Real Estate Strategic Initiatives Senior Manager (Chicago)

To get the best candidate experience, please consider applying for a maximum of 3 roles within 12 months to ensure you are not duplicating efforts.Job CategoryReal Estate & Facility ManagementJob DetailsAbout SalesforceSalesforce is the #1 AI CRM, where humans with agents drive customer success together. Here, ambition meets action. Tech meets trust. And innovation isn’t a buzzword — it’s a way of life. The world of work as we know it is changing and we're looking for Trailblazers who are passionate about bettering business and the world through AI, driving innovation, and keeping Salesforce's core values at the heart of it all.Ready to level-up your career at the company leading workforce transformation in the agentic era? You’re in the right place! Agentforce is the future of AI, and you are the future of Salesforce.About Real Estate and Workplace ServicesThe Real Estate and Workplace Services (REWS) organization designs, operates, and evolves the environments and experiences that enable Salesforce employees and customers to do their best work. Spanning more than 30 countries, our Global Campus reflects our values and culture — integrating human connection, AI-enabled services, robotics, and intentional design to create inclusive, purpose-driven spaces where people feel a true sense of belonging. REWS plays a critical role in shaping the future of work at Salesforce while supporting scale, flexibility, and operational excellence across the enterprise.Overview of the RoleThe REWS Strategic Initiatives Sr. Manager will be a key member of the Strategic Initiatives team within REWS, focused on Strategic Initiatives within REWS and cross functionally within the company. Projects are focused on driving operational excellence — including forward-looking, high-impact initiatives such as emerging AI and innovation programs that shape the future of our physical workplace. This position requires a demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams to drive execution. The ideal candidate has a combination of Real Estate, project management, and process management experience, paired with a passion for the exciting business of Real Estate and curiosity about how emerging technology and AI are reshaping how and where we work. As a REWS Strategic Initiatives Sr. Manager you will play a critical role in ensuring the successful execution of projects, optimizing processes, and driving strategic initiatives that typically require global cross-functional resourcing and alignment. You will collaborate closely with the REWS team and various other functions across the company to develop and implement comprehensive solutions. This role will report to the Sr. Director of Real Estate Strategic Initiatives.Location: San Francisco, CA or Chicago, ILHybrid: 3 days in officeResponsibilities* Drive projects that are ambiguous, ensuring that they ultimately achieve the stated strategic objective* Be a trusted partner to REWS organization and cross-functional partners while obtaining approvals and influencing key decision making at all levels of the organization, including senior executive sponsors* Leverage existing project management tools and technology to streamline project planning, tracking, and reporting* Effectively manage project budgets, ensuring adherence to approved budgets and proactive tracking, including vendor and partner cost management for capital-intensive projects* Create and maintain positive relationships across REWS and our cross-functional partner teams to ensure successful implementation of process improvements and initiatives, influencing through a deep understanding of Salesforce business and practices* Execute strategic scenario planning and analysis to inform and guide critical decision-making* Develop and present executive level presentations as a powerful storyteller, with input and alignment from cross-functional teams* Develop and execute comprehensive communication plans, ensuring that all stakeholders are informed at the optimal times throughout the project* Support change management strategies and plans that maximize employee adoption and usage of required changes* Address issues, identify root causes, and implement solutions throughout a project* Lead initiatives at the intersection of AI, innovation, and workplace strategy, translating emerging business needs into actionable plansRequired QualificationsExperience & Background* 10+ years experience within the end to end Real Estate project management, consulting experience, in strategic/innovation program management* Experience will be evaluated based on alignment to the Values & Behaviors for the role (e.g. extracurricular leadership roles, military experience, volunteer work, etc.)Technical & Analytical Skills* Outstanding problem-solving and decision-making skills with a strong general business discernment and ability to distill sophisticated issues, develop solutions, and implement effective strategies* Identify and execute on the implementation of process improvements to automate and scale real estate operations* Leverage existing data sources to develop dashboard reporting on key metrics to monitor financial and operational performance against budget and industry benchmarks* Experience leading internal approval processes and managing approval timelines* Experience with project management software (e.g. Smartsheets/Asana/AirTable/Slack/Linear), and comfort working in AI-enabled collaboration tools (e.g. Slack, generative AI tools) to synthesize information and drive efficiencyProject Management & Leadership* Flexible and comfortable pivoting quickly, ability to handle multiple high-visibility projects simultaneously* Demonstrated experience of supporting and driving major initiatives across a diverse, geographically dispersed, multicultural environment while fostering effective relationships* Experience in partnering with all Real Estate functions and key business partners in Employee Success, Finance, Procurement, Legal, Business Technology and Global Safety & Security across all levels of the organization* Ability to operate in a high impact, fast-paced environment with ambiguity* Ability to think strategically and act in a detailed, hands-on manner* Experience working in a results-driven, solutions-oriented, and fast-paced environment with competing prioritiesCommunication & Personal Attributes* Excellent presentation, verbal, and written communication skills* Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail* Proactive, self-starter and high degree of motivation* Highly responsive and service-oriented demeanorPreferred Qualifications* PMP, Six Sigma, Change Management (Prosci) or similar project, process, and change management experience* Curiosity about AI and emerging technology trends, and how they apply to workplace strategyUnleash Your PotentialWhen you join Salesforce, you’ll be limitless in all areas of your life. Our benefits and resources support you to find balance and be your best, and our AI agents accelerate your impact so you can do your best. Together, we’ll bring the power of Agentforce to organizations of all sizes and deliver amazing experiences that customers love. Apply today to not only shape the future — but to redefine what’s possible — for yourself, for AI, and the world.AccommodationsIf you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request via this Accommodations Request Form.Please note that Salesforce uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help our recruiters assess and evaluate candidates’ resumes and qualifications throughout the recruiting process. Humans will always make any candidate selection and hiring decisions. Please see our Candidate Privacy Statement for more information about how we use your personal data and your rights, including with regard to use of AI tools and opt out options.Posting StatementSalesforce is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non-discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. What does that mean exactly? It means that at Salesforce, we believe in equality for all. And we believe we can lead the path to equality in part by creating a workplace that’s inclusive, and free from discrimination. Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal. Any employee or potential employee will be assessed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications – without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran or marital status, political viewpoint, or other classifications protected by law. This policy applies to current and prospective employees, no matter where they are in their Salesforce employment journey. It also applies to recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, assessment of job performance, discipline, termination, and everything in between. Recruiting, hiring, and promotion decisions at Salesforce are fair and based on merit. The same goes for compensation, benefits, promotions, transfers, reduction in workforce, recall, training, and education.In the United States, compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, job level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, and benefits. Salesforce offers a variety of benefits to help you live well including: time off programs, medical, dental, vision, mental health support, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and an employee stock purchasing program. 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