Director of Real Estate & TOD

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department Salary: $145,541.00 - $209,213.74 Commensurate with Experience Thank you for your interest in joining the team that keeps Charlotte moving, at a very exciting time for our organization. At the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), we’re committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative transit services for our growing community, and we value employees who bring professionalism, passion, and a commitment to public service. This position is currently employed by CATS, a department of the City of Charlotte. With the passage of the PAVE Act and last year’s sales tax referendum, CATS is preparing to transition from a City department to the newly created Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA). The MPTA was established to strengthen regional transit governance, improve accountability, and support long‑term investment in mobility. It’s an important and exciting step forward for transit in our region. Employees hired into this role will remain City employees through December 31, 2026, and will transition to MPTA employment on January 1, 2027. Benefits and compensation will follow City provisions through 2026 and shift to MPTA provisions in 2027, with clear information shared in advance. Your core duties, reporting structure, and daily responsibilities will remain consistent, with no break in service. If anything delays the transition, your City employment, including compensation and benefits, will remain in place until the move to the MPTA occurs. The creation of the MPTA positions us for a more modern, sustainable, and efficient transit system, one that can better support the Charlotte region for decades to come. We’re excited about what’s ahead and appreciate your interest in being part of it. SUMMARY The Director of Real Estate and Transit-Oriented Development serves as the executive leader responsible for directing CATS’ real estate, transit-oriented development, acquisition, appraisal, portfolio management, land use coordination, and related property strategy functions. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this position leads a growing multidisciplinary division responsible for advancing capital project delivery, protecting and optimizing agency property interests, supporting transit-oriented development and joint development opportunities, and building the policies, systems, and organizational capabilities needed for long-term real estate stewardship in a regional transit authority environment. This role provides strategic and executive oversight across acquisitions, appraisals, leasing, property and corridor preservation, land surveying, real estate systems, portfolio management, transit-oriented development, and related economic development coordination. The position is responsible for implementing a policy-driven, scalable, and accountable program with clear standards, governance, workflows, and performance expectations. Work includes directing senior managers and functional leaders; aligning real estate decisions with capital program, operational, legal, financial, and community development priorities; and representing CATS in complex negotiations and intergovernmental relationships. The Director ensures real estate and TOD decisions support agency service needs, capital expansion and renewal, long-term public value, equitable community outcomes, and integration of transit investments with land use and development patterns across the region. The role serves as CATS’ senior representative with public agencies, developers, property owners, legal and appraisal professionals, elected leadership, community stakeholders, and federal partners, including the Federal Transit Administration. Major Duties and Responsibilities: The following duties are standard for this position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Strategic Leadership and Program Direction Directs the agency’s overall real estate and TOD strategy, ensuring alignment with capital program priorities, operational needs, long-term property stewardship, and regional development objectives. Establishes long-range goals, priorities, and strategic frameworks for acquisitions, appraisals, portfolio management, leasing, TOD, joint development, and related real estate functions. Guides the continued evolution of the real estate function to a policy-based, scalable and accountable program. Ensures real estate and development strategies support mobility, ridership, corridor protection, land use integration, and public value creation. Policy, Governance, and Systems Stewardship Establishes and governs frameworks, policies, standards, and procedures for real estate transactions, appraisals, leasing, easements, dispositions, corridor preservation, joint development, and related program activities. Leads development of governance structures, business processes, workflows, and performance expectations that strengthen consistency, transparency, accountability, and audit readiness. Oversees real estate systems, records practices, documentation standards, and related administrative infrastructure needed to support a modern real estate program and meets FTA requirements. Ensures decision-making and program administration are supported by reliable data, defensible documentation, and clear organizational controls. Division Oversight and Organizational Development Leads and manages a growing organizational structure that may include the Assistant Director of Real Estate, Senior Manager of Real Estate, Land Survey Manager, acquisition and appraisal leaders, portfolio and leasing staff, TOD staff, systems support roles, and other assigned personnel. Establishes organizational roles, reporting relationships, staffing models, and succession approaches appropriate for a maturing real estate and TOD division. Provides strategic direction, coaching, and accountability to managers and senior staff while fostering a culture of professionalism, responsiveness, collaboration, and public service. Supports workforce development and institutional capability-building so the division can sustain high-quality performance as responsibilities expand. Acquisition, Appraisal, and Transactional Oversight Provides executive oversight of acquisition, appraisal, relocation-related coordination, easement, disposition, and other property transaction activities supporting capital