The Director of Real Estate & Facilities Development at Casella Waste Systems, Inc. is responsible for leading the strategic direction and execution of the company’s long-term real estate strategy to support its growth and success. The role will consolidate the real estate work across our operating regions by establishing a centralized function — bringing consistent processes, standards, and enterprise visibility to the way Casella acquires and manages real estate. This is a senior, builder-oriented role for a corporate real estate leader who wants to stand up a function.
The incumbent ensures all assets—ranging from landfills and transfer stations to offices and processing facilities—are developed, maintained, and optimized in alignment with business priorities, financial targets, and stringent environmental, health, and safety regulations.
- Drives execution of real estate strategies that support enterprise growth, operational efficiency, and sustainability goals.
- Ensures the organization has the property and facilities required to maximize asset value and support strategic growth.
- Collaborates with regional operating and functional leaders in driving the operational development of collections operations, transfer stations, recycling facilities, and other facilities across our footprint.
- Partners with the M&A team to provide buy-versus-build trade-off scenarios, support acquisition diligence, and surface real estate alternatives that create greater value than an acquisition.
- Leads cross-functional teams and external partners to deliver complex construction and infrastructure projects on schedule and within budget.
- Establishes policies, standards, and governance for end-to-end real estate and facilities management in alignment with corporate objectives.
- Ensures compliance and minimizes risk by aligning with all applicable environmental, regulatory, and safety requirements (e.g., OSHA, EPA) through collaborative partnerships with engineering and legal departments.
- Partners with senior leadership, lenders, regulators, and community stakeholders to advance strategic initiatives and strengthen external relationships.
Nature & Scope
This role operates at a strategic and enterprise level, translating Casella’s corporate development objectives into actionable real estate and facilities initiatives. The Director oversees a geographically diverse and operationally complex portfolio that requires deep expertise in development, construction, regulatory compliance, and asset management.
Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, the role collaborates closely with executive leadership—including the COO and CFO—to align infrastructure investments with business growth plans. The Director is accountable for significant capital allocation decisions, risk management, and long-term portfolio performance.
The position includes leadership of both direct and indirect reports, as well as oversight of external contractors, consultants, and financial partners. Decision-making requires balancing financial, operational, regulatory, and community considerations in a highly visible and impactful function.
The successful candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, business administration, finance, or a related discipline, with 8+ years of progressive experience in real estate development, acquisition, asset management, facilities development, or related infrastructure functions. An advanced degree (MBA, JD, or MRED) is a plus. Candidates should bring demonstrated success acquiring and developing real estate that supports operating assets within asset-intensive industries such as environmental services, industrial manufacturing, logistics, transportation, energy, or similarly regulated sectors.
A proven track record leading complex real estate portfolios, capital projects, and strategic growth initiatives, with strong commercial and financial acumen, including expertise in financial modeling, investment analysis, capital planning, and return-driven capital allocation is required. Experience establishing, transforming, or centralizing a corporate real estate function within a decentralized, multi-state operating environment is highly desirable. Deep knowledge of real estate transactions, site selection, valuation, due diligence, zoning, land-use planning, environmental permitting, and entitlement processes is essential.
The ability to build strong partnerships across operations, finance, legal, engineering, and corporate development functions while effectively managing outside counsel, brokers, consultants, lenders, and other external advisors is essential. Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills are required, along with proficiency in standard business, financial, and project management tools. A working knowledge of applicable environmental, regulatory, and safety requirements is expected, as is the ability and willingness to travel throughout Casella’s Northeast and Mid-Atlantic operating regions.
