Lease Administration Supervisor at Southern Company in Atlanta, GA

LEASE ADMINISTRATION SUPERVISOR

Atlanta, GA

JOB SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for the management and administration of all leases for real estate and facilities for Southern Communications, with the majority involving cell tower leases for the Southern Linc wireless network. The incumbent manages and directs the Lease Administration team in the preparation of new leases and amendments and in the administration of existing cell tower and office/building leases, as well as ensuring prompt and accurate payment of monthly rents. This position is also responsible for contract Administration for STI and manages staff responsible for tracking, coordinating, managing, and administering all contract opportunities and supporting business processes.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

Undergraduate degree with a major/focus in Business, Legal Studies, Corporate Real Estate, or a related concentration.

Paralegal certificate, MBA or law degree with a Corporate Real Estate focus is desirable.

Experience:

7-10 years of experience in real estate contract management, preferably involving telecommunications facilities, including the management of paralegals and contract administrators and engaging and managing the work of legal counsel.

3-5 years of experience in directing the work of others, leading a team, engaging in performance planning and feedback, and engaging in the hiring process.

3-5 years of experience in overseeing the payment of lease obligations.

Knowledge and Skills:

Understanding of the telecommunications industry and the role that tower and fiber leases play within networks.

Ability to develop, maintain, and utilize contract administration procedures.

Ability to direct a large corporate portfolio of leases in a database system with a high level of accuracy.

Ability to direct work to staff, paralegals, and legal counsel while balancing accuracy, timely completion, and cost-effectiveness.

Ability to interpret and understand payment terms in contracts and capable of working with accounting and/or finance management to analyze implications when terms are complex.

Expert in cultivating and maintaining robust relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders – from engineering, accounting and legal teams to tower and property owners and outside consultants – in order to enhance lease negotiations, administer contracts and streamline business processes.

Complex contract drafting and interpreting skills.

Contract negotiation skills.

Excellent oral and written communication skills, attention to details, and critical thinking.

Experience in conflict resolution that maintains strong relationships.

Ability to provide leadership and direction to the team to ensure high performance delivery through coaching, development, motivation, and knowledge transfer on all lease administration matters.

MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lease Development and Agreement Management:

Effectively work with engineering, site acquisition, construction, accounting, legal, outside vendors, and property owners to meet company lease implementation goals in support of network operations.

Review incoming agreement requests from site acquisition or engineering and assign for work based on level of complexity.

Prepare agreements. Negotiate and resolve due diligence issues with Lessor when necessary. Coordinate negotiations and redlines with Company counsel on leases necessitating legal review and arrive at final agreements.

Provide final agreements for signature and processing.

Ensure that team accurately maintains current lease information in designated database.

Ensures that team provides accounts payable with timely notifications of new and changed lease payment terms, verifies that initial payment schedule is loaded in designated database for all new leases, and that all leases are properly administered financially.

Review and approve all changes to existing agreements including changes of ownership; manage all renewals and terminations of existing agreements; and oversee the ongoing administration of existing cell tower and office/building leases.

Support activities involving legal notices, audits, investigations, and dispute resolution.

For fiber agreements, ensure that the team performs all contractual and operations administration responsibilities and assists with accurate customer billing and accounts payable.

Serve as respected representative of the Company on system-wide committees or initiatives.

Leadership:

Build and lead a strong team that supports the responsibilities of this area.

Engage direct reports on a regular basis with regards to performance and deliverables, beyond the minimum of the standard performance management process.

Emphasize coaching, development, and knowledge transfer among team members.

Work Direction and Supervision:

This position supervises three staff, with responsibility for conducting performance appraisals or discipline and the authority to hire/terminate ore recommend hiring/terminating of these subordinates.

BENEFITS

Competitive Pay

Excellent benefits packages which include:

Medical and dental coverage

Defined Pension/Cash Balance Benefit Plan

Performance-sharing plan

401(k) plan with a generous company match

Bonus opportunities

Tuition Reimbursement