Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Capital Assets and Real Estate

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA is seeking an entrepreneurial real estate professional with strategic foresight, collaboration, optimism, and intelligence as his/her defining qualities to be its first ever Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Capital Assets and Real Estate. The AVP will provide strategic leadership to VCU and VCU Health vis à vis academic, research, commercial, retail, residential, and mixed-use real estate projects.

The Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Capital Assets and Real Estate is responsible for developing the overall real estate strategy for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), the VCU Health System, and its affiliated Foundations for the acquisition and disposition of buildings and lands for VCU under the guidance of the Vice President for Administration and of the University’s Facilities Executive Sponsors. Teaming with the University Treasurer, University Counsel, and others, the AVP leads the University's team in the negotiation of the terms and conditions of a variety of real estate development projects. The AVP is also responsible for overseeing these projects through completion, performing financial analysis and financial due diligence on prospective projects, assisting with project planning and zoning approvals with local governmental entities, assuring that assigned projects satisfy the University's financial and operational objectives, and coordinating project implementation with various University offices and community stakeholders. This positon reports directly to the Vice President for Administration.

The ideal candidate will have at least ten years of increasingly responsible senior level experience in structuring the development of large, mixed-use real estate developments; negotiating and financing complex real estate transactions, including ground and space leases, public-private partnership transactions, and other complex/creative financing structures; or experience overseeing large commercial real estate operations. He/she must have proven experience in designing and implementing a strategic real estate plan with particular attention paid to financial and legal risks. The successful candidate must possess outstanding leadership skills and demonstrated results in team building, collaboration, communication, customer service, and project management.

A Bachelor’s degree is required, and an advanced degree is strongly preferred. Experience in higher education, foundations, or a similarly complex setting is preferred as is experience in an urban setting. The selected candidate must demonstrate a genuine interest in and appreciation for a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Applications, expressions of interest, and nominations should be sent to Liz Neumann and Tom Phillips of Neumann Executive Search Partners at vcu_realestate@neumannsearch.com.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.