Head of Programs

Head of Programs & Content

• Location: US remote with significant travel
• Reports to: CEO
• Team: Manages one direct report; collaborates across an 8-person team

About PREA

The Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) is the leading global nonprofit association serving and educating the institutional real estate investment community. PREA curates the content, conversations, and connections that shape the industry, through world-class meetings, influential research, thought leadership, and member-driven programming.

Our members include the world’s most prominent institutional investors, investment managers and industry partners. PREA’s meetings, research and publications are where the global community comes together to exchange ideas, build relationships and stay ahead of the forces moving real estate markets.

The Opportunity

PREA is seeking a Head of Programs & Content to help shape how the industry experiences PREA, across meetings, research, editorial content, committees, affinities, and digital engagement.

This is a hands-on role with two main dimensions:

• An internal, operational focus working alongside the CEO and PREA staff to plan and deliver programs
• An external, member-facing focus engaging senior leaders across the industry.

PREA is seeking someone with strong editorial instincts, an understanding of institutional real estate and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, small-team environment. This role suits a mid-career professional ready to take ownership of major programs, work closely with the CEO and develop into a senior content strategist.

You will help ensure PREA delivers consistently excellent programming across a full annual calendar of meetings and member activities, while also elevating the visibility of PREA’s research, thought leadership and investor engagement initiatives.

This role also offers a unique career advantage: you will develop an unrivaled network of senior institutional investors and investment managers, gaining exposure and relationships that position you for a high-profile future in the industry.

Role Summary

The Head of Programs & Content is responsible for the development, coordination, and execution of PREA’s full programs and content ecosystem.

You will partner directly with the CEO to develop PREA’s flagship Spring and Fall Conferences, while taking leadership responsibility for other meetings and content initiatives throughout the year.

This role demands exceptional time management, strong communication skills, editorial capability and the ability to handle multiple overlapping deadlines with precision. You must be a proactive, enthusiastic team player who thrives in a small, highly collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Meetings & Program Strategy

Lead program design, agenda development and speaker coordination for all PREA meetings, and work alongside the CEO and other PREA team members for PREA’s flagship Spring and Fall Conferences. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Partnering closely with the CEO on PREA’s flagship Spring and Fall Conferences managing and executing the agenda development, speaker coordination and outreach and run of show onsite.
• Serving as the primary content and program lead for the PREA Institute, regional “Near You” events, webinars and virtual programs.
• Managing overlapping meeting planning cycles across a 20–24 week timeline, ensuring consistency and quality.
• Working closely with the CEO, Head of Meetings and other PREA team members to develop logistical, editorial and financial strategies for PREA’s flagship Spring and Fall Conferences.

2. Committees, Affinities & Member-Led Programming

PREA members are a critical component of its programs. The Head of Programs will be a core element for providing staff support to our Committees and Affinity Groups. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Helping members with agenda development, meeting preparation and post-meeting summaries.
• Maintaining a structured feedback loop between Committees, Affinities, Membership, and the Board.
• Ensuring all member-led groups receive consistent content support and operational continuity.

3. Content, Editorial & Live Execution

The Head of Programs role is about providing editorial guidance to members assisting the planning of PREA’s meetings as well as speakers and moderators. The aim is to strengthen clarity, pacing and alignment with member priorities. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Drafting and refining session descriptions, working with moderators on structure and talking points and run-of-show documents.
• Running the meeting room during live sessions: coordinating speakers, managing timing and transitions, collaborating with AV, and facilitating interactive participation.
• Producing post-event reports for the CEO and Board with insights, takeaways, and recommended improvements.

4. Publications & Editorial Coordination: PREA Quarterly

The Head of Programs will also act as PREA’s primary liaison to the editorial director of PREA’s magazine, the PREA Quarterly. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinating PREA-side workflow and assisting where helpful with author outreach, scheduling and Committee communication.
• Providing ideas, context and connective tissue between the Quarterly and PREA’s broader content ecosystem, including meetings, Committees, Affinity Groups, research and member submissions.
• Serving as an interviewer and contributor for select Quarterly elements, including the LP interview series, and help bring forward themes and topics arising across PREA programs.
• Supporting internal coordination of PREA-originated content and ensure alignment between the Quarterly, PREA’s programming calendar and wider content priorities.

5. Marketing, Promotion & Visibility

The Head of Programs will act as the marketing and communications lead for all PREA programs, meetings and content. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Writing and managing registration emails, website updates, event announcements and PREA’s LinkedIn and social presence.
• Promoting PREA’s research, surveys and thought leadership, including the PREA Quarterly, by developing coordinated messaging and amplification strategies.
• Partnering with the Head of Research to increase visibility and impact of research releases.
• Conducting targeted investor outreach campaigns to grow attendance, enhance participation and diversify PREA’s institutional investor base.

6. Data, Feedback & Quality Assurance

The Head of Programs will ensure program quality, consistency and alignment with PREA’s mission to serve and educate the global institutional real estate community throughout all their work. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Establishing KPIs for each program and track performance over time.
• Maintaining a database of speakers, contributors, topics and member feedback.

7. Cross-Functional Leadership & Team Culture

PREA is a small team and each role requires significant collaboration with other team members. The Head of Programs is required to work closely with colleagues across Meetings, Membership and Research. The ability to demonstrate a team-first mindset is essential within PREA’s small, high-performing team of eight. The Head of Programs will also:

• Manage one direct report.
• Model professionalism, flexibility, and accountability under tight deadlines.

Required Experience & Skills

PREA is looking for someone with 7–10 years of experience in institutional real estate, real estate journalism, program management, content strategy, or related fields. The following attributes are also considered ideal:

• Strong understanding of institutional investors and real estate capital markets.
• Demonstrated ability to shape ideas into compelling discussions, sessions, or editorial content.
• Excellent time management with the ability to juggle multiple simultaneous deadlines.
• Strong communicator with the presence to work effectively with senior industry figures.
• Experience managing staff and collaborating within small, agile teams.

Personal Qualities that Lead to Success: A genuine team player who thrives in a small, collaborative environment and with a high degree of self-direction, ownership and reliability. We want to find someone with an intellectual curiosity and a desire to stay connected to investor priorities. The person should be calm under pressure, especially during live events and have a strong alignment with PREA’s culture of professionalism, quality and service.

Travel Requirement: This role requires extensive travel (12–15 trips per year) to PREA meetings and select external industry events. Travel is required.

Compensation: PREA offers competitive compensation and an excellent benefits package, commensurate with experience and responsibility.

Founded in 1979, the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) serves and educates the global institutional real estate community.

We fulfill this mission through thoughtful curation, combining deep, data-driven research and content with meaningful connections among institutional investors, investment managers and partners.

Together, these elements create an ecosystem of knowledge and community that advances institutional real estate globally.