Associate Director – Real Estate Strategy & Transactions (India & APAC)
Job Summary
About Cognizant
Key Responsibilities
Real Estate Strategy & Transactions
- Act as the Corporate Real Estate (CRE) Strategy & Transactions focal point for India and APAC.
- Lead and manage all real estate transaction activities including new lease acquisitions, lease renewals, lease expiries, site exits, mid-cycle escalations, and associate lease actions.
- Evaluate market opportunities and develop executable real estate solutions for new space acquisitions.
- Develop short-term and long-term city-level real estate strategies aligned with business and workplace requirements.
- Conduct market intelligence assessments and rental benchmarking studies to support strategic decision-making.
Transaction & Governance Management
- Drive Request for Proposal (RFP) processes in partnership with Procurement teams.
- Update and validate Statements of Requirements based on business demand and market conditions.
- Lead technical, commercial, financial, and legal due diligence activities in collaboration with Legal, IT, Security, HSE/EHS, and Workplace Services teams.
- Organize and manage transaction governance forums and approval processes.
- Prepare strategic recommendations and gain stakeholder alignment on shortlisted real estate solutions.
- Develop business cases and secure approvals through appropriate governance channels.
- Lead lease negotiations and facilitate execution readiness across all stakeholders.
- Execute agreements and obtain required sign-offs from business leadership.
- Ensure seamless transition and handover of completed transactions to Workplace Services and project delivery teams.
Lease & Portfolio Management
- Maintain and govern the India and APAC Real Estate Portfolio Tracker.
- Manage lease execution, registration, documentation, compliance, and archival activities.
- Lead operational lease discussions and negotiations with landlords and service providers.
- Support security deposit recovery, lease closures, and resolution of lease payment-related matters.
- Serve as a key source of lease-related information for FP&A, Lease Accounting, Accounts Payable, and Workplace Services teams.
Financial Planning & Business Support
- Support regional leadership with annual budget planning exercises and portfolio forecasts.
- Drive Operations & Maintenance budgeting and forecasting activities.
- Monitor portfolio performance and occupancy costs to identify opportunities for optimization and efficiency.
- Ensure adherence to internal governance processes, lease obligations, and corporate policies.
Stakeholder Management
- Partner with business leaders and functional teams to align real estate strategies with organizational objectives.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with landlords, developers, consultants, brokers, and service providers.
- Present strategic recommendations and portfolio insights to executive leadership and governance committees.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Engineering, Architecture, Business Administration, Finance, Facility Management, or a related discipline.
- 15+ years of experience in Corporate Real Estate, Real Estate Transactions, Lease Administration, Portfolio Management, Workplace Strategy, or related functions.
- Proven experience leading large-scale lease transactions, site acquisitions, renewals, consolidations, and exits.
- Demonstrated experience managing real estate portfolios across India and APAC.
- Strong understanding of commercial real estate markets, leasing structures, governance processes, and financial analysis.
- Experience working with senior leaders and managing complex stakeholder environments.
Required Skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong negotiation and influencing capabilities.
- Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Advanced analytical and strategic thinking abilities.
- High attention to detail and organizational excellence.
- Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
- Excellent time management and prioritization skills.
- Knowledge of program and project management tools.
- Financial modeling, budgeting, and business case preparation skills.
- Ability to successfully manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
Work Model
- Shift: Day Shift (India GMT +5:30)
- Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Employment Type: Full-Time
- Travel: Willingness to travel across India and APAC based on business requirements.
Why Choose Cognizant
Over Cognizant
Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is een bouwer van AI-oplossingen en een leverancier van technologiediensten. Wij slaan de brug tussen AI-investeringen en ondernemingswaarde door het bouwen van full-stack AI-oplossingen voor onze klanten. Onze diepgaande kennis van sectoren, processen en engineering stelt ons in staat om de unieke context van een organisatie te verankeren in technologische systemen. Deze systemen versterken het menselijk potentieel, realiseren tastbare resultaten en geven wereldwijde ondernemingen een voorsprong in een snel veranderende wereld. Ontdek hoe op cognizant.ai of @cognizant.
Aanvullende arbeidsinformatie
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Cognizant is een werkgever die gelijke kansen biedt. Je sollicitatie en kandidatuur worden niet beoordeeld op basis van ras, huidskleur, geslacht, religie, levensovertuiging, seksuele geaardheid, genderidentiteit, nationale afkomst, handicap, genetische informatie, zwangerschap, veteranenstatus of enige andere eigenschap die wordt beschermd door federale, regionale of lokale wetgeving.
