Sharon Quinlan
Andover,MA
Summary
Experienced leader in Real Estate, Facilities, and Workplace management with a strong track record of guiding teams through growth and downsizing. Demonstrated success in building high-performing teams and implementing efficient programs. Skilled at reducing capex and opex spend through strategic, data-driven decision-making.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Global Director, Real Estate and Workplace
SONOS
Boston, MA
04.2018 - Current
- Oversee Global Real Estate and Workplace function.
- Analyzed existing real estate portfolio in sync with company goals and long-term plans under global strategy while working closely with Executive Leadership Team (ELT), reporting directly to CFO.
- Utilized data, analytics, and metrics to inform ELT's strategic decisions on optimizing the overall portfolio while ensuring employees' productivity and cultural experience are considered paramount.
- Optimized work conditions to enhance overall employee effectiveness and output.
- Utilized remote-first strategy to optimize workplace support for hybrid model implementation.
- Worked closely with both brokerage and legal teams in securing optimal commercial space through negotiation of competitive rental prices and fulfilling all legal obligations.
- Negotiated a lease restructure in Boston, which yielded significant OPEX savings and right-sized the office footprint to support a hybrid working model where people can do their best work, collaborate in person for project work, and gather for social events.
- Consolidated two offices in Santa Barbara and relocated to a single office in Goleta. Created a unified workspace that facilitated R&D labs, collaboration, social gatherings, all-hands meetings, and off-sites. Significantly reduced annual OPEX while enhancing productivity and employee satisfaction.
- Collaborated with Finance, Legal, HR, and Technology to optimize processes for cross-functional success.
- Demonstrated strong leadership by overseeing workplace operations and managing global teams.
- Procured facilities vendors and services, including office suppliers, maintenance contracts, architectural and design services, and workplace services.
- Collaborated with Corporate Development leadership to oversee all M&A initiatives.
- Performed due diligence for potential acquisitions and real estate assets.
- Collaborated with the People Team to ensure smooth employee integration during acquisitions.
Senior Manager, Global Office Operations
ZERTO
Boston, MA
03.2017 - 04.2018
- Managed Real Estate and Facilities Operations across US, EMEA, and APJ regions.
- Developed strategic real estate plans for a rapidly expanding tech enterprise.
- Analyzed current space capacity and recommended RE strategy to support fast growth while maintaining modest budget by partnering directly with the Executive Team in Israel and local leadership in each region.
- Managed daily office facilities and operations across multiple regions.
- Devised targeted regional plans leading to decreased overall investment in leased properties.
- Successfully sourced and negotiated leases for new office spaces in collaboration with brokerage and legal teams.
- Analyze space utilization and recommend strategy based on metrics, partnering with Design and Workplace Strategy firms. Incorporate work-from-anywhere trends to enhance effectiveness.
- Provided appropriate space for remote workforce and visitors, optimizing square footage usage.
- Managed capital improvement projects, overseeing budgeting and construction.
- Implemented CAFM software, lease administration software and an internal ticketing system to track facilities requests.
- Collaborated with local Executive Team to enhance transparency during periods of rapid expansion.
- Organized bi-monthly global all-hands meetings to promote transparency, employee morale and unify office cultures.
- Oversaw various aspects of the on-site recreation program including happy hours and weekly snacks as well as managing volunteer opportunities for employees.
- Collaborated with HR and Marketing teams to align company activities with core values and brand image.
Director, Global Office Experience
FUZE
Cambridge, MA
08.2015 - 03.2017
- Oversaw Global Real Estate Portfolio and Office Experience.
- Collaborated directly with the Executive Team in determining suitable space requirements for new office construction.
- Partner directly with brokerage firm and attorneys to source new office space, negotiate leases, and continue to fit out each space according to brand guidelines and employee needs.
- Evaluated existing human capital and developed a worldwide real estate plan.
- Sourced new office locations in conjunction with the local brokerage team.
- Negotiated favorable lease terms with landlords.
- Managed capital improvement projects and Opex budgets for global real estate portfolio.
- Developed strategies for efficient and effective space allocation in line with project objectives.
- Maximized space utilization by creating and implementing multiple collaborative and comfortable seating areas for a constantly agile workforce.
- Achieved higher efficiency and effectiveness in global operations through software implementation and project management services.
- Collaborated with HR and Executive Leadership to enhance employee engagement and morale, organizing engaging events and fostering a positive office environment through innovative design.