delivery, agency operations, and strategic property needs. Ensures transactional real estate activities are aligned with project priorities, schedule needs, documentation standards, regulatory requirements, and agency governance expectations. Reviews significant or sensitive transactions, policy questions, dispute issues, and major negotiation matters requiring executive attention. Supports effective coordination among real estate staff, project teams, consultants, legal counsel, and agency leadership on complex transaction matters. Portfolio Strategy, Leasing, and Asset Optimization Directs strategy for property use, surplus designation, leasing, tenant agreements, corridor protection, access rights, and other portfolio management decisions affecting agency real property interests. Balances revenue generation, mission support, future transit flexibility, public accountability, and long-term asset value in portfolio strategy decisions. Oversees approaches to real estate portfolio planning that support both current agency needs and future expansion, redevelopment, or preservation opportunities. Helps ensure the agency’s real property assets are managed intentionally and in a manner consistent with strategic, financial, and operational goals. TOD, Joint Development, and Economic Development Coordination Directs agency strategy related to transit-oriented development, joint development, public-private partnerships, value capture opportunities, and other development initiatives on or adjacent to transit property. Oversees negotiation and structuring of development pathways, developer relationships, development agreements, and related land use and implementation issues. Supports integration of affordable housing, equitable development, multimodal access, community benefit, and place-making considerations into TOD strategy where appropriate. Coordinates with planning, housing, economic development, and local jurisdiction partners to align transit property strategy with broader public policy and development objectives. Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management Ensures compliance with applicable regulatory frameworks, including FTA requirements, URA-related requirements, appraisal standards, state real estate rules, permitting requirements, documentation rules, and related oversight expectations. Coordinates with legal counsel and internal partners to interpret and apply statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements affecting agency property interests and transactions. Maintains expectations for complete, traceable, and defensible records and decision processes across the division. Helps identify and manage legal, financial, reputational, operational, and community risks associated with real estate and development activities. Executive Negotiation and External Representation Serves as the agency’s senior representative in complex real estate negotiations, development discussions, intergovernmental coordination, public meetings, policy discussions, and governing body actions. Builds and maintains effective relationships with developers, property owners, city and county leadership, MPOs, housing and planning agencies, legal and appraisal professionals, and other external stakeholders. Represents CATS’ interests in zoning, entitlement, redevelopment, land use, and development-related forums affecting agency property and transit-supportive growth. Provides executive briefings, recommendations, and strategic counsel to the Chief Development Officer, executive leadership, boards, and other governing or oversight bodies. Financial Planning and Capital Coordination Oversees financial and business case considerations related to property transactions, lease structures, TOD opportunities, value capture concepts, and joint development feasibility. Coordinates with finance, capital planning, project delivery, and other internal partners to align real estate actions with budgets, funding requirements, project schedules, and long-term investment strategies. Supports evaluation of financial implications, public return, development risk, and strategic value related to major real estate decisions. Ensures real estate and TOD activities are integrated appropriately into broader capital and organizational planning processes. Other Responsibilities Researches industry trends, legal and policy developments, and leading practices in public-sector real estate, TOD, joint development, leasing, and portfolio management and recommends improvements as appropriate. Performs related duties as assigned. Core Competencies: The position requires demonstrated competency in the following areas: Strategic Real Estate and TOD Leadership – Ability to establish and lead a comprehensive public-sector real estate and TOD function that supports capital delivery, operational needs, land use integration, and long-term value creation. Sets clear strategic direction for a complex and expanding division. Aligns real estate and development work with broader organizational and regional goals. Balances immediate transactional needs with long-term institutional interests. Governance and Program Building – Ability to create structure, policy, systems, and accountability in a function transitioning from practitioner-driven execution to a scalable institutional model. Establishes standards, workflows, and decision frameworks that improve consistency and transparency. Strengthens administrative infrastructure, performance expectations, and organizational discipline. Builds sustainable capability rather than relying solely on individual expertise. Executive Negotiation and External Influence – Ability to represent the agency credibly and effectively in high-stakes negotiations, development discussions, and intergovernmental settings. Navigates sensitive issues involving public interests, private development, legal considerations, and community concerns. Builds confidence with senior external stakeholders and internal leadership. Advances agency objectives through diplomacy, preparation, and sound judgment. Regulatory and Public Accountability – Ability to ensure real estate and TOD activities comply with applicable requirements and reflect strong public-sector stewardship. Maintains disciplined attention to compliance, documentation, and defensibility. Supports readiness for audits, oversight, and public scrutiny. Reinforces accountability in decision-making and program