Manager of Strategic Initiatives

Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Real Estate, the Manager of Strategic Initiatives is a key individual contributor within the Real Estate, Facilities, and Development (REFD) division. This role will be engaged in complex, cross-functional strategic initiatives that advance the University’s real estate and development priorities including the Innovation Neighborhood in Nashville, expansion initiatives in New York City, San Francisco, and West Palm Beach, and significant projects internal to the Real Estate department, including driving organizational change initiatives (adoption of AI-enabled workflows, technology platforms, and process modernization, etc.). 

The Manager conducts financial and operational analysis to support strategic decisions, assists in evaluating real estate transactions, and ensures timely, coordinated execution of initiatives across real estate team members, internal stakeholders, consultants, and external partners. This position serves as a central integrator for Real Estate across Facilities, Finance, Legal, Academic Affairs, and other university units.

About Real Estate:

Vanderbilt University’s Real Estate portfolio includes approximately 41 buildings consisting of ~1 million gross rentable square feet, 760,000 square feet of commercial space, 305 apartment units, miscellaneous University ground leases, 460,000 square feet of leased space, the Vanderbilt Legends Club golf course and facilities, and West Trace, LLC (Holiday Inn Vanderbilt). Additionally, Real Estate is tasked with leading the University’s innovation neighborhood development and managing the University’s strategic real estate initiatives to include all acquisitions, dispositions, conversions, entitlements, and necessary real estate engagements to meet the Chancellor’s goals throughout the United States. 

VURE is part of the Vanderbilt University Real Estate, Facilities, and Development organization which works collaboratively to build, maintain, manage and operate campus infrastructure in a sustainable and cost-efficient manner to support the overarching academic mission and goals of the university.

About the Work Unit:

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

Strategic Project Leadership

• Lead and manage complex, multi stakeholder projects across the real estate portfolio, ensuring projects advance on schedule and within defined scope.

• Coordinate internal and external stakeholders (Facilities, Legal, Finance, Procurement, PDC/VUMO, Academic Affairs, consultants) to ensure alignment with university priorities.

• Develop project plans, timelines, deliverables, and governance structures; manage cadence of meetings, scheduling, documentation, and senior-leadership updates.

• Oversee consultant workstreams, scopes, contract processes, and performance.

• Support real estate team members in advancing major initiatives such as the innovation neighborhood, campus expansions, and interdisciplinary partnerships.

Real Estate Financial & Data Analysis

• Conduct financial modeling, scenario analysis, NPV/IRR analyses, operating pro forma assessments, feasibility studies, and project level financial evaluations.

• Support evaluation of financing alternatives, structures, and implications to Vanderbilt 

• Develop dashboards, KPIs, and data tools to track progress across real estate strategic initiatives.

• Work closely with Business Operations on contract spend, vendor invoices, budget tracking, and financial components of strategic initiatives.

Strategic Coordination Across the Organization

• Work with the Assistant Vice Chancellor to understand all real estate related activities and act as a connector across Real Estate, university departments, and external partners.
• Build project narratives, briefing materials, presentations, and analyses for senior executives, governance bodies, and cross-campus groups.
• Maintain documentation, metrics, and outcomes for the department, developing and overseeing program‑level tracking and reporting.
• Contribute to broader planning efforts, including acquisitions/dispositions, land‑use issues, portfolio strategy, and major development planning as necessary on behalf of Assistant Vice Chancellor and with colleagues. 
• Within real estate, drive organizational change and technology adoption initiatives including implementation of AI-enabled tools, data systems, technology platforms that increase efficiency, planning, workflow automation, and reporting. 

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Director, Real Estate. 

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree is required

Experience and Skills:

• Required experience: 

  • Two years of direct experience; 

  • Experience as a real estate financial analyst, asset manager, development analyst 

  • Project and/or program management and utilization of relevant technology 

• Required Skills: 

  • Excellent organizational and planning skills are necessary. 

  • Superior time management skills with the ability to manage multiple, complex projects efficiently and effectively with quick turn-around is necessary. 

  • Exceptional interpersonal skills with ability to interact and maintain vibrant connections with individuals across the university and externally is necessary. 

  • Demonstrated ability to analyze and understand data, to create a compelling narrative and recommendation, and to develop executive-level presentations is necessary.