Uncommon Schools (Uncommon) Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public schools that are increasing the academic achievement of historically under-resourced communities and preparing students for success in college and beyond. Uncommon currently manages 54 schools serving more than 20,000 students in six cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, Rochester, and Troy. We have achieved outstanding academic results based on internal assessments, statewide exams, and graduation milestones.

We are seeking an experienced Head of Real Estate Development who will assume a significant role leading Uncommon’s real estate strategy and function and serving as the organization’s internal real estate specialist! This person will lead a robust team, including in-house facility project managers, and external real estate consultants and developers to buy, lease, build, and renovate new and existing school facilities in six cities. This role will sit at the center of all things real estate for Uncommon – leading all aspects of multi-year regional real estate portfolio development and management plans, driving and connecting multiple partners and streams of work, and supporting the operating objectives and strategic growth initiatives of Uncommon. The role will report to the CEO and work closely with central and regional Boards of Trustees and organizational senior leadership.

Candidates will ideally have deep end-to-end experience in construction management, project management, facilities management, property acquisition, and/or capital financing.

Core Deliverables

• Timely delivery of fully developed, financially sustainable, operationally efficient and joyful school buildings (including new construction, substantial renovation, and summer projects)
• Successful short- and long-term care of all Uncommon facilities
• Close partnership with Uncommon’s CFO to secure the financing required for facilities needs
• Strategic delivery of information and materials to assist in Board of Trustees engagement and capital fundraising

Responsibilities

• Directs all real estate development operations, including acquisition, pre-development, construction, and permanent financing
• Identifies and analyzes acquisition opportunities, developing, and funding options and evaluating project feasibility
• Partners in acquiring capital from a variety of sources
• Develops and maintains knowledge of markets to find opportunities to meet the development and operations needs of Uncommon
• Maintains a broad range of industry relationships on behalf of Uncommon with property owners, landlords, sellers, developers, brokers, lawyers, and others
• Directs facilities management team to ensure the accurate maintenance and care of the interior and exterior of all facilities
• Works closely with school operations team on all facilities-related issues including, but not limited to, critical systems management, custodial responsibilities, maintenance and repair duties, proactive and predictive maintenance, leading vendors, security services, and/or environment, health, and safety issues
• Ensures the team effectively partners with school and regional leaders to meet the facility needs of students, families, and staff
• Coordinates, in collaboration with the CFO, budgets and cash flows for all phases of development projects
• Serves as an eloquent, visible, and effective spokesperson for Uncommon and its developments

Skills and Characteristics

• Innovative-thinking individual who wants to help close the academic achievement gap by making sure students learn in completely developed, fiscally sustainable, joyful, and efficient school buildings
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in any of the following fields of study: architecture, real estate development, finance, planning, or construction management. Education in other fields of study would be acceptable combined with appropriate work experience
• 15+ years of professional experience, with consistently strong track record of capital project planning, construction management, real estate negotiations, and capital financing
• Experienced and technically proficient with a focus on building financing and development; experience in senior managerial capacity working for an established private, public and/or non-profit organization, real estate enterprise and/or developer, leading all aspects of real estate development
• Experience successfully leading large teams and/or as an excellent people manager
• Ability to manage clear and transparent communications across various partners and teams in order to drive process and achieve results
• Ability to develop sophisticated multi-site, real estate plans and strategy, layered in with political context, timing requirements and financing constraints
• Ability to deliver timely and on-budget capital projects despite any and all obstacles and challenges that arise

Uncommon Schools offers salaries commensurate with experience and a very generous benefits and vacation package. All staff members receive extensive professional development, and are equipped with a laptop computer and all necessary supplies.

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building a talented team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. At the same time, we work to ensure an inclusive community through creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students.  As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.