Global Real Estate Strategy & Portfolio Leader
Resume:
RaMona L. Clayton, FMP, MBA
Durham, NC ***** 984-***-**** ******.*******@*****.***
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ramona-clayton
DIRECTOR, GLOBAL REAL ESTATE STRATEGIC OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE Global Portfolio Strategy Site Acquisition & Development Portfolio Optimization CapEx/OpEx Leadership
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Forward-thinking real estate and operations leader with 15+ years of experience driving enterprise-level real estate strategy and managing multi-country property portfolios. Proven track record of delivering 70% lease expense reductions, $55M+ capital deferrals, and $93K recurring savings through optimization, negotiations, and space redesign. Recognized for aligning facilities strategy with corporate growth objectives, delivering capital projects under budget, and leading cross-functional global teams. Trusted advisor to executives for real estate strategy, M&A due diligence, and long-range capital planning. CORE COMPETENCIES
- Global Real Estate Strategy & Portfolio Optimization
- Acquisitions, Site Selection & Dispositions
- Facilities Design, Construction & Lifecycle Planning
- Capital Project (CapEx) & OpEx Budget Management
- Forecasting, Variance Analysis & Financial Oversight
- M&A Due Diligence & Post-Merger Integration
- Vendor & Contractor Sourcing, Negotiation & Governance
- Workplace Strategy & Employee Experience Optimization
- Regulatory, Safety, EHS & Governance Compliance
- Team Leadership, Coaching & Cross-Functional Collaboration PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
RTI International – Durham, NC
Director, Leasing and Property Management 2020 – 2025
- Directed global real estate portfolio across 10+ domestic and international sites, balancing acquisitions, consolidations, and lease management to optimize portfolio performance.
- Negotiated lease restructures and executed footprint consolidations that cut lease expenses by 70% and reduced space utilization by 60% post-COVID, improving workplace flexibility.
- Oversaw $6.5M OpEx and multiple CapEx initiatives, achieving budget accuracy within 2% while aligning investments with enterprise R&D, office, and lab requirements.
- Delivered sustainability gains by embedding energy efficiency and space optimization into long-term real estate strategy.
- Partnered with executives on business continuity and hybrid workforce transitions, integrating facilities strategy with operational and financial priorities.
- Strengthened governance and compliance across portfolio, achieving 100% audit readiness for regulatory, safety, and environmental requirements. Senior Manager, Business Operations 2011 – 2020
- Directed operations for 1.8M sq. ft. of leased facilities across international locations, supporting 2,500+ employees with global lease compliance and service delivery.
- Developed portfolio optimization plan that deferred $55M in capital expenditures through workplace redesign and lifecycle extensions.
- Oversaw $11M annual OpEx budgets, consistently achieving 5% annual cost avoidance through forecasting and proactive spend controls.
- Led vendor sourcing and contract renegotiations, generating $25K+ annual savings while improving SLA performance.
- Introduced preventive and corrective maintenance strategies that reduced downtime and improved operational resilience.
Senior Project Manager, Facilities Strategic Services – Washington, DC 2006 – 2011
- Delivered 20+ tenant improvement and relocation projects, all completed on time and under budget.
- Executed regional space consolidations that produced $93K in recurring annual savings, improving asset efficiency.
- Supported M&A integration, ensuring seamless facilities transitions, lease continuity, and uninterrupted business operations.
- Partnered with business units to align real estate decisions with growth strategy and cost targets.
Administrative Assistant, Security and Safety – Durham, NC 2005 – 2006
- Provided operational and compliance support across multi-site commercial facilities, establishing foundation for advancement into global real estate leadership roles.
- Coordinated executive operations and meetings, and All Hands by developing agendas, consolidating decks, tracking action items, and ensuring timely follow-up and deliverables.
- Provided comprehensive executive support by managing complex, multi-leg international and domestic travel, proactively track logistics, maintain travel and expense budgets, and reconcile expense reports in compliance with company policy.
- Served as strategic partner and advisor that anticipated needs, exercise sound judgment with minimal direction, and ensure executive priorities, commitments, and communications remain aligned across the organization.
- Fostered operational excellence and mentorship by maintaining governance standards and collaborating with administrative partners to strengthen effectiveness. SELECTED IMPACT
- Delivered $55M+ in deferred capital investments via optimization and lifecycle planning.
- Reduced lease costs by 70% and improved utilization by 60% through strategic portfolio restructuring.
- Directed multi-country real estate operations, balancing acquisitions, compliance, and site transitions in support of enterprise expansion.
- Delivered 20+ capital projects under budget and ahead of schedule.
- Built and retained high-performing global teams, reducing turnover by 20% through inclusive leadership and development.
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
- MBA, Business Administration – University of Maryland Global Campus
- BBA, Business Administration – North Carolina Central University
- Facility Management Professional (FMP), IFMA
- Property Management Certificate, Cornell University
- Notary Public, NC - Exp. 2028
- Certified Loan Signing Agent – National Notary Association
- NC Real Estate License, In progress
TECHNICAL SKILLS
- MS Office Suite
- CMMS
- IWMS
- ERP
- Lease Management Systems
- Financial Reporting Tools
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- CoreNet Global
- Regional Transportation Alliance (RTA)
- National Black MBA Association
- National Notary Association
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