Director, Real Estate

**Department**: Real Estate

This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph

**General Purpose**

The University of Guelph is recruiting a **Director, Real Estate **to join our top tier organization. Reporting to the Vice-President (Finance & Operations), the Director, Real Estate acts as the expert in commercial real estate and is responsible for providing leadership in identifying, evaluating and executing real estate opportunities, negotiating agreements, marketing properties to potential tenants, and overseeing the University’s portfolio of revenue producing properties.

The University’s Real Estate Land Use Strategy provides the vision to facilitate phased redevelopment of the University’s non-core land holdings. The Director will lead the execution of the Land Use Strategy’s priorities, outlining the objectives and tactics. The Director must be able to formulate and evaluate proposed partnerships with potential development partners and be capable to negotiate effective agreements supporting these arrangements. In addition, the Director will have expertise in building strong and effective partnerships and experience capitalizing on commercial opportunities. The Director will bring a positive and collaborative leadership style along with engaging stakeholder management skills to ensure major change initiatives succeed.

The Real Estate Division is a lean organization consisting of the Director and two direct reports. In addition, many accounting and finance functions have been outsourced to a local accounting firm as well as relying on centralized University services such as accounts payable, treasury, and human resource functions. In addition to the Real Estate Division organization, the Director will work with the AVP Finance, Physical Resources Leadership team, AVP Ancillary Services and other internal team members, as required, to execute on the mandate.

The Director, Real Estate represents an opportunity to work with a small team in a highly collaborative environment. The University of Guelph also proudly offers a defined benefits pension plan as part of the compensation package for this position.

**Duties and Responsibilities**
- Provides strategic leadership, direction and development expertise to the Vice President (Finance & Operations) regarding the management of non-core real estate assets (non-core lands), market and financial analysis valuation, negotiations of acquisitions, sale/disposal of property, leasing and developmental partnerships within the non-core lands.
- Utilizes sound expert knowledge of major developments in the real estate industry, best practices and industry standards in order to determine revitalization strategies to maximize the utilization of non-core lands to their full potential (e.g. revenue generating opportunities).
- Oversees all aspects of the conceptualization and execution of complex real estate transactions and prepare business cases, financial analysis, risk assessment and investment payback to support acquisitions or joint-venture partnerships.
- Develops short and long-term real estate strategies to ensure acquisitions, divestments and partnerships are aligned with the business goals and growth plans of the University.
- Provides oversight and leadership of the University’s Real Estate Division administration, leasing and use agreement transactions, management of leases and leasehold improvement projects. Negotiates terms and conditions of non-core lands and commercial real estate leasing agreements on behalf of the University of Guelph.
- Prepares an annual budget, capital plan and business plan that meets the objectives of the Real Estate Division, and the Heritage Fund.
- Maintains a current knowledge of the real estate market and industry practices through association memberships, and attendance at appropriate seminars and industry meetings.
- Prepares regular and ad hoc reports for the Board of Trustees and the Vice President (Finance & Operations).

**Requirements**:

- Undergraduate degree in a related field; Master’s degree preferred in real estate development or urban planning, business administration or any related field.
- Real Estate License or a qualified professional designation
- 9-12 years related work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated experience as a leader for a real estate portfolio, including being accountable for strategy setting as well as the resulting financial performance. Working knowledge of real estate law and real estate finance and investment.
- Strong negotiation and analytical skills.
- Superior interpersonal skills with ability to work in a team environment, build strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders, and tactfully manage collaborate and collegial interactions.
- Knowledge and understanding of university policies and procedures is considered a strong asset.
- Strong leadershi