Real Estate Manager

About Berkeley

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We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

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Departmental Overview

Capital Strategies (CS) is a professional business unit within the office of the Vice Chancellor of Administration (VCA) that delivers planning, project management, and real estate services on the Berkeley campus and in the broader Bay Area of northern California on behalf of the University of California. CS has overall responsibility for managing a program that optimizes the utilization of its off-campus real estate assets to further the facilities goals and financial objectives of the Berkeley Campus. CS also plans and develops capital projects to support the campus' academic mission and auxiliary functions. CS develops plans, policies, procedures, and standards for the delivery of planning, project development, design, and construction, and real estate services within VCA and for the broader campus. The office manages capital planning, physical planning, development, design, construction, and real estate sales, purchases, joint ventures, leases, and development opportunities on behalf of the campus.

The CS Real Estate team purchases and leases real property on behalf of UC Berkeley and manages a property portfolio totaling over 750,000 [SB1.1] square feet. Where appropriate, they oversee the development of UC-owned property via third-party developers, or by donors who wish to complete and gift facility improvements to the campus. Our Real Estate team is also responsible for managing all real property transactions involving the campus and other parties, including leases, licenses, entry permits, facility-use permits, easements, and other agreements, as applicable.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is May 6, 2026

Responsibilities

General:

• Serves as the campus expert in reviewing, evaluating, and implementing campus contract agreements within a highly specialized subject matter area.
• Reviews and approves contracts, ensuring correct and appropriate financial terms, usage restrictions and procedures, service terms, campus liability, and conformance with campus policies and legal guidelines.
• Ensures variations from contract standards are granted on a risk assessment basis.
• Real Estate Services Manager has primary accountability for leasing off-campus properties for campus units on an ongoing basis.
• Lease portfolio includes over 90 Regents as Tenant leases and approximately 20 Regents as Landlord leases totaling over $8.5 million in annual income [SB2.1] support the real estate portfolio and to the campus.
• Current Delegation of Authority allows the Manager to sign leases on behalf of The Regents with a base annual rent that does not exceed $2,000,000 for the initial year and with a term, including options, of not more than ten years.
• Maintains current knowledge of the Berkeley and East Bay real estate market.

New Leases:

• Leasing decisions require significant participation and interaction with Space Management & Capital Programs, Physical & Environmental Planning, Capital Projects, Information Services and Technology, Environment, Health & Safety, Budget Office and Accounting, Office of the President and General Counsel, as required to negotiate leases with landlords after appropriate sites are identified.
• Manager must assure that sites meet department's needs; are in compliance with all applicable policies, procedures and laws; minimize costs; protect the University from unnecessary liability; and take advantage of UC's position in the local market.

Lease Renewals:

• Negotiates lease renewals as required and evaluates whether remaining at the current location is the best alternative for the department and whether any available space under University control could be utilized.
• Assures that leases comply with all applicable policies, even if those policies were not in place when the original lease was negotiated.

Portfolio Management:

• Provides leadership and expertise regarding property management of real estate portfolio, negotiation strategies, industry practices, relevant law, application of campus policies and contract issues.
• Collaborates with applicable parties on competitive bidding and information requests related to asset management of real estate portfolio.
• Develops and promotes policies, standards, practices, procedures, templates, and other essentials of an effective and strategic asset management process.
• Provides leadership and expertise for all property management of buildings purchased by the campus, either directly or through 3rd party property management agreements. Oversees monthly income and expenses, and the preparation of monthly management reports tracking actual vs. budgeted financials.
• Negotiates new leases and lease renewals for non-UC tenants, and works closely with appropriate campus departments for relocation of UC departments to newly acquired buildings.

Other Responsibilities:

• The current portfolio consists of seven properties with an annual income of over $17 million (including campus departments paying internal rent) and annual expenses of over $15 million (including debt service).
• Supervises Real Estate Officer 2/3 who handles leasing, facility use permits, real estate use licenses, including appropriate coordination with Risk Management, Office of Legal Affairs, and Office of the President
• Supervises Financial Services Analyst 4, who handles all finance and budget matters and real estate property tax exemption collections for the real estate portfolio.
• Reviews and approves annual budget, monthly budget reports, and provides appropriate management support.

Surge Space:

• Works closely with Space Management and Physical and Environmental Planning on possible surge requirements resulting from campus construction projects.
• Manager has primary accountability for leasing campus owned space to non-UC entities when requested by campus departments having excess space.
• Works with the requesting department and appropriate campus departments and/or committees to determine the appropriate tenant for the space, hires brokers, evaluates potential tenants, negotiates the terms and conditions of the agreement, obtains required approvals, and ensures a smooth transition and occupancy.

Required Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of and skills in business transactions in a complex legal and policy environment.
• Expert written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including expert ability to deal with broad and diverse constituencies using expert customer service orientation and skills.
• Expert organizational, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Expert listening and political acumen skills, and problem recognition, avoidance, and resolution skills.
• Frequent original thinking, involving innovative application of policy and situational solutions, due to the highly unique nature of each real estate requirement and transaction.
• Expert technical knowledge and expertise in a particular subject matter area, such as real estate.
• Ability to obtain, understand, and utilize to the University's advantage current real estate market conditions in Berkeley and in any other location where the campus wishes to lease space.
• Expert knowledge and experience in negotiating and documenting real estate leases, including drafting language that incorporates recommended language from the Office of the President and proposed language from outside landlords, tenants, their brokers, and/or attorneys, and resolving conflicts between them. No other position on campus has this level of specialized expertise.
• Advanced managerial knowledge and skills to direct activities of 2 FTE with widely varied responsibilities, so that the department runs efficiently and strives for continuous improvement.
• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training

Preferred Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of contracting principles and practices, methods and procedures used in competitive procurement, including value analysis and source selection techniques, applicable rules, regulations, laws, policies, guidelines, and practices.
• Expert knowledge of or ability to quickly learn the campus, including its infrastructure, goals, mission, rules, policies, guidelines, etc.
• Expert knowledge of or ability to quickly learn Regents policies and applicable laws regarding leasing space, including Americans with Disabilities Act, Regents Policy on Seismic Safety, and appropriate signing authorities for campus, Office of the President, and The Regents, and ability to advise campus accordingly.
• Expert knowledge (or comparable knowledge/skill) of the East Bay commercial real estate market in sectors in which UCB is active, including but not limited to office, retail, warehouse, and wet/dry lab spaces.