Director Transaction Management, Branch Real Estate

This job posting is anticipated to remain open for 30 days, from 22-May-2026. The posting may close early due to the volume of applicants. Join a financial services firm where your contributions are valued. Edward Jones is a Fortune 500 company where people come first. With over 9 million clients and 20,000 financial advisors across the U.S. and Canada, we’re proud to be privately‑owned, placing the focus on our clients rather than shareholder returns. Behind everything we do is our purpose: We partner for positive impact to improve the lives of our clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. We are an innovative, flexible, and inclusive organization that attracts, develops, and inspires performance excellence and a sense of belonging. People are at the center of our partnership. Edward Jones associates are seen, heard, respected, and supported. This is what we believe makes us the best place to start or build your career. The Branch Real Estate (BRE) department is responsible for supporting the physical branch office needs through the coordination of leasing, construction, lease administration, and maintenance of more than 19,000 branch office locations in the US and Canada. Branch Real Estate performs these duties in a way to maximize value and minimize disruptions to our branch teams, allowing them to continue to focus on the needs of our clients. The Director of Transaction Management will lead all leasing activity for a large, geographically diverse branch office portfolio comprised of approximately 15,000 locations and roughly 2,500 lease renewals annually. This role is responsible for developing and executing leasing strategies, negotiating leases and amendments, overseeing lease administration, and managing both internal leasing managers and external third‑party service providers. The ideal candidate is a strategic real estate professional with deep transaction management expertise, strong leadership skills, and experience overseeing outsourced real estate services while maintaining accountability for cost, risk, and delivery. The candidate must be technically proficient with leasing tools and lease processes, be able to make complex terms and processes understandable, and be able to manage the day‑to‑day activities of the portfolio. Key Responsibilities Leasing Strategy & Transaction Execution Lead leasing strategy for a large branch office portfolio, aligned with business growth, strategic transformation of the portfolio, optimization, and cost‑management objectives. Manage and negotiate leases, renewals, extensions, relocations, terminations, and amendments, ensuring favorable economic and legal terms. Provide deal structuring guidance and transaction recommendations to senior leadership. Ensure transactions are executed on schedule and within approved authority limits. Lease Administration Oversight Oversee lease administration activities, including abstract accuracy, financial obligations, key date tracking, and compliance with lease terms. Ensure timely rent commencement, escalations, reconciliations, critical date notifications, and coordination with accounting and finance teams. Review lease data and execution processes to ensure accuracy, audit readiness, and consistency across the portfolio. Third‑Party Service Provider Management Lead engagements with third‑party real estate service providers (e.g., brokers, lease administration vendors). Define scope of work, KPIs, service levels, and reporting requirements. Supervise, review, and approve deliverables to ensure quality, accuracy, and alignment with company standards. Hold vendors accountable for performance, timelines, and budget compliance. Team Leadership & Collaboration Lead, coach, and manage multiple leasing managers, both internal team members and externally sourced resources. Set clear performance expectations, provide ongoing feedback, and support professional development. Foster collaboration across internal stakeholders, including Legal, Finance, Accounting, Facilities, and Operations. Serve as a subject‑matter expert and escalation point for complex leasing or portfolio issues. Financial & Portfolio Management Analyze market trends, occupancy costs, and portfolio performance to inform decisions. Support budgeting, forecasting, and long‑range portfolio planning related to leasing activity. Identify opportunities to reduce occupancy costs, mitigate risk, and improve portfolio efficiency. Governance & Risk Management Ensure compliance with internal policies, approval authorities, and documentation standards. Partner closely with Legal to manage risk and ensure consistency in lease terms and execution. Maintain strong controls over lease documentation and transaction records. Required Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field. 8+ years of experience in commercial real estate leasing or transaction management. Proven experience negotiating leases for large, multi‑site or branch office portfolios. Demonstrated experience managing and holding third‑party service providers accountable. Strong leadership experience managing both internal and external teams. Deep understanding of lease structures, financial terms, and commercial real estate principles. Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills. Preferred Experience supporting financial services and/or other branch‑based portfolios. Familiarity with lease administration systems and portfolio management tools. Professional real estate credentials (e.g., MCR, CCIM, RPA, CPM). Experience working in a corporate real estate or large enterprise environment. Candidates that live within a commutable distance from our Tempe, AZ and St. Louis, MO home office locations are expected to work in the office four days per week effective June 1, 2026. Edward Jones does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Edward Jones’ compensation and benefits package includes medical and prescription drug, dental, vision, voluntary benefits (such as accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness), short‑ and long‑term disability, basic life, and basic AD&D coverage. Short‑ and long‑term disability, basic life, and basic AD&D coverage are provided at no cost to associates. Edward Jones offers a 401k retirement plan, and tax‑advantaged accounts: health savings account, and flexible spending account. Edward Jones observes ten paid holidays and provides 15 days of vacation for new associates beginning on January 1 of each year, as well as sick time, personal days, and a paid day for volunteerism. Associates may be eligible for bonuses and profit sharing. All associates are eligible for the firm’s Employee Assistance Program. For more information on the benefits available to Edward Jones associates, please visit our benefits page. #J-18808-Ljbffr Edward Jones