Senior Manager, Office Experience (AMERICAS)
TRIPADVISOR
Newton, MA
04.2015 - 08.2015
- Directed Office and Employee experience teams responsible for 8 offices in the Americas, including TripAdvisor global headquarters in Newton, MA.
- Served as the Internal Project Manager overseeing the construction of TripAdvisor's World Headquarters spanning over 282,000 sqft.
- Collaborated with external PM, Design team, and General Contractor to ensure timely project completion in June 2015.
- Directed planning and implementation of 2-phase move, including coordination with stakeholders and third-party vendors.
- Contributed to accelerating company expansion by effectively leasing new spaces in partnership with the Real Estate department
- Responsible for monitoring and controlling Opex and Capex budgets across various US office locations.
- Enhanced efficiency and productivity by integrating Jira as the new internal ticketing system on a worldwide level
- Collaborated with EMEA and APAC Regional Office Experience Managers to establish a uniform Office Experience across TripAdvisor Offices worldwide
- Successfully implemented and integrated new acquisitions worldwide to ensure a uniformed office experience while prioritizing security and life safety measures.
Office Operations Manager
TripAdvisor
Newton, MA
08.2011 - 04.2015
- Managed daily operations and facilities at TripAdvisor headquarters in Newton, MA. Oversaw Office Services and Facilities Management teams in Boston, New York, and Oxford, UK.
- Manage the global team to ensure successful operations
- Global implementation of standardized office opening SOPs resulted in enhanced efficiencies across all markets.
- Partnered with design team to devise workspace and design program, contributing to the success of the Global Headquarters project and multiple international office builds
- Executed flawless space planning by projecting future needs while simultaneously managing in-house moves
- Conducted research, resulting in the successful implementation of space management mapping software into the IT and HRIS system.
- Implemented tracking procedures to monitor quarterly consumption and expenditure of all office-related resources for improved budget forecasting.
- Managed Opex budget for Facilities and Office Services expenses.
- Procured new vendors through bidding process
- Managed badge access system to ensure compliance with PCI and SOX requirements.
- Streamlined communication between hiring managers, HR, and IT department for seamless new hire onboarding.
Supervisor, Real Estate and Workplace Services
GOOGLE
Cambridge, MA
04.2011 - 10.2011
- Led a team of Facilities Administrators and worked closely with the Facilities Manager on transitioning facilities items from ITA standards to post-acquisition standards.
Corporate Operations, Global Lead
ITA Software, Inc.
Cambridge, MA
03.2006 - 04.2011
- Managed reception, administrative and facilities staff, overseeing daily operations and leading annual performance reviews to drive team development
- Managed communication between ITA and building management to meet all organizational and facility requirements
- Successfully oversaw the provision of property management services encompassing janitorial, security, electrical, and HVAC.
Office Administrator
ITA Software, Inc.
Cambridge, MA
03.2004 - 03.2006
- Assisted business manager in executing legal, HR and office functions.
Education
Course work towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications -
Emerson College
Boston, MAAssociate in Arts in Mass Communications -
Newbury College
Brookline, MASkills
- Corporate Real Estate
- Leadership/communication skills
- Training and Development
- Operations Management
- Budget Development
- Leasing Acquisition and Disposition
- Strong Interpersonal Skills
- Building Strong Collaborative Teams
- Project Management
- Strategy Development
- Financial Management
- Procedure Implementation
Professional Development
- Earned Certificate from Achieve Global course –Achieving Stellar Service
- Consistently attend leadership and management conferences
- Consistently attend Real Estate and Facilities Conferences
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Global Director, Real Estate and Workplace
SONOS
04.2018 - Current
Senior Manager, Global Office Operations
ZERTO
03.2017 - 04.2018
Director, Global Office Experience
FUZE
08.2015 - 03.2017
Senior Manager, Office Experience (AMERICAS)
TRIPADVISOR
04.2015 - 08.2015
Office Operations Manager
TripAdvisor
08.2011 - 04.2015
Supervisor, Real Estate and Workplace Services
GOOGLE
04.2011 - 10.2011
Corporate Operations, Global Lead
ITA Software, Inc.
03.2006 - 04.2011
Office Administrator
ITA Software, Inc.
03.2004 - 03.2006
Course work towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications -
Emerson College
Associate in Arts in Mass Communications -
Newbury College
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