Associate Director, Real Estate Program Management - Global Net Zero Program

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Associate Director of Real Estate Program Management to join our New York Real Estate Program Management team. This leadership role will serve as the Program Lead for a major global banking client's Global Net Zero Real Estate Program, overseeing the delivery, governance, and performance management of a portfolio of real estate initiatives supporting the client's sustainability and Net Zero objectives. 

The Associate Director will be responsible for overseeing a team, collectively managing a portfolio of interconnected projects and programs across NAM, LATAM, EMEA, and APAC, ensuring effective governance, stakeholder alignment, reporting, and successful delivery of client objectives. This role requires extensive experience in program and portfolio management within corporate real estate environments, with the ability to oversee the program management of multiple workstreams across real estate, facilities management, design and construction, sustainability, finance, and other corporate functions. 

The successful candidate will serve as the primary Program Lead, serving as the main point of contact to the client and on behalf of our consulting team, driving accountability across stakeholders, and ensuring program objectives are delivered efficiently and in accordance with established governance frameworks. To be successful in this role, it is highly desired that this candidate understands corporate Net Zero targets, decarbonization strategy, GHG accounting, energy efficiency measures, and sustainability initiatives within the built environment.  

Experience supporting financial services or banking clients, particularly within complex and highly regulated environments, is strongly preferred. 

Key Responsibilities 

Program Leadership & Delivery 

• Serve as Program Lead for the client's Global Net Zero Real Estate Program, providing leadership across a portfolio of interconnected initiatives. 
• Lead a consulting team responsible for program delivery, governance, and performance management, ensuring alignment with client objectives, budgets, schedules, and success criteria. 
• Oversee Program Managers and data management resources to monitor program performance, and drive resolution of delivery challenges. Understanding and previous experience of Data Management and Visualization is preferred.  
• Support portfolio planning, investment prioritization, and capital allocation activities, including incorporation of program-level carbon accounting methodologies where applicable. 

Governance, Controls & Performance Management 

• Maintain program governance frameworks, decision-making structures, stakeholder engagement processes, and performance management practices. 
• Oversee program controls including risk, change, issue, dependency, and action management across multiple workstreams. 
• Deliver executive-level reporting and insights on program performance, key milestones, risks, decisions, and recommended actions. 
• Ensure consistent application of delivery methodologies, tools, reporting standards, and best practices across the program. 
• Facilitate governance meetings, steering committees, and executive reviews to support informed decision-making and accountability. 

Financial Management & Analytics 

• Monitor program budgets, forecasts, and overall financial performance in partnership with client stakeholders. 
• Leverage data, analytics, and reporting tools to support decision-making, performance measurement, and portfolio planning activities. 
• Ensure alignment between approved funding, delivery plans, business objectives, and program performance targets. 

Net Zero Program Implementation 

• Lead the implementation and ongoing management of a portfolio of Net Zero and sustainability-focused real estate initiatives. 
• Coordinate delivery activities across project teams and subject matter experts to achieve established program objectives. 
• Track and communicate progress against key milestones, deliverables, performance indicators, and program benefits. 
• Ensure sustainability initiatives are effectively integrated into broader real estate, capital project, and portfolio management activities. 

Team Leadership & Development 

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of program management professionals. 
• Provide direction, coaching, and support to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across the program. 
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and client-focused team environment. 
• Support workforce planning, capability development, and continuous improvement initiatives within the broader Real Estate Program Management practice. 
• Support business development activities internally, identify opportunities to expand services within existing client relationships. 
• Contribute to the continued growth and development of the Real Estate Program Management practice.