Global Workplace Transactions Lead

Job Description

Our mission, to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment has never been more important. Through communities rooted in our video game franchises we enable hundreds of millions of people in 190 countries to experience joy, thrill and achievement. We enable social connections through the lens of fun and we foster purpose and a sense of accomplishment through healthy competition. Like sport, but with greater accessibility, our players can find purpose and meaning through competitive gaming. Video games, unlike any other social or entertainment media, have the ability to break down the barriers that can inhibit tolerance and understanding. As a business we have an extraordinary track record of delivering stakeholder value for over 30 years. We are a member of the Fortune 500 and the S&P 500. Our enduring franchises are some of the world's most popular, including Activision's Call of Duty® and Crash Bandicoot™, Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Hearthstone®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, and King's Candy Crush™, Bubble Witch™, and Farm Heroes™. Our sustained success has enabled the company – through its support of the Call of Duty Endowment – to help find employment for over 80,000 veterans. Learn more information about Activision Blizzard and its world of epic entertainment on the company's website, www.activisionblizzard.com.

Position Description

As the Global Workplace Transactions Lead for Activision Blizzard, you will be a key strategic partner in the optimization of the real estate portfolio through strategic acquisitions and the renegotiation of leases. This person will be a critical partner in the Global Workplace team which will drive meaningful dialogue with Activision Blizzard's core businesses and studios, positive impact on our employees and enable organizational growth.

The Global Workplace Transactions Lead helps Activision Blizzard grow, cohere, and thrive by optimizing the company's real estate portfolio and workplace environments through relationships with Activision Blizzard's business leaders, internal and external partners and the real estate industry.

More specifically, responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Structure and negotiate key real estate transactions globally
• Oversee the execution of all global transaction
• Partner with our business leads, legal and finance to optimize the impact of real estate decisions on our portfolio and cost structures
• Develop strong relationships with campus leads and the design and construction head for seamless delivery of transactions
• Work with business office team to test the implications of real estate transactions and strategy recommendations
• Lead the team to review and negotiate transaction related documentation
• Work closely with senior executives throughout the company to identify and mobilize resources to support on highly sensitive and strategic workplace objectives.
• Contribute to the business cases for aspects of workplace strategy incorporating business strategy, design concepts and market opportunities.
• Collaborate and contribute to the creation of business cases and briefing materials
• Serve as a subject matter expert on Transactions, handling inquiries and developing action plans to address them in a timely manner.

Scale, Scope and Reporting Relationships
• Oversee the acquisition, disposition and structuring of global office transactions for Activision Blizzard.
• The portfolio is composed of 65 locations in 16 countries
• Activision Blizzard has approximately 9,500 employees with 65% in North America, 30% in the EMEA region, and 5% in the Asia Pacific region.
• Reports to Senior Vice President, Global Workplace and leads a team of 2-regional transaction professionals.
• Partners actively with key stakeholders within Finance, Tax and Policy, global Campus managers and Activision Blizzard's business leaders.

Year 1 Success
• Develop standard documentation for leasing RFPs for global adaptation
• Develop on call arrangements for real estate brokerage services on regional basis
• Arrange for regular mark to market exercises
• Develop best practices and processes supporting Transactions Management
• Contribute market information for budget and decision analysis
• Complete all transactions in a timely fashion to avoid any holdover situations
• Deliver transactions at below market rates by creation of leverage and excellent negotiations
• Support the development of our Three + years portfolio planning strategy to steer management of growth and investment to achieve goals.

Position Requirements

The successful candidate must possess unquestionable character and absolute integrity. S/he will be a proven leader with a blend of superior technical, operational and leadership skills continuously applied to improve the business and operations of the company. Additionally, s/he should possess exceptional attention to detail, strong initiative and critical thinking skills while serving as a hands-on leader and collaborator. Specific requirements include:
• 15+ years of demonstrated success in roles of increasing responsibility in corporate real estate environments leading strategic Transactions management
• Strategic thinker capable of creating leverage in negotiations
• Proven expertise in deal structuring for a variety of transactions types – leasing, freehold acquisitions, sales, subleasing, joint ventures and build to suit arrangements
• International experience
• Fluency in financial and legal implications of transactions structures
• Global network of real estate professionals
• Demonstrated success in overseeing large scale complex transactions
• Success at tailoring deal structures to corporate goals
• Proven ability to drive through change and influence in matrixed environments. Independent-minded yet open, direct, informative, collaborative with the right level of diplomacy. Favorably influences cross-functional discussions.
• Outstanding leadership skills with a history of recruiting and developing best-in-class teams and a reputation as an inspiring and motivational leader.
• Superior communication skills – verbal and written, effective at Board and executive leadership levels and the cultural sensitivity to work well with a diverse group of colleagues.
• Hands-on, entrepreneurial style with a strong bias for action and results; thrives in unstructured environments with a focus on innovation; collaborative and without ego.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rb105x-3-17-28-48-42 in your application.