Director of Development

Director of Development, York University Development Corporation

York University Development Corporation (YUDC)

In 1985, York University (York or the University) incorporated York University Development Corporation (YUDC) as a private Ontario corporation, overseen by its own Board of Directors, to provide independent expertise on real estate & development planning and to engage in real estate & land development activities and execute projects and transactions on York's behalf.

YUDC has supported the University in the creation of foundation planning documents and to execute fundamental projects such as the City of Toronto Secondary Plan (2009); the Keele Campus Master Plan (2013); the QUAD Master Development Agreement and subsequent land lease transactions (2014-present); the PanAm Games stadium (2015); the subway extension to Vaughan (2017); the "Living Well Together: Keele Campus Vision & Strategy" (2021); and the Markham Centre Campus As well, in 2016, with a loan from the University YUDC purchased the York Lanes retail mall from York and has owned and operated it since.

YUDC plans and executes projects on behalf of the University, to support York's academic purpose and mission, where YUDC expertise and independence is beneficial. YUDC also acts as a subject matter expert resource to the University on issues such as land use planning, real estate development, land lease transactions, capital project planning and execution and general financial matters.

The Role

YUDC is seeking a strategic and results-oriented Director of Development to join its team. The Director will lead key real estate development projects across the Keele, Glendon, Markham and Vaughan campuses. The role will drive the creation of new communities in line with the University strategic vision and academic mission. The position involves overseeing the planning, development and execution of current projects, strategic decision support, board and committee governance material preparation and project management for YUDC's development activities.

This role is ideal for a candidate with 10+ years of experience in real estate development who thrives in a mission-driven environment and brings a blend of public sector ethos with private sector rigor, planning policy insight, project management capability, and strong leadership and communication skills. This role presents an outstanding opportunity to influence and contribute to an unparalleled period of real estate development growth within the unique context of a post-secondary land development corporation.

YUDC offers a collaborative, high-performance work environment that encourages initiative, values diverse perspectives, and supports continuous professional development.

Reporting Relationships

The Director, Development reports into the Chief Executive Officer of YUDC, with regular interaction with the Chief Development Officer, who will also provide direction and review work. The Director, Development will have two direct reports:

·      Development Manager (1)

·      Senior Manager, Planning and Community Development (1)

Key Responsibilities

The Director, Development will serve as the Corporation's primary development expert and assume a wide range of responsibilities that will require successful deployment of a comparable range of skills including:

A

Functional

·    A thorough understanding of major, complex real-estate development projects including the development economics and project financing approaches.

·    Working with legal documents including transaction legal documents (land leases and agreements of purchase and sale), site plan agreements, easements etc.

·    The ability to direct the preparation of project plans, zoning and site plan submissions as well as budgets for each project.

·    Proficiency in the requirements of the municipal planning process with demonstrated success in achieving Official Plan Amendments, Zoning By-Law Amendments, Site Plan Approvals; Experience working with external planners, planning lawyers, and expert consultants and are comfortable in complex and ever-changing policy environments.

·    A solid understanding of government structures and political processes as well as acquired experience fostering positive relations with municipal staff and politicians.

·    Thought leadership around innovative development trends, sustainable design practices and other relevant city building approaches.

·    Negotiation expertise with all stakeholders including ratepayer groups, municipal and other agencies, politicians, and other interest groups to ensure receipt of timely approvals and project outcomes.

B

Leadership & Management

·    Demonstrated mature judgment, the ability to make timely decisions and manage risk and uncertainty.

·    Leadership and organizational abilities, including setting priorities, meeting timelines and directing workflows for the development team

·    Experience providing direction, mentorship and growth opportunities for direct reports

·    Adeptness at initiating, developing, and maintaining positive and productive relationships with a broad range of university stakeholders, Community stakeholders, external real estate partners and government officials and staff.   

·    Active participation in YUDC Board Meetings and University committees and task forces as requested, representing YUDC.

C

Communication

·    Proficiency in establishing and maintaining strong communication and reporting protocols across the Development Team and with YUDC Leadership.

·    Expertise in employing appropriate communication techniques to effectively describe and represent complex issues, options, and recommendations.

·    Experienced in preparing written reports and presentation materials at an 'executive' and 'board governance' level to convey key concepts and details to assist in decision-making and governance approvals.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate brings:

·      A solid track record of progressive success and leadership across a 10 to 15-year career in real estate development, ideally with some experience within a similarly complex institutional environment.

·      A university-level degree in real estate, urban planning, engineering, architecture or related field. A graduate degree would be an asset but is not essential if offset by additional career experience.

·      Exceptional relationship-building, written and oral communication skills with stakeholders at multiple levels: within YUDC; with colleagues across the University; at the 'governance table'; and with development partners, municipal staff and politicians, and external constituents.

·      An entrepreneurial and driven, yet collaborative approach to teamwork with colleagues at YUDC, across the University, and externally.

Interested candidates are invited to send their curriculum vitae to