in job-related areas which have been identified as critical for positions in class 0953 Deputy Director, Real Estate and Asset Management.

The information provided should be consistent with the information on your application and is subject to verification.

How to Apply

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.sf.gov/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “Apply Now" button and follow instructions on the screen 

Human Resources Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please send your inquires to Sadia Afandi, at [email protected]. 

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco: 

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.