Vice President of Sustainability and Impact

Acre is proud to partner with Acento Real Estate Partners in their search for a Vice President, Sustainability and Impact.

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Location: Bethesda, Maryland (Hybrid, On-Site)

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About Acento:

Acento Real Estate Partners is a mission-driven real estate investment management and operating company focused on value creation, sustainability, and social impact. The firm has a US-focused portfolio spanning asset classes, with a current specialization in multifamily workforce housing for Hispanic families in the Mid-Atlantic region. The team is united by a common purpose: creating value and improving the quality of life of the people they connect with.

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With clients and investors across the United States and Latin America, Acento has developed a robust foundation of investment. The firm has a vertically integrated platform currently invested in over $1.5B in workforce multifamily assets and 1.01M SF across retail, office, and industrial assets. The firm is raising its fourth fund, which, when deployed, will bring Acento to approximately 20,000 multifamily units under ownership and management.

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Role Summary:

Reporting to the CEO, the VP of Sustainability and Impact will be responsible for leading and building upon Acento's current vision and strategy for environmental sustainability and social impact, developing targets and goals, and implementing best practices in collaboration with leadership across the organization. The VP will identify new opportunities for the reduction of environmental impact, specifically energy, water, waste, and carbon, and increase the educational outcomes of the students living at its properties, with a focus on reducing high-school dropout rates. The VP will report and measure sustainability progress over time.

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Role Responsibilities:

• Strategy:

• Build upon Acento's current environmental and social impact vision and strategy.

• Execute and implement a sustainability and impact strategy aligned with the company's short-term and long-term business and financial goals and industry best practices.

• Provide internal and external leadership, establishing clear communication for sustainability and impact within the organization and communicating its importance to all stakeholders.

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• Data & Reporting:

• Ensure accurate and transparent data collection and reporting on sustainability and impact performance.

• Track progress against sustainability and ESG goals.

• Ensure compliance with relevant sustainability regulations and disclosure requirements at corporate and property level.

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• Investment & Finance:

• Determine the financial ROI of proposed sustainability and impact projects.

• Collaborate with Investor Relations and Finance to integrate sustainability metrics and ESG factors into acquisitions criteria, capex decisions, company reporting and operating decision-making processes.

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• Leadership:

• Be Acento's face of impact and sustainability internally and externally.

• Understand capital partners' requirements and goals and keep Acento's program in line with business strategy goals and return targets.

• Lead a small team of direct reports, including a Director of Social Impact Programs and an Analyst, and execute the strategy to deadlines and budgets.

• Manage relationships with third-party consultants, technical experts, and vendors that support Acento's sustainability efforts. Define and secure necessary external expertise as needed.

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• Environmental Sustainability - Energy, Carbon, Waste & Water Impact:

• Set targets for energy, water, waste, and carbon reduction.

• Identify and assess environmental risks and opportunities across the company's operations, projects, and properties backed by financial analysis. Mitigate key risks, including federal, state, and local laws pertaining to energy efficiency, carbon limits, waste, recycling, and water use

• Design and implement strategies to minimize the environmental impact of existing properties, asset renovations, and future acquisitions in partnership with Property Management and Finance.

• Implement energy and water-efficient measures and renewable energy solutions to decrease owner and tenant consumption and decrease the company's carbon footprint.

• Explore innovative technologies and partnerships to optimize utility efficiency in buildings.

• Determine appropriate placements of scalable renewable technologies.

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• Social Impact:

• Develop a strategy that supports social programs in the communities and for employees of the company, e.g. increased graduation rates by predominantly Hispanic students living at Acento properties.

• Assess quantitatively and qualitatively the top priorities of Acento tenants and develop a strategy to address the top needs of the residents living in Acento communities.

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• Stakeholder Engagement:

• Promote sustainability initiatives and foster a culture of sustainability within the organization through an internal engagement strategy in partnership with the Property Management and Human Resources team.

• Engage with key external stakeholders, from fund investors to industry associations and government entities to present Acento's sustainability and impact strategy and identify value-add opportunities.

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• Green Building Practices:

• Oversee the incorporation of sustainable building practices and green technologies into properties per the sustainability strategy (e.g., ENERGY STAR, LEED, BREEAM, WELL).

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Required Experience, Knowledge, Competencies, and Skills:

• Bachelor's degree

• 10 years of combined experience in:

• Sustainable investing,

• ESG integration and ongoing operations, or

• Sustainability strategy development and implementation within the real estate sector

• Strong knowledge of ESG frameworks and reporting standards (e.g., GRESB, GRI, SASB, PRI).

• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills, with the ability to assess the financial implications of sustainability initiatives.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.

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Desirable Experience, Knowledge, Competencies, and Skills:

• Bachelor's degree: Environmental, Civil, Energy or Industrial Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Sustainability, Environmental Management, Real Estate, Business)

• Experience in the multifamily real estate sector.

• Results-oriented work approach with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

• Familiarity with regulatory reporting requirements, including state/local benchmarking laws and building performance ordinances and green building practices and certifications in the real estate multifamily industry.

• Commitment to environmental and social responsibility.

• Knowledge of international and US energy, waste management and recycling regulations.

• Ability to speak confidently in public forums and to fund stakeholders to represent the fund and the sustainability strategy (exceptional stakeholder management skills).

• Relevant certifications or memberships (e.g., CFA, LEED AP, GRI Certified Sustainability Reporting Specialist).

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Organizational Culture:

• This role is in the Acento office in Bethesda, MD with a hybrid/in-office work culture.

• Current travel is expected to be local and US Mid-Atlantic with occasional travel outside the region.

• The Acento team members are passionate, innovative relationship-builders who are self-motivated and work together in a highly collaborative manner.