JOB DESCRIPTION

 

JOB TITLE:         Vice President, Real Estate                   POSITION NUMBER:

DEPARTMENT:  Administration & Finance                     GRADE:

FLSA STATUS:    Exempt                                                  EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY: Full-Time    

EFFECTIVE/UPDATE DATE: August 2019

 

INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE:

Berklee is the preeminent institute of contemporary music and the performing arts, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs at its campuses in Boston, Massachusetts and Valencia, Spain, and through its award-winning distance learning program, Berklee Online. Dedicated to nurturing the creative and career potential of the world’s most inspired artists, Berklee’s commitment to arts education is reflected in the work of its students, faculty, and alumni—hundreds of whom have been recognized with Grammy, Tony, Oscar, and Emmy awards.

At Berklee, students explore interdisciplinary approaches to music, dance, theater, film, business, healthcare, education, technology, and more. With students and alumni from more than 100 nations and educational partners across the world, we are forging new connections among art forms, musical traditions, and technologies to build a dynamic, diverse, and collaborative global arts community.

Berklee was founded on the revolutionary principle that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through the study and practice of contemporary music. For 70 years, the college has evolved to reflect the current state of the music industry, leading the way with baccalaureate studies in performance, music business/management, songwriting, music therapy, film scoring, and more.

With a focus on global learning, Berklee’s student body represents more than 95 countries. Berklee has campuses in Boston, Massachusetts and in Valencia, Spain and a new facility in New York City, while Berklee Online serves distance learners worldwide with extension classes and degree-granting programs. Berklee Online is the dominant player in online music education and continues to grow at a rapid pace – more than 1.5 million people worldwide have registered for Berklee massive open online courses.,

Berklee’s alumni form an ever-widening network of industry professionals who use their openness, virtuosity, and versatility to take music in surprising new directions. Notable alumni include Quincy Jones, Diana Krall, Juan Luis Guerra, Branford Marsalis, Esperanza Spalding, Aimee Mann, Danilo Pérez, St. Vincent, Gillian Welch, Miguel Zenon, Susan Tedeschi, John Scofield, Imagine Dragons, Arif Mardin, BT, Alan Silvestri, John Mayer, Christian Scott, Howard Shore, and Gary Burton.

In 2016, The Boston Conservatory merged with Berklee to become the most complete and comprehensive performing arts institution in the world. The Conservatory continues to grow as a vibrant community of artists, educators, and industry leaders, and is paving the way for the future of the arts.

The Boston conservatory at Berklee offers fully accredited programs in dance, music, and theater that train exceptional young performing artists for careers that enrich and transform the human experience. Known for its multidisciplinary environment and deep community engagement, the school is internationally recognized as an innovative leader among conservatory programs, focused on elevating and celebrating every aspect of the performing arts. With its groundbreaking programming and its 700-plus annual performances, the institution has established itself as an important voice in the movement to make all forms of performing arts a more visible and valued dimension of communities, both locally and abroad.

Berklee has experienced rapid growth, especially over the past 10 years. More than 6,280 undergraduate students and 480 graduate students are taught by almost 900 faculty members and are supported by a staff of almost 800. Berklee’s endowment is valued at over $360 million.

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration/Chief Financial Officer, the Vice President of Real Estate will have responsibility for oversight of a portfolio of approximately 1.2 million square feet of owned and leased property, including oversight of the prioritization, budgeting and execution of planned maintenance capital projects. The VP of Real Estate leads the Facilitates Division as well as the programming, design, permitting, and construction of selected large capital projects on behalf of Berklee College of Music, and leasing on behalf of the College in its capacity as Lessor and Lessee.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Working with other members of the Facilities Division and in collaborative consultation with various groups within the institution, the VP of Real Estate will evaluate planned maintenance capital improvement projects for recommended inclusion in the annual capital budget, solicit and evaluate proposals for design and engineering services, develop project budgets and timelines, and oversee design, construction and delivery of these projects financed through the college’s annual capital budget appropriation
• In consultation with senior college leadership and the Board’s Campus Planning Committee, this position will oversee the programming, design, construction and delivery of major development projects, including associated project planning, conceptual design, financial analyses to model capital and operating characteristics of proposed projects, establishing project budgets and timetables, assembling and managing the design and other members of the development team, overseeing permitting and managing construction, and delivery of these projects
• Negotiate leases and lease renewals on behalf of the college as Lessee and Lessor
• Manage selected property acquisition and disposition activities
• Oversee internal campus planning, including seeking ways to optimize the utilization of existing academic, student housing, administrative and related facilities in accordance with the changing needs of the institution as well as relevant regulatory requirements, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• Manage the preparation, review and approval process of an updated Institutional Master Plan (IMP), including interaction with the BPDA, the appointed IMP task force, community residents and interest groups, elected and other appointed officials and agencies throughout the IMP review and approval process

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Requires 10 + years of progressively responsible experience in capital project management and facilities administration.
• Bachelor’s degree required; relevant architecture, engineering, construction management or management discipline preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience with experience in providing oversight and development of diverse professional teams.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Demonstrated experience in successfully managing complex real estate development projects from inception to delivery, ideally within the City of Boston. Experience in a higher education institution capital preferred.
• Experience in leading and developing a diverse, seasoned staff
• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with senior college leadership, trustees, faculty, students and other professional staff. Ability to professionally represent the college in interactions with community residents and interest groups, and elected and appointed officials.
• Experience in evaluating, negotiating, selecting and managing appropriate vendor contracts for planning, design, permitting and construction-related activities
• Working knowledge of architectural and engineering principles as they relate to campus planning, design, construction and building operations
• Demonstrated experience and familiarity with budgeting, cost estimating and value engineering as these relate to capital projects. Ability to model and analyze the anticipated effects of design and construction alternatives on meeting program needs, project capital costs, project financial performance and schedule

• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively in verbal and written form, particularly in conveying architectural and construction concepts in written and graphic formats and in oral presentations to senior college leadership, faculty, students and the public. Also, ability to facilitate meetings

 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The VP of Real Estate will directly supervise the Director of Campus Planning and the Assistant Vice President for Facilities and their respective staffs, and will have overall leadership responsibility for the College’s facilities including all development and management activities.

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed indoors and primarily in an office setting, although on-site construction oversight

is also required.

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS, PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, ETC. (Responsible for on-call, 24 HR. coverage, etc.):

Generally a Monday through Friday, 9-5 schedule, however project approved process will require evening meetings and capital project oversight will occasionally require on-call availability.

 

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans With Disabilities Act, must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis.

 

DISCLAIMER: (THIS WILL REMAIN FOR ALL JOB DESCRIPTIONS)

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.  Requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.