Director, Real Estate - Planning & Operations

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

Duties & Responsibilities

Capital Projects Leadership

• Drive the annual capital projects planning process across all regions, ensuring projects stay on schedule and align with our strategic priorities
• Conduct site visits and meetings with school operations leaders to understand facility needs and develop a comprehensive program of capital improvements
• Work with our architecture and facilities experts to prioritize projects, coordinate with Finance to assess available resources, and develop a five-year capital plan that supports long-term decision-making
• Monitor and communicate progress on all capital projects to stakeholders, maintaining clear and actionable tracking systems

Strategic Planning & Initiative Management

• Partner with leadership to manage the yearly planning process and execute Real Estate & Facilities initiatives
• Develop project plans, materials, and deliverables to support initiative rollout, execution, and monitoring
• Lead strategic and innovative initiatives as assigned, creating materials for presentations and reports to gain approval and feedback from senior leadership

Regional Engagement & Operations Support

• Establish and lead consistent communication frameworks with regional offices, including transparent reporting on real estate and facilities challenges
• Manage ad hoc requests from home office and regional teams while staying informed about facility needs across all regions
• Serve as the primary liaison between Real Estate & Facilities and other home office teams

Design Oversight & Financial Management

• Assist with or lead design for capital improvement and new school building projects; establish systems for tracking design reviews and consultant coordination
• Monitor budgets and forecasts with our operations team; standardize reporting practices across regions and identify financial risks for leadership review
• Lead the internal budgeting process, ensuring resource allocation aligns with strategic initiatives and fiscal responsibility

Team Leadership

• Directly manage and mentor team members, providing coaching to ensure consistency in systems, accountability, and professional development
• Define, track, and report on key performance indicators and organizational goals to ensure Real Estate & Facilities priorities remain aligned with broader organizational objectives

Education

• Bachelor's degree required; master's degree in a related field (architecture, real estate, facilities management, construction management, or similar) preferred

Experience

• 7–10 years of work experience in a related field
• Directly relevant experience in roles such as: Project Manager, Construction Project Manager, Facilities Manager, Real Estate Developer, Architect, or Design professional
• Relevant experience in roles such as: Program Coordinator, Operations Leader, Facilities Coordinator, or similar project management roles

Skills & Abilities

• Experience in architecture, construction, construction project management, facility management, or a related field
• Exceptional strategic, analytical, and critical thinking skills—comfortable moving between high-level strategy and detailed execution
• Proven ability to design and build new systems, structures, and processes
• Strong project management skills: ability to drive multiple workstreams, communicate clearly to diverse stakeholders, and see projects through to completion
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to different audiences
• Demonstrated leadership and people management experience
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to work with data and information to monitor progress toward goals

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk up multiple flights of stairs during site visits and facility inspections
• Comfortable sitting at a desk for extended periods

Work Arrangement

• Based in Newark, NJ
• Some travel required—approximately monthly travel outside of your home region. Travel needs vary seasonally, with periods of intensive regional work and periods of more centralized focus

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent.

Compensation for this position

The full compensation range for this role is $111,200-$139,000. Typically, new hires who fully meet all qualifications listed in the job description will start at $118,200. Starting compensation below this reflects candidates with less experience or qualifications. Offers near the top end of the range are reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the qualifications, bringing extensive experience and specialized expertise beyond what is listed.

Compensation determinations consider relevant professional experience and tenure with Uncommon Schools. Additionally, because we value internal growth and tenure, current staff members are not subject to salary caps within this range.

Benefit Highlights: 

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance plans
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits
• Pre-tax flexible spending, dependent care, and health saving accounts

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE.

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].