Real Estate Director - Chicago

SUPERVALU is a premier food and drug retail powerhouse with world-class supply chain and support services. We are the nation’s third largest grocery provider, with a diversified portfolio of regional retail banners, locally managed and branded, spanning the nation, coast-to-coast and border-to-border. As the largest food distributor to retail stores in the United States, we also provide a robust suite of supply chain services to serve both our own retail banners and thousands of independent retailers.

Combined, SUPERVALU’s two lines of business provide a wealth of diverse opportunities to grow and to contribute to a thriving enterprise.

Our Philosophy:

Ongoing pursuit of excellence is a way of life at SUPERVALU and a key to our success. To achieve excellence, we seek associates who will contribute innovative business solutions. We embrace change and welcome others who do.

Our employees are as diverse as our opportunities - representing all ages, backgrounds and parts of the country. What they have in common is: talent, passion, sense of urgency, focus, standards, integrity - and an unsurpassed customer orientation. They form the foundation of our SUPERVALU Advantage - the key to our continuing success.
Purpose
Represents Company in all strategic real estate decisions and transactions within assigned geographic territory.  Primarily responsible for entire new store, fuel center, and remodel program for assigned market areas. Evaluates prospective sites for new store locations, remodel/expansions and fuel centers, and makes recommendations to company management regarding the same.  Acts as key point person for all matters involving real estate in assigned market areas.  Leads Real Estate team within assigned geographic territory.
Job Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Develops a comprehensive strategic real estate plan for assigned market areas incorporating corporate retail banners, Save-A-Lot, and wholesale independents.
Creates the annual capital plan for assigned markets as part of annual planning process including working with RESD team members and various members of senior management to determine amount of capital required and identification and prioritization of the individual projects for each market. 
Acts as key real estate issue liaison with corporate business partners including banner, SAL, corporate merchandising, wholesale management as well as with Licensees..
Leads the projects and works closely with store planning, the team project manager, Licensee’s and other internal and external partners throughout the design and development process in order to timely and effectively complete remodel, fuel center, and new store projects.
In addition to handling Real Estate responsibilities in assigned market areas, also responsible for managing Senior Real Estate Managers and/or Real Estate managers in assigned geographic territory including providing work assignments, overseeing quality and quantity of work, completing annual reviews, creating and implementing individual development plans, coaching, and mentoring.
Leads in establishing, presenting, and implementing an annual strategic plan as well as a 3 Year Plan for assigned market areas; serves as primary real estate contact for various company senior managers (e.g. – banner, SAL, and wholesale region management).
Works closely with the corporate finance team to complete detailed and accurate financial analysis against a number of important real estate business opportunities including but not limited to new store and remodel ROICs, possible store closings, lease extension and landlord contributions, etc... 
Completes real estate transactions of varying types and difficulties including: identifying the sites, negotiating basic business terms and site plan, working and communicating with development partners and customers through the store development process in an appropriate and efficient manner, preparing and submitting the proposal package for Investment Council approval, taking the leadership role in the due diligence, entitlements and legal documentation,  and  coordinating and tracking the project on applicable project management tracking systems.
Coordinates all negotiations with team attorney and handles all document negotiations and understands and stays current on company policies relative to the negotiation of legal documents. Negotiate lease extensions & revisions for existing stores with no term remaining.
Processes and tracks information required for the appropriate capital approval process including market analysis, project scope and budget, and ROIC analysis.
Keeps current on market conditions in assigned territory including:  maintaining knowledge of all competitive changes in market area, knowing the primary differences between the competitors within his/her market, conducting preliminary individual research to project a sales volume for a specific site, maintaining knowledge of changes in demographics for trade and market areas.
Works with the Business Development Team to assist in corporate and Licensee acquisition or sale of pharmacies, individual stores, or groups of stores.
Provides miscellaneous business support in the following areas:  1)  litigation, 2) asset management as a key point of contact relative to asset issues, 3) business development, 4) financial analysis 5) other business units with Capex and asset information 6) accounting relative to fixed assets 7) business with new store and remodel Post Audit feedback and 8) office planning and warehouse real estate expertise 9) Licensee relations.

Scope

May have 4-12 direct reports, may include real estate admin and will vary by Market Area
Assigned primary responsibility for entire new store and remodel function for Market Area.

Job Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with emphasis in General Business or related field,  Master’s degree preferred
12+ years with extensive experience in market/strategic planning and new store development
Must possess expertise on real estate concepts, real estate documentation and strong ability and urgency in completing deals with limited supervision
Must be able to partner with and influence Senior Management
Lead group in defining real estate strategy for Division/Banner
Previous experience as a Real Estate Manager with the company or other similar corporate environment preferred
Detailed understanding of financial and P&L statements. 
Must be able to complete a variety of different financial analysis on various real estate opportunities and use the same to evaluate business opportunities and make recommendations on the same.
Be an aggressive self-starter,  possess an ownership attitude and strong goal orientation
Must possess strong people leadership, coaching, and development skills
Must have strong level of emotional intelligence and be able to accurately identify, attract, and grow talent
Must possess excellent communication, negotiation, influencing and leadership skills
Must have the ability to appropriately represent the Company's interests to outside professionals and vendors.
Some travel may be required, up to 30%- 70%

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work performed by the employees assigned to this job. All employees must comply with Company policy and applicable laws.  The responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified may vary within each department and/or location.
EOE.