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Director of Real Estate

The Animal Hospital

Saint Louis, MO

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JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Analysis Skills, Animal Care, Brokerage, Budget Management, Budgeting, Capital Project, Commercial Real Estate, Communication Skills, Construction, Construction Management, Construction Projects, Cost Control, Cross-Functional, Dental Insurance, Entrepreneurship, Establish Priorities, Finance, Financial Analysis, Healthcare, Hospital, Investment Analysis, Leadership, Lease Negotiation, Leasing, Legal, Market Analysis, Market Entry Strategy, Mathematics, Negotiation Skills, Performance Management, Product Lifecycle, Psychiatry and Mental Health, Real Estate, Real Estate Development, Retail, Return on Investment (ROI), Sales Pipeline, Sales Prospecting, Scalable System Development, Social Work, Standards of Care, Strategic Planning, Time Management, Urgent Care, Veterinary Hospital, Veterinary Medicine, Vision Plan
LOCATION
Saint Louis, MO
POSTED
3 days ago
Director of Real Estate

The Company

CareVet is a network of veterinary hospitals that focuses on acquiring and managing best-in-class hospitals throughout the United States. We look for veterinary practices that are staples of their community. Whether it's one hospitalor a dozen, we focus on the standard of care delivered, the level of engagement from the team and the record of stability. We are building a network of the top hospitals, doctors and staff.

CareVet's mission is to provide the very best care for pets. Our holistic approach to veterinary medicine focuses on practice legacy, team, veterinarians, patients and community.

The Role

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Real Estate will lead enterprise real estate strategy, development and execution across a growing national footprint. This individual will serve as the commercial leader responsible for identifying, evaluating, negotiating, and delivering new veterinary hospital locations, relocations, expansions, and broader strategic real estate initiatives.

This role requires an entrepreneurial and commercially driven leader who combines strong transaction execution with a proactive, "hunter" mindset for sourcing new opportunities. The Director will balance strategic vision with hands-on execution, developing scalable growth strategies while driving disciplined execution across a complex development pipeline.

The Director of Real Estate will oversee the full development lifecycle from site selection through hospital opening. This role partners closely with Legal, Operations leadership, Finance, equipment and local Hospital Teams to ensure each project aligns with operational needs, financial objectives, and brand standards.

Key Responsibilities

Real Estate Strategy & Growth
  • Develop and execute real estate strategy supporting new builds, relocations, expansions, and portfolio optimization
  • Proactively source and identify new site opportunities through market analysis, broker relationships, and direct outreach
  • Build and maintain a strong pipeline of development opportunities across priority markets
  • Partner with executive leadership and Operations to prioritize market entry and expansion strategy
Transactions & Deal Execution
  • Lead all real estate transactions in partnership with Legal, including lease negotiations, renewals, restructures, and terminations
  • Structure creative, financially sound deals that optimize returns and maintain flexibility
  • Manage landlord negotiations, including tenant improvements, subleases, assignments, and dispositions
  • Perform real estate financial analysis, including basic ROI and investment evaluations, at times in partnership with Finance on higher complexity projects
  • Collaborate cross-functionally throughout the transaction lifecycle
Development, Design & Execution
  • Oversee the full development lifecycle from LOI through hospital opening
  • Own strategy, budgets, and timelines for new builds, relocations, and expansions
  • Provide direction to construction and development partners responsible for day-to-day execution
  • Translate operational needs into effective facility layouts, workflow design, and space planning
  • Partner with architects, engineers, contractors, Facilities, Equipment, and Operations teams to ensure seamless execution
  • Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with company standards
  • Identify opportunities to optimize cost, scope, and design without compromising quality
Portfolio Optimization & Cross-Functional Partnership
  • Support integration and diligence of newly acquired hospitals from a real estate, facilities, and equipment perspective
  • Evaluate portfolio performance to improve efficiency and long-term value
Process, Infrastructure & Leadership
  • Build and refine scalable processes, templates, and playbooks across Real Estate, Facilities, and Equipment functions
  • Establish reporting and tracking for pipeline, project timelines, capital spend, and ROI
  • Manage external brokers, consultants, contractors, and development partners
  • Provide leadership and direction to internal real estate, construction, and facilities resources
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on real estate and development initiatives.
Qualifications
  • Minimum 8 years of experience in commercial real estate, development, corporate real estate, or related field
  • Proven track record sourcing and executing multi-site development and growth initiatives
  • Strong lease negotiation and transaction structuring experience, including complex deal structures
  • Experience leading development and construction projects from site selection through delivery
  • Strong financial and analytical skills, including real estate math and deal evaluation
  • Demonstrated ability to own project budgets, timelines, and execution across multiple initiatives
  • Experience building processes, templates, and scalable frameworks in a growth environment
  • Experience working at a large brokerage firm preferred, with strong exposure to multi-site portfolios
  • Experience in healthcare, retail, hospitality, veterinary, dental, urgent care, or similar multi-site environments preferred
  • Experience in high-growth or private equity-backed environments preferred
  • Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Finance, Architecture, Construction Management, or related field preferred
  • Ambitious, self-starter with a strong "hunter" mentality and ability to operate autonomously
  • Strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholder
Benefits
  • Competitive base salary and annual bonus
  • Best-in-class health, vision, and dental insurance
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance
  • 401k with match
  • Free continuing education through our own learning institute
  • Mental health support with a licensed social worker on staff
  • Paid time off
  • Much more!

About the Company

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The Animal Hospital