Evan Cottingham

About Evan Cottingham

I design and deliver workplaces that work for people, for culture, and for the business.As a Director of Spaces & Workplace, I lead the full lifecycle of corporate real estate and workplace programs from early visioning and lease strategy through design, construction, launch, and ongoing operations. My work spans global office portfolios, complex build‑outs, decommissions, subleases, and workplace transformations, often in fast‑moving, high‑growth, or high‑risk environments.What sets my work apart is a simple belief: spaces should be engaging, inspiring, and designed for all work styles. Great workplaces aren’t just beautiful they remove friction, support how people actually work, and quietly reinforce trust, safety, and belonging. I partner closely with executive leadership, real estate, IT/AV, security, finance, and local market teams to translate business strategy into environments that are resilient, inclusive, and operationally sound.I’m known for being deeply hands‑on and highly collaborative. I enjoy untangling ambiguity, asking the uncomfortable questions early, and bringing clarity to complex problems whether that’s navigating budget volatility, aligning global stakeholders, rebuilding vendor relationships, or resetting team operating models. I care as much about how work gets done as what gets delivered.Equally important, I’m a people‑first leader. I invest heavily in building trust, developing talent, and creating teams that feel ownership and pride in their work. I believe strong outcomes come from environments where people feel heard, supported, and challenged to grow.

Experience

1. Director, Global re & W and Security Services

   Slalom

   Jan 2025 — Present · Seattle, WA, US

   Provide senior leadership for a multi‑region real estate and workplace portfolio, shaping how physical environments support growth and cuture connection in a flexible, distributed organization-Deliver real estate negotiations and portfolio actions—including new sites, renewals, expansions, exits, and subleases—across domestic and international markets-Oversee the planning and delivery of office buildouts and major renovations, from early concept through occupancy, with accountability for budget, schedule, quality, and user experience-Develop repeatable standards and frameworks for workplace design, space planning, and operational readiness to support consistency without limiting local expression-Build and maintain strong partnerships with external advisors and service providers across architecture, construction, furniture, property management, and facilities services-Partner closely with Finance and Operations leaders to manage budgets, forecast future needs, evaluate tradeoffs, and plan for both expansion and consolidation scenarios-Work cross‑functionally with IT, Security, Legal, and People teams to ensure workplaces are well integrated, compliant, and aligned with broader company policies and systems-Hire, mentor, and lead high‑performing workplace and real estate professionals, building clarity, trust, and accountability across a growing team-Provide clear, executive‑level visibility into portfolio performance, project progress, financial health, and strategic options to support leadership decision‑making-Known for operating effectively in fast‑changing, high‑growth environments, bringing structure where none exists and moving work forward without waiting for a perfect playbook-Lead with a people‑centered mindset, designing and operating spaces that encourage collaboration and connection while supporting flexible ways of working.

Education

• Edmonds College

  Certificate, Culinary Arts

Skills

• Contract Negotiation
• Strategic Planning
• Operations Management
• Process Improvement
• Construction
• Customer Service
• Negotiation
• Facilities Management
• Management
• Team Building
• Analysis
• Contract Management
• Team Leadership
• Budgets
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Leadership
• Project Planning
• Procurement
• Project Management
• Vendor Management