Chancellor's Office Statement

Join our team at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor, and make a difference in providing access to higher education. We are currently seeking experienced candidates for the position of Real Estate Transaction Manager. The CSU Chancellor's Office, located on the waterfront adjacent to the Aquarium of the Pacific in downtown Long Beach, is the headquarters for the nation's largest and most diverse system of higher education. The CSU Chancellor's Office offers a premium benefit package that includes outstanding vacation, health, and dental plans; a fee waiver education program; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); and 15 paid holidays a year.

Salary

The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $115,008 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Work Arrangements

Flexibility to telecommute two days a week, with three days on-site at the main headquarters in Long Beach, California.

Premium Benefits

Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Benefits

Generous vacation plan

15 paid holidays a year

Tuition waiver education program (also applies to eligible family members)

Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)

More details here: Comprehensive Benefits Package

Classification

Administrator II

Position Information

The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking a Real Estate Transaction Manager to work with each of the 22 individual universities within the nation’s largest public four-year university system to support the acquisition, leasing and licensing of real property for academic expansion, student housing, research partnerships, auxiliary services, and other functions. This work supports CSU’s more than 460,000 students, over four million alumni, and $26.9 billion annual economic impact. The functions of this position are key to CSU’s strategic objectives of serving as an economic mobility engine, sustaining affordability, being an employer of choice, and maximizing statewide impact.

The Real Estate Transaction Manager sits within the Real Estate Services unit of the Capital Planning, Design & Construction (CPDC) department and reports to the Executive Director of Real Estate Services. The position guides campuses through acquisitions, leases, and other real property transactions from initial evaluation through due diligence, approvals, documentation, and closing/execution. This includes evaluating key transaction terms and business considerations; coordinating and evaluating legal, environmental, physical, and other due diligence activities; developing and reviewing real property agreements; and maintaining appropriate transaction and portfolio records.

The Transaction Manager collaborates with campuses, the Land Title Manager, the Real Estate Development Manager, the Office of General Counsel, Planning & Design and other units within CPDC, and the Finance & Treasury department.

The Manager will also lead long-term strategic efforts around policy and process improvements, including a comprehensive update of the CSU template real property agreements library, evaluation and update of CSU’s Real Property Acquisition policy, and the potential pursuit of new state legislation or other actions to streamline CSU processes.

Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the Executive Director, Real Estate Services, the Real Estate Transaction Manager will:

-Manage the research, analysis, review and approval of due diligence materials for prospective acquisitions of land and buildings for all 22 CSU campuses, including reviewing title reports and other land records for discrepancies, legal issues, and business risks, performance of environmental and CEQA review, and evaluation of property condition assessments and other evaluations of built improvements in collaboration with Planning & Design and Facilities Management staff.

-Evaluate business plans, demand studies, financial analyses, pro formas, capital requirements, and other qualitative and quantitative information to assess the business case for prospective acquisitions, provide recommendations, and at times participate in or lead negotiations with sellers.

-Independently communicate and coordinate with campuses on property acquisition due diligence matters.

-Monitor market trends and engage with brokers and other stakeholders about potential acquisition opportunities.

-Oversee CSU policy related to real property acquisition and develop policy and/or process improvements, including templates, workflows, tools, guidance, and training/resources.

-Manage relationships and contracts with title companies and other service providers.

-Evaluate, structure, document and support negotiation of leases in which CSU is tenant or landlord, as applicable.

-Support and at times lead the review of title reports and underlying agreements in support of CSU granting or seeking easements and other encumbrances, coordinated with the Land Title Program Manager.

-Assist in the preparation and review of Board of Trustees (BOT) materials.

-Prepare and process reports for submission to state and other government bodies to comply with regulatory requirements.

-Maintain accurate transaction, agreement and portfolio records, information status, critical dates and reporting necessary to support effective management and institutional compliance.

-Lead and/or assist in the development and evaluation of Requests for Qualifications and Requests for Proposals.

-Perform other duties and responsibilities, as assigned.

Qualifications

This position requires:

-A BS or BA degree in a related field.

-Three years required (five years preferred) of progressively responsible professional experience involving commercial or institutional real estate transactions, real estate contracts, title review/due diligence, development, planning and entitlements, or closely related responsibilities.    

-Demonstrated experience reviewing real estate transaction documents, such as title reports, leases, easements, purchase agreements, or other real property agreements, and ability to identify material business and legal issues for coordination with counsel.

-Knowledge and understanding of core real estate acquisition due diligence processes and concepts.

-Strong organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple transactions and competing deadlines while maintaining accurate and complete documentation.

-Research skills - ability to effectively analyze both qualitative and quantitative information to support real estate transactions, policy development and decision-making.

-Ability to take independent ownership of projects and tasks, and to develop and execute work plans with limited direction.

-Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative information into clear findings and recommendations; prepare concise written analyses and presentations; and communicate effectively with campus leaders, attorneys, finance professionals, consultants and other internal and external stakeholders.

-Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and the ability to effectively use transaction, project-management and reporting systems.

-Sound judgment and creative problem-solving ability, including the ability to identify practical solutions to complex transaction, policy, and organizational issues.

-Demonstrated ability to coordinate with attorneys, planners, finance professionals, facilities staff, brokers, consultants, government agencies, and other internal and external stakeholders.

-Strong service orientation and ability to build productive relationships with campus clients and internal and external partners.

Preferred Qualifications

-Experience in higher education, public-sector, government, healthcare or institutional real estate preferred.

-Understanding of the decision-making processes and structure of large, complex, multi-campus educational institutions.

-Real estate knowledge specific to California or to one or more regions and/or cities in California, including laws, entitlements, and market trends and dynamics.

-Knowledge of public-sector real estate, contracting, procurement, approval, or regulatory processes.

Application Period

Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by October 19, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.

How To Apply

Please click "Apply Now" to complete the California State University, Chancellor's Office online employment application.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, the CSU provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting the Senior Human Resources Manager at (562) 951-4070.

Title IX

Please view the Notice of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator at: https://www2.calstate.edu/titleix

E-Verify

This position requires new hire employment verification to be processed through the E-Verify program administered by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHSUSCIS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

If hired, you will be required to furnish proof that you are legally authorized to work in the United States. The CSU Chancellor’s Office is not a sponsoring agency for staff and Management positions (i.e., H1-B VISAS).

COVID19 Vaccination Policy

Per the CSU COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, it is strongly recommended that all Chancellor’s Office employees who are accessing office and campus facilities follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications.

Mandated Reporter Per CANRA

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Conflict of Interest

The duties of this position will include participation in decisions that may have a material financial benefit to the incumbent. Therefore, the selected candidate will be required to file Conflict of Interest Form 700: Statement of Economic Interest when they first occupy the position, and on an annual basis, complete ethics training within 6 months of appointment, and attend this training every other year thereafter.

CSU Out of State Employment Policy

California State University, Office of the Chancellor, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California. As of January 1, 2022, the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

Background

The Chancellor's Office policy requires that the selected candidate successfully complete a full background check (including a criminal records check) prior to assuming this position.

Learn more about working at the California State University and the impact of our mission.