Director of Real Estate

NEFCO

Director of Real Estate responsible for NEFCO’s national real estate strategy across multiple locations. Leading site selection, negotiation, and portfolio management in a dynamic growth environment.

Posted 6/9/2026full-timeEast Hartford • Connecticut • 🇺🇸 United StatesLeadWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead site selection, market analysis, and due diligence for all new NEFCO locations nationally.
Build and manage broker relationships in target markets; issue and evaluate RFPs for new facilities.
Negotiate letters of intent (LOI), lease terms, tenant improvement allowances, and landlord concessions.
Partner with Sales, Operations, Finance, and Legal to align site selection with go-live timelines and build-out requirements.
Own deal execution from initial tour through lease execution and handoff to Facilities and Orangefield Project Management team.
Manage a national lease renewal calendar, initiating engagement with landlords well in advance of expiration.
Evaluate each renewal against market comps, operational performance, and strategic footprint priorities.
Negotiate favorable renewal terms including rent adjustments, extension options, and capital contributions.
Identify underperforming or misaligned locations for consolidation, relocation, or exit.
Maintain and update a real-time portfolio tracker with status, key dates, and decision owners.
Partner with executive leadership to develop a multi-year real estate roadmap aligned with NEFCO’s growth strategy.
Analyze geographic coverage gaps, customer density data, and competitor positioning to prioritize new markets.
Model financial scenarios for new locations, including rent, capex, and payback analysis.
Present strategic recommendations and deal summaries to the Executive Team.
Coordinate with Legal on lease review, abstract management, and landlord dispute resolution.
Collaborate with Finance on budgeting, lease accounting (ASC 842), and capital planning.
Manage external brokers, attorneys, architects, and project managers engaged in real estate transactions; NEFCO has a national MSA with a 3rd party real estate team.
Ensure compliance with lease obligations including notice requirements, audit rights, and co-tenancy provisions.
Build scalable processes and tools to support portfolio growth across a distributed national footprint.

Requirements

What you’ll need

8+ years of commercial real estate experience, with a focus on industrial, warehouse, or distribution/logistics properties.
Demonstrated track record of negotiating and closing complex lease transactions in multiple markets.
Deep understanding of lease structures, landlord economics, and real estate market dynamics.
Experience managing a multi-site portfolio of 20+ locations across diverse geographies.
Strong financial acumen; proficiency in lease modeling, NPV analysis, and occupancy cost benchmarking.
Excellent negotiation, communication, and executive presentation skills.
Bachelor’s degree in real estate, business, finance, or a related field.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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Hard Skills & Tools

lease negotiationmarket analysisfinancial modelinglease accountingNPV analysisoccupancy cost benchmarkingportfolio managementdue diligenceRFP evaluationtenant improvement allowances

Soft Skills

negotiationcommunicationexecutive presentationcollaborationrelationship managementstrategic thinkingorganizational skillsanalytical skillsleadershipproblem-solving

Certifications

Bachelor’s degree in real estateBachelor’s degree in businessBachelor’s degree in finance