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Chicago, Illinois, United States
Remote only
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Manager, Lease Administration based in the United States.
Take a leadership role in managing complex lease administration transitions and ensuring seamless integration of commercial real estate portfolios. You will oversee the full transition lifecycle, from client onboarding and offboarding to acquisitions, dispositions, and the migration of lease data across platforms. Working closely with clients, brokers, technology teams, and internal stakeholders, you will safeguard data integrity, financial accuracy, regulatory compliance, and service continuity. This role combines strategic project management with deep expertise in lease administration, accounting, and process optimization. You will also help advance AI-driven automation and technology initiatives to improve operational efficiency and scalability. This is an opportunity to mentor team members, strengthen governance practices, and deliver high-quality outcomes in a collaborative, client-focused environment.
Lead lease administration transitions: Manage end-to-end transition projects, including client onboarding and offboarding, acquisitions, and dispositions, ensuring smooth handovers and minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
Develop transition strategies and project plans: Establish project scope, timelines, milestones, responsibilities, and governance frameworks from initiation through implementation and steady-state operations. Monitor progress, address challenges, and ensure deliverables meet agreed objectives.
Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders: Partner with clients, brokers, internal teams, technology specialists, and external vendors to align expectations, resolve issues, and ensure successful project execution and service delivery.
Oversee lease data management and migration: Direct the collection, abstraction, validation, migration, and integration of lease data across lease administration and accounting systems, maintaining accuracy, completeness, consistency, and traceability.
Ensure financial and reporting accuracy: Review lease abstractions, financial reconciliations, and reporting outputs to verify compliance with client requirements and applicable accounting standards.
Support lease accounting compliance: Contribute to initiatives involving ASC 842 and IFRS 16, including lease accounting processes, reporting requirements, and journal entry procedures.
Drive automation and process improvement: Support the implementation of AI-assisted lease abstraction, data validation, workflow automation, and other technology-enabled initiatives designed to reduce manual effort and improve accuracy and efficiency.
Establish operational standards: Develop and refine transition procedures, workflows, governance models, documentation, and best practices to improve consistency, scalability, and overall service quality.
Manage risk and organizational change: Identify potential transition risks, develop mitigation strategies, support change management activities, and maintain effective communication throughout the transition lifecycle.
Support systems implementation and optimization: Participate in platform implementations, upgrades, integrations, testing, workflow enhancements, and reporting improvements to ensure technology solutions meet operational needs.
Mentor and develop team members: Provide guidance, share subject matter expertise, encourage collaboration, and promote continuous learning and professional development within the team.
Relevant professional experience: Five to seven or more years of experience in lease administration, commercial real estate, transition management, or a closely related field, with demonstrated responsibility for complex operational initiatives.
Portfolio transition leadership: Proven ability to manage large, complex lease administration transitions involving multiple workstreams, stakeholders, deadlines, and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Commercial lease expertise: Strong understanding of commercial lease administration, lease terminology, real estate operations, lease data structures, and the financial processes associated with managing real estate portfolios.
Lease accounting knowledge: Experience with ASC 842 and IFRS 16 lease accounting standards, including an understanding of lease accounting processes and journal entries.
Advanced Excel and data analysis: Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced formulas, complex functions, data modeling, and automation. Ability to analyze large volumes of complex data, identify discrepancies, and translate findings into actionable insights.
Systems implementation and integration: Experience supporting enterprise system implementations, data migrations, platform integrations, testing, and workflow optimization.
Lease administration software: Familiarity with lease administration and accounting platforms such as MRI ProLease, Yardi, CoStar, Quarem, TRIRIGA, Tango, Lucernex, REAP, Visual Lease, Lease Harbor, LeaseAccelerator, LeaseCalcs, or comparable systems.
AI and automation exposure: Familiarity with AI-assisted automation, workflow tools, or data processing technologies is an advantage, particularly where these tools support lease abstraction, validation, and operational efficiency.
Project management capabilities: Strong project planning, organizational, prioritization, and execution skills. PMP certification or equivalent project management experience is preferred.
Analytical and problem-solving skills: Ability to assess complex operational and data-related challenges, identify root causes, evaluate risks, and implement practical, scalable solutions.
Client relationship management: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships, manage expectations, communicate complex information clearly, and maintain a strong client-service orientation.
Leadership and collaboration: Ability to coordinate cross-functional teams, influence stakeholders, mentor colleagues, and encourage a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Education: A bachelor's degree in Business, Real Estate, Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline is preferred.
Competitive compensation: The advertised starting salary is $80,000–$90,000 per year. The source listing does not specify additional bonus or incentive compensation.
Remote work arrangement: The role is advertised as remote, with Chicago, Illinois, referenced in the original location details. Confirm the eligible work location and any geographic restrictions with the hiring team.
Professional development: Opportunities to expand expertise in commercial lease administration, accounting compliance, project management, data migration, and technology-enabled process improvement.
Leadership opportunities: The chance to guide complex transition projects, mentor team members, and contribute to operational strategy and governance.
Collaborative culture: A work environment emphasizing teamwork, innovation, client service, knowledge sharing, and inclusive participation.
Career growth: Opportunities for professional advancement and continued learning within a real estate and lease administration environment.
Work-life balance: The original description emphasizes a supportive workplace and healthy work-life balance. Specific flexibility policies and leave arrangements should be confirmed with the hiring team.
Additional benefits: Details regarding healthcare, retirement plans, paid time off, and other employee benefits were not specified in the source listing and should be confirmed during the recruitment process.