Hybrid Manger of Real Estate and Growth Development bei WeGo Public Transit

Position Summary

WeGo Public Transit is seeking a forward-thinking Manager of Real Estate & Asset Development to lead the agency’s growing portfolio of real estate assets, public-private partnerships, and transit-oriented development (TOD) initiatives. This strategic leadership role is responsible for actively managing real property interests, structuring value-capture and revenue-generating agreements, and delivering real estate projects that support WeGo’s mission, enhance system sustainability, and create opportunity-rich communities.

Building on capacity established through the Build America Bureau’s Innovative Finance and Asset Concession Grant Program, this position is designed as a permanent, elevated role within WeGo’s leadership team. The successful candidate will bring both technical and strategic expertise in public-sector real estate, asset stewardship, and urban development to help shape the future of WeGo’s infrastructure and its integration with community and economic development.

Key Responsibilities

Real Estate Asset Management

• Lead development and execution of a long-range real estate asset management strategy aligned with agency goals, capital plans, and community priorities.
• Maintain a comprehensive inventory of owned and controlled assets, including active leases, surplus property, easements, and development rights.
• Develop systems for asset performance tracking, valuation, forecasting, and reporting.

Project Development & Transactions

• Oversee all phases of TOD and joint development project lifecycle, including market studies, solicitation development, developer selection, negotiation, entitlement, and execution.
• Serve as primary WeGo negotiator for ground leases, air rights transactions, property sales, and public-private partnerships related to agency-controlled real estate.
• Coordinate with legal, finance, procurement, planning, and operations teams to structure deals that optimize financial return and public benefit.

Innovative Finance & Revenue Generation

• Advance innovative real estate strategies such as land value capture, concession agreements, and infrastructure financing tied to TOD.
• Monitor performance of revenue-generating assets and recommend portfolio improvements to maximize long-term value and reinvestment potential.
• Support integration of real estate strategies into capital improvement planning and long-range financial modeling.

Interagency & External Collaboration

• Represent WeGo in real estate-related discussions with Metro Nashville departments, peer agencies, private developers, and community partners.
• Work with Metro Planning, Economic Development, Housing, and Property Services to align transit and development goals across jurisdictions.
• Engage with community stakeholders, elected officials, and institutional partners on asset development projects and site plans.

Policy & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure real estate activities are fully compliant with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) guidance, including Circular 5010.1E and joint development policy.
• Prepare internal and Board materials to support property actions, solicitations, and capital project coordination.
• Lead regulatory reporting and audit response related to asset management and development agreements.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, finance, urban planning, public administration, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in real estate asset management, public-sector real estate development, P3 structuring, or TOD planning and execution.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex real estate negotiations and partnerships, preferably in a transit or municipal environment.

Skills and Competencies

• Deep understanding of real estate economics, market analysis, and project finance.
• Strong negotiation and transaction management skills, with a record of delivering successful public-private development projects.
• Working knowledge of federal transit property disposition and joint development policies (FTA Circular 5010.1E, MAP-21/FAST Act guidance).
• Ability to manage interdepartmental and multi-agency coordination across legal, procurement, finance, and planning functions.
• Commitment to equity, sustainability, and community-centered development practices.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills; ability to prepare briefings for executive and Board audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with local government land use and zoning policy, affordable housing policy, and value capture mechanisms.
• Experience managing or overseeing consultant teams and real estate advisors.

Reporting Relationship

• Reports to Deputy CEO for Growth & Development