Realty Specialist

The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) directs the worldwide overseas building program for the Department of State. Working with other offices and bureaus, foreign affairs agencies, and Congress, OBO’s challenge is to set worldwide priorities for the design, construction, acquisition, maintenance, use, and sale of real properties and the use of sales proceeds.

This position is in the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), Planning and Real Estate Directorate (PRE), Office of Real Property Leasing (RPL). RPL advises the PRE Managing Director on the formulation and implementation of leasing programs and policies for Department of State (DOS) and United States Government (USG) facilities abroad; manages the overseas leasing portfolio for civilian federal agencies of the United States;

develops guidelines and procedures for performing economic analyses of leasing opportunities; and conducts negotiations with private landlords, public sector counterparts, and foreign countries related to the Department's real property rights and interests. RPL is comprised of multiple Divisions each with responsibilities for: (1) conducting, managing, and overseeing all activities associated with entering into major leases, including fit-outs, build-to-lease, option-to-lease, and associated activities;

(2) implementation of the Capital and Representational Facility Plans which projects schedules to address global leasing goals and requirements; (3) managing transactions, securing Bureau approvals, and establishing portfolio metrics; (4) developing and managing policies for the DOS leased portfolio; (5) administering the DOS waiver program for commercial and residential properties; (6) leading technical project teams to deliver leased facilities overseas;

and (7) managing the bureau’s leasehold, ICASS and Marine leasehold accounts.

As a Senior Realty Specialist, the contractor performs a wide range of consultative and operational realty-related responsibilities in support of the acquisition and disposal of properties at specified overseas diplomatic posts throughout the world. In furtherance of these responsibilities, the contractor performs duties and assignments that typically include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

• Plans, manages, and administers real property acquisitions (including purchases, leases, disposals, exchanges, gifts, and interagency transfers) regarding diplomatic properties overseas; provides assistance with negotiating and technical international realty guidance and instructions to other professionals within or outside of the Bureau, including U. S. Embassy and Consulate personnel and officials within the Department and in other foreign affairs agencies; assists with major property negotiations;
  
  and explores and investigates a wide range of property proposals;
• Assists with negotiations with foreign government representatives and private property owners of overseas real property for the acquisition and disposal by lease, purchase, exchange, or gift, in support of U. S. diplomatic missions; assists with negotiating price and terms favorable to the United States Government (USG) and within funding limitations established for each acquisition; drafts appropriate contract documents and contacts local attorneys in order to ensure that all transactions conform to local and U.
  
  S. legal requirements and practices; contacts local and municipal officials through Post to ensure the appropriate zoning is achieved or that waivers and variances are obtained where needed; and recommends appropriate actions and follows up to ensure that authorized proposals are properly implemented;
• Supports the official USG representative regarding real property transactions in meetings with foreign government and municipal officials, local attorneys, other real estate-related professionals, and Post officials including the Ambassador or Consul General, the Deputy Chief of Mission, the Management Counselor or Officer, and the General Services Officer.
• Maintains a working relationship with the Office of Area Management (OBO/OPS/AM) to review the utilization of current property…