Head of Real Estate

CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 300 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ 11,000 people and operate in more than 55 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world’s biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact. 

What does that mean for you? You’ll join an international organization big enough to take you anywhere, and small enough to get you there sooner. You’ll help change how goods get to market and contribute to global sustainability. You’ll be empowered to bring your authentic self to work and be surrounded by diverse and driven professionals. And you can maximize your work-life balance and flexibility through our Hybrid Work Model.

Job Description

Global Procurement is committed to deliver a significant contribution towards Brambles growth goals, enabling the markets to win through Procurement using breakthrough category strategies and sourcing execution to support operating margin improvement and competitive advantage. 
Indirect Procurement categories tend to be complex with varying stakeholder needs, significant external spend and key relationships up to and including executive level. The prime accountability for this role is to drive value through ensuring the commercial elements of spend in the category of Real Estate is executed brilliantly with our vendors. This role will lead multiple sourcing decisions with key stakeholders and will apply category management techniques to deliver maximum value, whilst minimizing risk from all external spend and assuring quality of service and performance.
Brambles has a significant spend related to leases and associated property costs in the US and Canada with LATAM adding additional to this responsibility. Our cost is spread over 139 individual leases. The role will require an individual to reduce & avoid costs by applying significant market expertise and leadership skills to help deliver the strategy. This will be achieved with full collaboration and alignment from stakeholders, up to and including Executive level and ultimately managed through a robust governance process.
 

Major/Key Accountabilities

• Co-create a 3-year strategic plan with NA business leaders and Global procurement, identifying both quick wins and longer-term “game changing” concepts that will drive cost control and network improvements.
• Agree clear deliverables (targets) for the category of Real Estate in NA
• Budget: Provide expert guidance on key market inflation/deflation rates for region.
• Deliver against all KPI’s i.e. savings targets, budgets etc.
• Manage the relationship and performance of the preferred supplier in the region.
• Lead a monthly governance and reporting workshop to further encourage collaboration, track progress against KPI’s and provide visibility of business challenges.
• Establish ways of working as a team, processes, policies and be working on projects at least 24-months in advance following the standard sourcing methodology to engage stakeholders early.
• Manage performance and oversee career development of direct reports.
• Act as a collaborative/strategic partner with the NA & Latam leadership teams – inform, influence and understand before delivering a real estate plan
• Educate leadership teams on market insights, real estate trends, and cost saving opportunities
• Have a strong partnership with our General Counsel to align on changing customer needs which influences our location strategy

Measures

• Cost-saving delivery p.a. in line with agreed targets
• Improvement in overall spend management (leases and all other associated property costs)
• Compliance to processes and governance
• Significant improvement in overall knowledge of Real Estate market in NA to help the business make the right decisions.

Authority / Decision Making

• Strategic planning and delivery of goals
• Supplier negotiation and contracting
• Challenging 3rd party providers

Challenges

• Working alongside 3rd parties and ensuring the culture and ways of working blend well with those of Brambles.
• This role demands continuous interaction with Senior Executives across the Brambles organisation. Relationships with internal & external sponsors / stakeholders will be key to the success.
• Management and measurement of supplier performance of the highest order will be required

Key contacts

• Americas Leadership Team (Exec Level)
• Global Procurement
• Regional Procurement
• Finance
• Supply Chain
• External real estate brokers
• Other external commercial real estate or 3rd parties where required.
• Landlords

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree, MBA / Hons Degree is desirable.
• Industry qualified and certified

Experience

• Proven track record in managing a large commercial Real Estate portfolio in NA, Canada and LATAM
• Minimum 10 years’ experience within a large international business
• Senior stakeholder management
• Cost & financial management
• Supplier management
• People management

Skills and Knowledge

• Ability to articulate the supply market and take that knowledge to develop a strategy/executable plan.
• Executive presence and confidence
• Collaborative approach
• Knowledge within the category across multiple industries and subcategories.
• Leads by example and directs the category team to find additional value add.

Languages Required: English; Desired: Spanish

Preferred Education

Honours - Business Administration/Management

Preferred Level of Work Experience

More than 10 years

Remote Type

Hybrid Remote

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to developing a diverse workforce in which everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has the opportunity to contribute to business success while realizing his or her potential. This means harnessing the unique skills and experience that each individual brings and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Individuals fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as Brambles or CHEP representatives have scheduled interviews and offered fraudulent employment opportunities with the intent to commit identity theft or solicit money. Brambles and CHEP never conduct interviews via online chat or request money as a term of employment. If you have a question as to the legitimacy of an interview or job offer, please contact us at [email protected].