Head of US Real Estate

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

What is the role?  

We are seeking the Head of Real Estate – Americas, US based, preferably East Coast with a hybrid work schedule.  

ROLE SUMMARY  

The Head of Real Estate – Americas is responsible for leading and delivering Howden’s Corporate Real Estate strategy across North and South America. 

The role will act as the senior regional representative for Corporate Real Estate, partnering closely with divisional leadership, finance, HR, IT, procurement and external service providers to ensure that the business has the right locations, workplaces and services to support ongoing growth. 

The successful candidate will oversee all aspects of the Americas portfolio, including portfolio strategy, lease transactions, workplace delivery, capital projects, facilities management governance, supplier management and real estate financial performance. 

The role forms part of the Global Corporate Real Estate leadership team and reports directly to the Global Head of Corporate Real Estate. 

The role will be instrumental in helping Howden scale its presence across the Americas whilst implementing consistent governance, data-driven decision making, workplace standards and cost optimisation initiatives across the region. 

What will you be doing?  

Regional Real Estate Leadership 

• Act as the senior Corporate Real Estate lead across the Americas. 

• Develop and execute the regional real estate strategy aligned to global objectives. 

• Establish trusted partnerships with divisional leadership teams. 

• Provide strategic guidance on portfolio decisions, workplace strategy and growth plans. 

• Drive standardisation of processes, governance and reporting across the region.  

Portfolio Strategy & Transactions 

• Manage the Americas real estate portfolio, ensuring alignment with business growth plans. 

• Lead location strategy and portfolio optimisation initiatives. 

• Oversee acquisitions, renewals, renegotiations, disposals and lease exits. 

• Develop market-specific occupancy and workplace strategies. 

• Support business integrations, acquisitions and consolidations. 

• Ensure all real estate decisions align with corporate governance requirements.  

Capital Projects & Workplace Delivery 

• Oversee delivery of all regional capital projects, office openings, relocations and refurbishments. 

• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time and within budget. 

• Manage project pipelines, capital forecasts and business cases. 

• Drive workplace standards and consistency across the region. 

• Partner with project delivery teams to ensure successful project execution and stakeholder satisfaction.  

Facilities Management & Operations 

• Establish and oversee the Americas facilities management operating model. 

• Drive consistency in service delivery across hard and soft FM services. 

• Oversee operational readiness for all new office locations. 

• Ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements. 

• Implement service performance measures and continuous improvement initiatives.  

Financial Management & Governance 

• Own regional real estate operating and capital budgets. 

• Monitor and report portfolio performance, occupancy costs and project expenditure. 

• Deliver forecasting, benchmarking and cost optimisation initiatives. 

• Ensure robust governance and approval processes are followed. 

• Lead regional steering committees and executive reporting.  

Supplier & Partner Management 

• Manage relationships with brokerage, lease administration, project management and facilities management partners. 

• Develop supplier strategies that improve value, quality and consistency. 

• Lead vendor performance reviews and commercial negotiations. 

• Ensure effective contract management and service governance.  

Data, Reporting & Workplace Analytics 

• Drive adoption of data-led decision making across the portfolio. 

• Maintain visibility of portfolio performance, occupancy, utilisation and financial metrics. 

• Develop executive-level reporting and regional dashboards. 

• Ensure portfolio information is complete, accurate and aligned with global standards. 

 What are we looking for?  

Qualifications:  

Experience & Expertise 

• Significant experience leading Corporate Real Estate functions across the Americas. 

• Strong track record managing large and complex property portfolios. 

• Experience in portfolio strategy, transactions, lease negotiations and workplace delivery. 

• Demonstrable success delivering major office projects and workplace transformations. 

• Experience managing outsourced service providers and strategic supplier relationships. 

• Experience operating within fast-paced, high-growth businesses. 

Skills & Competencies 

• Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen. 

• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills. 

• Strong financial and analytical capabilities. 

• Effective negotiator with experience managing complex transactions. 

• Excellent communication and executive presentation skills. 

• Ability to balance strategic priorities with operational delivery. 

Leadership Attributes 

• Collaborative and highly credible leader. 

• Comfortable operating in an entrepreneurial environment. 

• Results-oriented with strong execution focus. 

• Able to build high-performing teams and develop talent. 

• Resilient and adaptable in a continually evolving business environment. 

Key Measures of Success 

• Delivery of the Americas real estate strategy. 

• Portfolio optimisation and cost efficiency improvements. 

• Successful delivery of capital projects and workplace initiatives. 

• Forecast accuracy and budget management. 

• Stakeholder satisfaction across supported divisions. 

• Improved visibility and governance of portfolio performance. 

• Consistent service delivery standards across the Americas. 

• Successful implementation of workplace and facilities management operating models. 

Compensation and Benefits 

The expected base salary range for this role is $165,000 - $185,000; actual base salary will be determined based on factors including candidate experience and work location. This role is classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 

In addition to a competitive base salary, employees are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus. Howden also offers a variety of benefits and programs, subject to eligibility, including: 

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including healthcare savings and reimbursement accounts 

• 401(k) retirement plan 

• Flexible Paid Time Off and paid parental leave 

• Life and Disability insurance 

Our sustainability promise  

We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world. You can read more about our sustainability work here.  

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs.  Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.