Corporate Real Estate Manager

Job description

The Corporate Real Estate Manager leads key real estate initiatives and projects in Zurich while supporting the execution of Avaloq’s global Corporate Real Estate strategy across its international portfolio. The role is responsible for delivering real estate and workplace projects, managing lease and portfolio-related activities, and ensuring effective project governance, reporting, financial controls, and stakeholder engagement, as well as driving local facility management matters. Working closely with internal stakeholders, senior leadership, landlords, consultants, and external partners, the Corporate Real Estate Manager balances multiple priorities, manages complex programmes, and ensures successful delivery through strong project management, commercial acumen, and operational excellence. Your key tasks Lead the planning and delivery of real estate, workplace, and portfolio projects, including office expansions, relocations, refurbishments, consolidations, and workplace transformation initiatives. Support the implementation of Avaloq's Corporate Real Estate strategy across the global property portfolio. Manage projects throughout the full lifecycle, including business case development, planning, procurement, governance, delivery, handover, and post-project review. Lead or support lease negotiations, renewals, rent reviews, and landlord relationships. Develop business cases, investment proposals, portfolio analyses, and recommendations to support strategic decision-making. Establish and maintain effective project governance, reporting frameworks, approvals, risk registers, and control processes. Monitor and report on project performance, budgets, forecasts, milestones, risks, and key deliverables. Ensure robust financial management through budget control, forecasting, cost tracking, purchase order management, and invoice governance. Coordinate internal stakeholders, business leaders, landlords, brokers, consultants, contractors, and service providers to deliver successful project outcomes. Manage project risks, issues, dependencies, and change controls, ensuring appropriate mitigation and escalation where required. Maintain accurate project documentation, reporting packs, governance records, and audit trails. Support procurement activities, supplier selection processes, contract negotiations, and vendor performance management. Drive portfolio optimisation, sustainability, cost efficiency, and continuous improvement initiatives across the real estate portfolio. Provide advisory support on workplace and property matters, working with operational teams and service providers where required. Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment, engagement, and effective communication throughout project delivery. Serve as the on-site Safety Officer ( SIBE ), ensure workplace safety for staff and external contractors. Plan, lead, and log mandatory periodic evacuation drills. Master's degree in Real Estate, Business Administration, Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related discipline. 10+ years of experience in corporate real estate, portfolio management, property transactions, project management, or workplace transformation. Proven experience leading complex real estate projects and programmes within an international environment. Strong knowledge of lease management, landlord negotiations, portfolio planning, property transactions, and project delivery. Demonstrable experience in governance, financial management, reporting, controls, and risk management. Experience preparing business cases, management reports, board papers, and strategic recommendations. Excellent stakeholder management, communication, negotiation, and influencing skills. Experience managing suppliers, consultants, contractors, and external partners. Familiarity with Swiss workplace safety regulations and prior experience acting as a site Safety Officer ( SIBE ) or managing building emergency concepts Project Management qualification (PRINCE2 or equivalent) is highly desirable. Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel and PowerPoint. Fluency in German and English. Additional French or Italian language skills would be beneficial. What You Bring A strategic and commercially minded approach combined with strong execution skills. The ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders within a fast-paced international environment. Strong negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management capabilities. A proactive, structured, analytical, and solution-oriented mindset. A strong focus on continuous improvement, operational excellence, and delivery of measurable business outcomes Confidence working with senior leaders and representing Corporate Real Estate across the organisation. We realize that managing work life balance is a challenge we all face in our daily lives and in order to support with this we are pleased to offer hybrid and flexible working for most of our Avaloqers to maintain work life balance and still continue our fantastic Avaloq culture in our global offices. In Avaloq we are proud to embrace diversity and understand the success of our business is built on the power of different opinions, we are whole heartedly committed to fostering an equal opportunity environment and inclusive culture where you can be your true authentic self. We hire, compensate and promote regardless of origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other fantastic traits that make us all unique, we have done our best to write this advert in an inclusive and neutral way. Please be aware that we will not accept speculative CV submissions for any of our roles from recruitment agencies, and any unsolicited candidate submissions will be exempt from any payment expectations. Founded and headquartered in Switzerland, Avaloq is continuously expanding its global footprint with around 2,500 colleagues in 12 countries, and more than 160 clients in 35 countries. We are an industry-leading provider of wealth management technology and services for financial institutions around the world, including private banks and wealth managers, investment managers, as well as retail and neo banks. Our research led approach and continual innovation is powered by the passion and creativity of our colleagues. We are always looking for talented people to join us on our mission to orchestrate the financial ecosystem and democratize access to wealth management. Avaloq offers the opportunity to work closely with some of the world’s leading financial institutions as we jointly develop and shape careers. Championing a collaborative, supportive and flexible work environment empowers our colleagues to reach their full potential.