Director of Real Estate and Facilities

We are seeking a Director, Real Estate & Facilities to build and lead a comprehensive facilities and real estate management function across our 230+ location portfolio. This is a hands-on, builder role accountable for facilities program operations, lease portfolio management, and capital expenditure strategy. You will establish systems, standards, and vendor partnerships from the ground up, drive operational efficiency, control costs, and ensure compliance across all owned and leased properties. This role will report to the SVP, Field Operations and partner closely with Finance and Operations leadership.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Capital Expenditure & Budget Ownership
Own the annual and multi-year CapEx budget for facilities and real estate; establish intake, prioritization, and approval frameworks
Manage capital project pipeline: intake from field, prioritization against strategic and operational criteria, spend authorization, and closeout
Provide monthly CapEx reporting to SVP, Field Operations and Finance; track committed, accrued, and actual spend against forecast
Balance strategic capital investments (facility upgrades, relocations) with operational efficiency and ROI
Establish capital request templates, business case requirements, and approval authorities across regions
Facilities Program Management
Build and scale the facilities management program across the portfolio; establish vendor performance standards, work order management protocols, and preventive maintenance frameworks
Evaluate, select, and manage outsourced facilities vendors (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, grounds, general maintenance) to optimize cost, quality, and responsiveness
Own administration of the work order platform (intake, assignment, completion tracking, documentation); establish SLAs and KPIs for vendor response and resolution
Develop and enforce preventive maintenance standards across all locations to minimize emergency repairs, extend asset life, and ensure safety and code compliance
Conduct portfolio-wide facility assessments to identify efficiency opportunities, deferred maintenance, and capital priorities
Drive continuous improvement in facilities operations through data analytics, vendor performance reviews, and cost benchmarking
Lease Administration & Leasing Strategy
Manage the lease portfolio across all locations; oversee renewals, expirations, and lease renegotiations to achieve favorable terms
Identify and evaluate sale-leaseback opportunities to optimize cash flow and balance sheet positioning
Identify surplus, underutilized, or non-strategic space; develop plans for remediation (consolidation, relocation, divestment)
Partner with legal and finance on lease abstracts, compliance tracking, and renewal calendars
Lead market analysis and site selection recommendations for new locations or location optimization
Strategic Partnerships
Work cross-functionally with Operations on facility standards and performance; with Finance on budgeting and reporting; with HR on compliance and safety
Represent FPG professionally with landlords, vendors, and third-party service providers
Stay current on industry trends, compliance requirements (ADA, OSHA, local codes), and cost-management practices specific to multi-site funeral services operations
Education, Work Experience Requirements and/or Competencies:
Minimum 5+ years of hands-on facilities management or real estate portfolio management for a multi-site operator (healthcare, retail, restaurant, quick service, or similar distributed model)
Real CapEx budget accountability. Demonstrated experience owning capital budgets of $1M+; experience with spend control, project prioritization, and monthly reconciliation
Function builder mentality. Comfort establishing facilities programs, systems, and vendor relationships from scratch
Vendor management experience. Track record selecting, negotiating with, and holding accountable outsourced service providers
Lease portfolio management. Experience with lease abstracts, renewal negotiations, sale-leaseback structures, and surplus space management
Multi-site operational familiarity. Understanding of how facility decisions impact location-level operations, staffing, and customer experience
Analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to assess facility conditions, model capital trade-offs, and prioritize competing needs
Project management discipline. Capacity to manage capital project pipelines, track timelines and budgets, and oversee vendor deliverables
Communication and influence. Ability to build consensus across operational, finance, and field leadership; translate facility strategy into actionable plans
Travel as needed
Bachelor's degree preferred; facilities management certification (CFM, IFMA) or real estate background a plus

Work arrangement
Yes