administration. Leadership and Organizational Development – Ability to lead senior staff and managers, develop organizational capability, and create a high-performing division. Provides clear expectations, coaching, and accountability across multiple functional areas. Supports manager development, succession planning, and role clarity. Promotes a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and service. Communication and Policy Translation – Ability to explain complex real estate, financial, legal, and development concepts clearly to varied audiences and translate policy goals into executable strategies. Communicates clearly with executives, elected officials, boards, staff, and community stakeholders. Frames complex issues in ways that support informed decision-making. Bridges technical, legal, and public-facing dimensions of the work effectively. Supervision Given to: Senior Manager Real Estate Manager of Real Estate Portfolio Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in real estate, urban planning, public administration, business administration, finance, law, engineering, transportation, economic development, or a related field and eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience in public-sector real estate, real estate development, property management, acquisitions, appraisals, transit-oriented development, capital project support, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience leading complex real estate, development, portfolio, or property strategy functions in a public, quasi-public, transit, transportation, infrastructure, municipal, or similarly regulated environment. Experience supervising managers, professional staff, or multidisciplinary teams and leading organizational or program development. Experience negotiating or overseeing significant property transactions, development agreements, leases, joint development arrangements, or other complex real estate matters. Experience working with legal, regulatory, financial, planning, and stakeholder issues affecting public real estate and development activities. Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in urban planning, public administration, business administration, real estate, finance, transportation, law, or a related field. Experience in public transit, transportation, local government, redevelopment, housing, or another asset- and land-intensive public-sector environment. Experience with FTA requirements, URA-related processes, public acquisition and appraisal standards, joint development, or public-private real estate partnerships. Experience with affordable housing policy, equitable development strategy, land use entitlement, zoning coordination, or value capture approaches. Professional licensure, certification, or credential relevant to real estate, appraisal, planning, development, or public administration. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of: Advanced real estate portfolio management, public-sector acquisitions, appraisal workflows, leasing structures, and property governance practices. FTA requirements, URA-related requirements, appraisal standards, public documentation expectations, and related compliance frameworks affecting agency property activities. Public-private development structures, TOD and joint development practices, land use regulation, zoning and entitlement processes, and affordable housing or equitable development considerations. Financial analysis, value creation concepts, lease and development economics, and strategic planning as applied to public real estate. Organizational design, governance systems, and performance management approaches needed to build and scale a professional real estate function. Skill in: Executive-level negotiation, stakeholder diplomacy, intergovernmental coordination, and strategic issue management. Designing scalable systems, governance frameworks, and operating structures for complex programs. Leading senior staff, managing cross-functional initiatives, and aligning multiple technical disciplines around shared goals. Interpreting legal, financial, land use, and transactional information and applying it to public decision-making. Preparing and delivering high-level briefings, recommendations, and presentations to executive and governing audiences. Ability to: Transition a maturing program from practitioner-driven execution to sustainable institutional structure. Lead a complex real estate and TOD division in a way that is strategic, compliant, and operationally grounded. Explain complex legal, financial, and real estate concepts clearly to executives, elected officials, boards, and community stakeholders. Balance competing interests involving service needs, capital delivery, development opportunities, public accountability, and community outcomes. Build trust and influence across internal departments and external stakeholder groups. Lead a diverse technical workforce and build a culture of accountability, transparency, and public service. Working Environment and Physical Demands: Works primarily in office, meeting, and public-facing environments with regular interaction with executive leadership, staff, consultants, developers, public agencies, elected officials, and community stakeholders. Requires regular use of computers, spreadsheets, presentation tools, records systems, and other standard office and communication equipment. May attend agency facilities, project sites, public meetings, development meetings, negotiations, board sessions, community events, and other on-site activities as required. Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching, and handling of documents and related materials. May occasionally be required to work outside standard business hours to support negotiations, board meetings, community engagement, public processes, or special project needs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check. Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports. Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments. The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior. Our culture is to serve the community honorably. HOW TO APPLY Apply online. Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job. You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays. For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120. BENEFITS The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits. The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.