Account Director (Basking Ridge)

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way. Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward. JLL Work Dynamics JLL Work Dynamics partners with leading organizations across industry sectors, creating environments that achieve a more humancentric, resilient, and responsible approach to shaping a better world of work. With more than 45,000 specialists globally, the team enables clients to enhance the performance of their real estate portfolios and people to realize their ambitions for a more sustainable built environment. Through technology enabled solutions, Work Dynamics creates safe and inspiring spaces around the world for people to collaborate, innovate, and drive meaningful change anywhere that work is performed. JLL manages over 1.6 billion square feet of real estate and has averted more than 112,700 metric tons of CEO2e by advising clients on renewable energy projects. Primary service offerings include facilities management, sustainability initiatives, project & development services, transactions management, occupancy planning, and lease administration. Our vast multi-year relationships span clients across all industries including technology, industrial, financial services, public institutions, life sciences, and healthcare. Location: (Basking Ridge, NJ) The Opportunity The Account Director will serve as the primary executive leader for this account, requiring a seasoned real estate professional who can seamlessly blend operational excellence with visionary strategic advisory capabilities. As the top leadership position on this account, you will orchestrate a complex, multi-service line portfolio spanning Integrated Facilities Management, Project Management, Occupancy Planning, Lease Administration, and Transactions while maintaining consistent on-site client presence to establish yourself as an indispensable strategic partner to executive leadership. You will drive major business development initiatives and contract negotiations, navigate complex workforce transitions, and introduce innovative solutions leveraging AI, automation, and enterprise IWMS platforms that address pressing client needs. This high-visibility role demands exceptional executive presence to engage Executive stakeholders, sophisticated commercial acumen to manage contract structuring and fee-at-risk models, and transformational leadership to guide both clients and teams through significant organizational change while delivering tangible business value, sustainable account growth, and positioning JLL as the trusted advisor of choice for all real estate and facilities management needs. Primary Responsibilities:Exceeding Client Expectations Create the vision of the account plan ensuring alignment of objects and driving high quality results which helps secure a future with no-bid contract renewals Drive account growth by articulating value proposition and ensuring expansion of services provided Establish outstanding relationships with key stakeholders by soliciting feedback and excelling at world-class client service delivery Lead major business development initiatives and contract negotiations Develop innovative solutions to complex client challenges including financial forecasting, AI processes and automation, capital planning, cost savings, and governance framework optimization Navigate complex stakeholder relationships across multiple service lines including Integrated Facilities Management, Project Management, Occupancy Planning, Lease Administration, and Transactions, creating a unified client experience Proactively identify and address client pain points, demonstrating thought leadership in areas such as technology integration, operational efficiency, and cost optimization Building High Performance Teams Ensure highest qualified candidate is hired for all roles on the account Build actionable and measurable career development plans for all direct reports Advance the firm’s diversity and inclusion priorities with planful and focused talent planning Manage complex workforce transitions including navigation of union relations and collective bargaining environments Develop clear strategies for organizational design, role optimization, and redundancy management across multiple international markets, ensuring compliance with local labor laws Drive team transformation from traditional delivery models to technology-enabled, automation-enhanced service delivery Foster a culture of continuous improvement that consistently delivers high client satisfaction scores and exceeds performance expectations Achieving Financial Results and Contributing to Firm’s Revenue Growth Present an annual account plan which includes key objectives, client satisfaction results, summary of value-add activities, and outlines targeted expansion plans Proactively manage to the account budget and identify opportunities to generate additional revenue on the account Mitigate risk for the firm by ensuring A/R is maintained below 60 days payable Manage complex financial models including Principal and Agent service delivery, fee-at-risk structures, and variable budgets that fluctuate based on client priorities Drive cost savings initiatives while supporting client objectives for operational efficiency and asset optimization Collaborate with JLL's Capital Markets and other specialty service teams to deliver comprehensive solutions that address client real estate strategies Ability to navigate agile contract structures that enable rapid service level adjustments with transparent cost implications Attributes Exemplary executive presence – has the gravitas and sophistication to appropriately command the room both internally as a leader and more importantly externally with clients Strategic mindset – able to see big picture and future direction of the business, then translate into achievable new business development opportunities Financially astute – commercial oriented, strong financial acumen with proven ability to manage complex pricing models and fee-at-risk structures Results driven – takes corrective action quickly and decisively when performance falls short and redirection is required; highly collaborative with exceptional integrity Obsessed with customer habits and the data derived from those behaviors; keenly aware of trends within the industry and can translate client strategic priorities into actionable real estate solutions Commercially astute: quickly recognizes the different levers to pull to drive growth and increase productivity Transformational leadership – leads change with energy and resilience to propel the business forward; has the courage to make complex decisions and take calculated risks; adjusts style to accommodate individuals and the various phases of growth Operational “heft” –comfort and experience with complex, large, and heavily matrixed organizations Client Advisory Excellence – functions as a true strategic partner, not just a service provider; brings thought leadership on data-driven decision making, financial planning, and technology-enabled transformation Technology Visionary – deeply conversant in AI, automation, IoT, and enterprise IWMS platforms; can articulate how technology solves business problems and partner with IT organizations to drive system integration Multi-Service Line Integration – proven ability to orchestrate seamless delivery across diverse service offerings; breaks down silos to create unified, best-in-class client experience Change Management Leadership – can guide clients and teams through organizational transformation while simultaneously evolving service delivery models to meet changing business needs Requirements Seasoned leader with 10+ years of Facility Management and Commercial Real Estate executive leadership experience Proven capabilities in developing outsourced Integrated Facility Management solutions for global, Fortune 500 companies Extensive experience hiring, training, and retaining large teams (100+) of talent in a client service environment (preferably outsourced) Has proactively managed a budget Bachelor’s degree with a broad range of business experience; MBA or post-graduate studies preferred Ability to lead major RFP pursuits and contract negotiations at the enterprise level, with proven track record of winning competitive procurements Experience managing large, complex accounts with multiple service lines, international operations, and matrixed delivery models Direct experience with technology-enabled transformation including AI, automation, and IWMS platform implementation at enterprise scale Proven ability to serve as strategic advisor to executive leadership, with comfort presenting business cases, financial analyses, and transformation roadmaps Knowledge of market-rate pricing strategies, and managing complex fee structures with sophisticated procurement organizations Strong understanding of technology, telecommunications, or network-intensive industries preferred Willingness to maintain consistent on-site presence at client location in Basking Ridge, NJ; this is not a remote role What you can expect from us We’re an entrepreneurial, inclusive culture which upholds our core values to be direct, decisive, and humble; We believe the best inspires the best, so we invest in supporting each other, learning together, and celebrating our success. We succeed together.  Our Total Rewards program reflects our commitment to helping you achieve your ambitions in career, recognition, well-being, benefits and pay. With us, you’ll