Associate Director, Real Estate Program Management - Global Net Zero Program

Company Description

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries. 

Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives. Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programs as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success. 

Our capabilities include program, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions. 

We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the premier program, project and cost management offering in markets around the world. 

Job Description

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Associate Director of Real Estate Program Management to join our New York Real Estate Program Management team. This leadership role will serve as the Program Lead for a major global banking client's Global Net Zero Real Estate Program, overseeing the delivery, governance, and performance management of a portfolio of real estate initiatives supporting the client's sustainability and Net Zero objectives. 

The Associate Director will be responsible for overseeing a team, collectively managing a portfolio of interconnected projects and programs across NAM, LATAM, EMEA, and APAC, ensuring effective governance, stakeholder alignment, reporting, and successful delivery of client objectives. This role requires extensive experience in program and portfolio management within corporate real estate environments, with the ability to oversee the program management of multiple workstreams across real estate, facilities management, design and construction, sustainability, finance, and other corporate functions. 

The successful candidate will serve as the primary Program Lead, serving as the main point of contact to the client and on behalf of our consulting team, driving accountability across stakeholders, and ensuring program objectives are delivered efficiently and in accordance with established governance frameworks. To be successful in this role, it is highly desired that this candidate understands corporate Net Zero targets, decarbonization strategy, GHG accounting, energy efficiency measures, and sustainability initiatives within the built environment.  

Experience supporting financial services or banking clients, particularly within complex and highly regulated environments, is strongly preferred. 

Key Responsibilities 

Program Leadership & Delivery 

• Serve as Program Lead for the client's Global Net Zero Real Estate Program, providing leadership across a portfolio of interconnected initiatives. 
• Lead a consulting team responsible for program delivery, governance, and performance management, ensuring alignment with client objectives, budgets, schedules, and success criteria. 
• Oversee Program Managers and data management resources to monitor program performance, and drive resolution of delivery challenges. Understanding and previous experience of Data Management and Visualization is preferred.  
• Support portfolio planning, investment prioritization, and capital allocation activities, including incorporation of program-level carbon accounting methodologies where applicable. 

Governance, Controls & Performance Management 

• Maintain program governance frameworks, decision-making structures, stakeholder engagement processes, and performance management practices. 
• Oversee program controls including risk, change, issue, dependency, and action management across multiple workstreams. 
• Deliver executive-level reporting and insights on program performance, key milestones, risks, decisions, and recommended actions. 
• Ensure consistent application of delivery methodologies, tools, reporting standards, and best practices across the program. 
• Facilitate governance meetings, steering committees, and executive reviews to support informed decision-making and accountability. 

Financial Management & Analytics 

• Monitor program budgets, forecasts, and overall financial performance in partnership with client stakeholders. 
• Leverage data, analytics, and reporting tools to support decision-making, performance measurement, and portfolio planning activities. 
• Ensure alignment between approved funding, delivery plans, business objectives, and program performance targets. 

Net Zero Program Implementation 

• Lead the implementation and ongoing management of a portfolio of Net Zero and sustainability-focused real estate initiatives. 
• Coordinate delivery activities across project teams and subject matter experts to achieve established program objectives. 
• Track and communicate progress against key milestones, deliverables, performance indicators, and program benefits. 
• Ensure sustainability initiatives are effectively integrated into broader real estate, capital project, and portfolio management activities. 

Team Leadership & Development 

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of program management professionals. 
• Provide direction, coaching, and support to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across the program. 
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and client-focused team environment. 
• Support workforce planning, capability development, and continuous improvement initiatives within the broader Real Estate Program Management practice. 
• Support business development activities internally, identify opportunities to expand services within existing client relationships. 
• Contribute to the continued growth and development of the Real Estate Program Management practice. 

Qualifications

Education 

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Real Estate, Project Management, Business Administration, Finance, or a related discipline. 
• Professional certifications such as PMP, PgMP, CCM, RICS, LEED, or equivalent are advantageous. 

Experience 

• Minimum 10 years of experience delivering complex real estate programs, capital project portfolios, or enterprise program management initiatives. 
• Strong experience in program governance, portfolio management, program controls, reporting, and stakeholder management. 
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across real estate, construction, facilities management, workplace, finance, and sustainability functions. 
• Proven ability to manage executive stakeholder relationships and facilitate decision-making within complex organizations. 
• Experience supporting financial services or banking sector clients is strongly preferred. 
• Familiarity with sustainability, Net Zero, ESG, decarbonization, energy management, or related real estate initiatives is desirable. 
• Experience managing large-scale programs within highly regulated environments is preferred. 

Core Competencies 

• Real Estate Program Management 
• Portfolio Management 
• Program Governance 
• Program Controls 
• Risk & Change Management 
• Capital Planning & Investment Prioritization 
• Executive Reporting & Communications 
• Stakeholder Management 
• Financial Performance Oversight 
• Delivery Management 
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership 
• Operational Excellence 
• Data Analytics & Performance Reporting 
• Financial Services Real Estate 
• Net Zero & Sustainability Program Delivery 
• Client Relationship Management 

Position Summary 

This role is ideally suited for an experienced real estate program leader with a strong track record of delivering complex portfolios and programs within corporate real estate environments. The successful candidate will lead a high-profile Global Net Zero Real Estate Program for a major banking client, ensuring effective governance, stakeholder alignment, program controls, and successful delivery of business outcomes across a diverse portfolio of initiatives. 

Additional Information

*On site requirements might change based on client needs*

SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change. We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance. 

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community. 

Turner & Townsend does not accept any speculative or unsolicited CV’s that have been sent to our internal recruitment team or hiring managers from agencies outside of our preferred supplier list. Any speculative or unsolicited CV’s will be treated as a direct application. 

It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time. 

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It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time. 

Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.