Vice President of Real Estate

It’s a big deal.

Equitable science education.

Climate action. Sustainability.

Creativity. Innovation.

Honoring Tribal presence.

Affordable housing.

Inclusive neighborhoods.

The future landscape and culture of livable communities in the Pacific Northwest.

 

Imagine having an impact on all of these things that matter. Every day. That's a big deal.

 

As the Vice President of Real Estate at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), you'll have the unparalleled opportunity to bring the OMSI District to life, enabling OMSI's many important objectives and the vision for Portland’s Eastside waterfront and related communities.  Through your leadership of the District, along with the current OMSI campus and remote facilities, you will impact generations of Oregonians, visitors, educators and learners of all ages, scientists and future scientists, in ways that truly matter.

About OMSI

OMSI is a center of excellence in science teaching and learning and a valued destination for the community. Founded in 1944, OMSI is ranked as one of the nation's top ten science museums and a world-class tourist attraction and educational resource that reaches more than 1 million people each year. 

 

Our Mission: Inspire curiosity through engaging science learning experiences, foster experimentation and the exchange of ideas, and stimulate informed action.

 

The OMSI District

OMSI’s vision for its 11 acres of land for development on the Willamette River is to create an immersive community destination and inclusive neighborhood centered in creativity and innovation, educational opportunities for all ages, and public access to the river. Covering 10 city blocks, the District will include 3M square feet of new transit-oriented development and 1,000 units of new housing, including affordable units. A new Waterfront Education Park will honor and restore Tribal presence on the Willamette in Portland. It will include public green space, plazas, restored wetlands and habitats, hands-on outdoor science programming, and interpretation that affirms, sustains, and shares Indigenous ecological knowledge and cultural connection to the river. The campus will showcase and advance climate and sustainability solutions through transportation, next generation urban systems and technology, and OMSI science learning experiences advocating informed climate action.

Guiding Principles for the property development include a mixed-use district that is:

•              a community destination and inclusive neighborhood creating equitable public benefit

•              a center for climate action and sustainability

•              a pillar of OMSI’s financial sustainability

•              a center for excellence in innovation, science learning and teaching

OMSI is currently working with the City of Portland and numerous partners toward an approved Master Plan that entitles the property for future development.

 

About The Vice President of Real Estate Position

The VP of Real Estate will serve as the primary strategist, leader, and advisor for OMSI across all property development and facilities, representing OMSI across a variety of internal and external stakeholder relationships statewide.

Key Relationships

Reports To	The President and CEO, as part of the senior Leadership Team
Direct Reports	Senior Director of Campus Development (new position) Senior Director of Facilities Operations, with staff of 27
A Variety of Stakeholder Relationships and Partnerships	OMSI Board of Directors OMSI staff A Property Advisory Committee A Facilities Long-Range Plan Committee Consultants Real estate developers Government officials and agencies Community, Tribal, and cultural organizations Public and private funders

 

Primary Responsibilities

Public, Stakeholder, and Partner Relations

• Build relationships between City agencies, neighbors, and community organizations, representing OMSI and coordinating to further the goals of campus development and equity.  
• Resource, lead and manage external teams to achieve key strategies, milestones and contractual commitments in the OMSI District development. 

Strategic and Fiscal Leadership

• Lead an interdisciplinary team of internal stakeholders to coordinate strategies for campus development with related strategies for infrastructure development, partnerships, communications, programming, brand, public relations, government relations, and facilities management.
• In collaboration with OMSI’s fundraising team, seek opportunities and develop strategies to pursue funding to advance OMSI development and facilities objectives.
• Collaborate with CEO and Board on governance matters related to the real estate development enterprise, and on project phasing, timing, financing structures, and contractual obligations to inform strategic decisions.  
• Orchestrate the development of Public Realm strategy and landscape design.

Operational Leadership

• Integrate planning and budgeting across facilities management, property management and capital improvements to support guest experience and place making, in support of OMSI’s goals.
• Negotiate existing and new leases for current campus and remote facilities and manage land lease contracts during District development.
• Develop and implement long-term succession planning for campus development and Facilities Long-Range Plan to support project outcomes over the long-term. 
• Lead and coordinate processes to define long-term space needs for OMSI operations; develop strategies to ensure best operational advantage in the development of the District.

 

Experience and Competencies

The successful candidate will have the following:

• Strategic leadership experience, as well as experience with long-range real estate development and facilities planning.
• Experience managing multi-year, mixed-use development projects including horizontal and vertical development.
• Deep experience in pre-development, including entitlements, preferably having well-established local, county, and state relationships.
• The ability to both synthesize ideas and develop strategy, as well as the flexibility to project manage details, retaining and delegating responsibilities as appropriate.
• Inspiring leadership, with the ability to develop others and create inclusive teams.
• Excellent presentation and verbal/ written communication skills across a variety of audiences, including executives, communities, and cultural and Tribal organizations.
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise implementing diversity, equity & inclusion strategies, as an organizational leader and as a property development industry expert.

 

Working Conditions: 

 

• This position is exempt, paid salaried
• This position is regular full-time, scheduled for 40 hours/week.

 

• Physical Demands: 75% Sitting   20% Standing 5% Lifting/Carrying/Pushing/Pulling up to 20 Pounds
• Vision requirements include close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less).
• Noise level is moderate (examples: business office with computers and printers, light traffic).

 

Secondary Functions:

 

• Assume other work as assigned by the President and CEO.

 

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

 

Requirements:

 

• Proficient knowledge of real estate transactions and development, including ground leases.
• Proficient knowledge of regulatory requirements and processes, negotiation of development agreements, and public engagement, and a track record of effective partnership development. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of vertical development processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, perspectives and abilities.
• Excellent project management skill for complex, multi-year projects involving diverse interests.
• Demonstrated presentation skills for multiple audiences.
• Skilled facilitator with ability to bring together diverse interests and negotiate agreements for mutual benefit.
• Self-motivated with ability to anticipate needs, build coalitions of support, and recommend action.
• Accomplished ability to analyze decisions at a strategic, system-wide scale and at a detailed, transactional scale.
• Excellent attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to effectively manage and track multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize, work well under pressure with a high degree of accuracy, and meet stringent and overlapping deadlines.
• Excellent skills in teamwork and collaboration with colleagues, with varied skills and responsibilities meeting individual, departmental and organizational deadlines.
• Accomplished abilities in strategic planning and forecasting.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Project, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills internally and for public presentations. 
• Maturity of judgement and clear understanding of confidentiality and protocol.

 

Preferences:

 

• Nonprofit experience, working with boards and volunteers.
• Skilled in managing public processes.

 

Education & Work Experience:

 

Requirements:

 

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive real estate or architectural program management with budget responsibility.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive program management, including staff supervision, multiple project management, and budget responsibility.
• Experience managing multi-year, multi-million-dollar development projects.

 

Preferences:

 

• Experience with public-private partnerships.
• Experience with ground leases and tenants.

 

Additional Requirements/Preferences; Including Licenses and Certifications:

 

Requirements:

 

• Valid driver’s license.
• Pre-employment checks, such as criminal background check and reference checks.

 

All are welcome at OMSI.

 

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to recruiting, hiring, developing, and retaining individuals from a diverse candidate pool regardless of race, age, ethnicity, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, citizenship status, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other legally protected status.

 

Equity, diversity, and inclusion guide our process as we build a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills so that we can better reflect and serve our community. We strongly invite applications from candidates who share our commitment to diversity.