Principal, Real Estate and Projects

***** THIS POSITION IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR VISA SPONSORSHIP*****

To be considered for this position, applications and resumes are accepted only through our careers site by directly applying to the posted job. We do not accept unsolicited resumes or sales solicitations from staffing agencies. Any OCC employee wishing to submit a referral must do so through their Workday account. Any resume submitted outside of an active job posting will not be considered for employment.

The Principal, Real Estate Strategy and Projects role is responsible for shaping and executing the company's real estate strategy across business offices and data centers — determining where the company has space, how much, on what terms, and how that footprint evolves as the business grows and changes. This role owns portfolio strategy, site selection, lease transactions, and capital project delivery (renovations, build-outs, office moves), from initial business case through construction handoff.

This role is an individual contributor role with no direct reports and partners closely with the Director of Facilities Management, who manages employee experience, office operations and maintenance.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily.

• Maintain oversight of the company's current office and data center portfolio, with locations in Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, and Washington, D.C.
• Develop and maintain the company's long-range real estate strategy, using scenario planning to align portfolio decisions—renew vs. relocate, expand vs. consolidate—with growth forecasts, hybrid work trends, and cost targets.
• Partner with business unit leaders to gather headcount projections and business needs, then develop and recommend space options and plans that accommodate current and future occupancy requirements.
• Own the real estate portfolio database and reporting — lease expirations, critical dates, square footage, occupancy costs — and use it to drive proactive planning rather than reactive decision-making
• Develop and distribute occupancy analysis reporting to effectively communicate occupancy/vacancy ratios, headcount projections, workplace conditions and future space needs, considering both short- and long-term needs
• Present portfolio strategy, transaction recommendations, and business cases to executive leadership
• Track and forecast real estate costs and partner with the Director of Facilities for budget planning the corporate real estate function

• Lead site selection for new or relocated offices — market research, touring, financial analysis, and negotiation. The company's current real estate portfolio includes offices in Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, and Washington, D.C.
• Manage the end-to-end lease lifecycle: renewals, renegotiations, terminations, and new leases
• Partner with an outside real estate broker to lead lease negotiations (rent, TI allowances, options, renewal rights) with landlords, in coordination with legal counsel.
• Manage relationships with brokers, landlords, property managers, and internal legal counsel

• Lead capital projects from business case through design, construction, and handoff — office build-outs, renovations, relocations, and capital improvement projects
• Present project direction and design to executive leadership for approval
• Define project requirements, driving technology teams and Facilities Management to identify and articulate their respective needs
• Develop and execute the overall project plan to deliver projects on time and within budget while maintaining quality and safety standards
• Lead space planning and…