Matt Lesher

About Matt Lesher

I help real estate and construction teams hire leaders in facilities, engineering, and operations. Most searches don’t fall apart because talent doesn’t exist. They stall when expectations aren’t aligned, the role isn’t clearly scoped, or the hire looks great on paper but doesn’t fit the day to day reality of the job. That’s where retained search matters. At Real8 Group, we partner with owners, operators, and leadership teams on high impact hires where quality, discretion, and speed all matter. Our work is primarily Director through VP level roles across facilities, engineering, construction, and operations. Our retained process is simple and disciplined- Tight upfront intake to define scope, must haves, and success metrics- Targeted market mapping and outreach, not just inbound resumes- Shortlists with real context on strengths, risks, and motivation- Weekly communication and clean decision making through closeClients bring us in when the hire actually matters, not just to “see resumes.” If you’re hiring this year and want a quick read on the market, I’m always open to a short, no pressure conversation.

Experience

1. Managing Principal

   Real8 Group

   Jan 2026 — Present · Pittsburgh, PA, US

   At Real8 Group, I’m focused on expanding our executive and leadership search capabilities across real estate, facilities, design, and construction markets nationwide. As a Managing Principal, my work centers on supporting organizations within higher education, healthcare, cultural institutions and nonprofits, as well as commercial construction and real estate development.With more than 23 years of experience in retained executive search, I’ve partnered with a wide range of institutions and firms to attract and secure senior leadership—from middle management through the C-suite. My approach is relationship-driven and market-informed, combining direct candidate engagement with a collaborative search process that functions as a true extension of each client’s organization.Real8 Group provides strategic recruitment support by identifying strong local talent in any U.S. market while also executing regional and national searches when broader reach is required. Our depth of market knowledge, flexible search structures, and absence of off-limits restrictions allow us to deliver highly qualified professionals who align with both the role and the organization’s long-term goals- Lead retained executive searches across real estate and construction- Focus on Facilities, Engineering, Operations, and Project Leadership- Partner with CEOs, COOs, VPs of Ops, and HR leaders on critical hires- Known for fast, high-quality shortlists and high retention placements

Education

• Robert Morris University

  Bachelor of Science, Business Management

  1997 — 2001

Skills

• Executive Search
• Recruiting
• Construction
• Construction Management
• Project Management
• Contract Management
• Project Planning
• Business Development
• Facilities Management
• Management
• Management Consulting
• Engineering
• Sourcing
• Strategy
• Team Building
• Human Resources
• Strategic Consulting
• Strategic Planning
• Consulting
• Leadership
• Succession Planning
• Real Estate
• HR Consulting
• Talent Pipelining
• Strategic Recruitment Planning
• Executive Placements
• Real Estate Development
• Interviews
• Executive Management
• Retained Search
• Operations Management
• Client Development
• Change Management
• Time Management
• Business Planning
• Interviewing
• Recruitment / Retention