Chief Operating Officer - Corporate

Equiton; Burlington; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Equiton is seeking a Chief Operating Officer – Corporate to lead strategy, integration, and performance across Marketing, IT, Equiton Living, and Transformation/PMO. You will partner with the CEO and serve on the senior leadership team to drive cross-functional alignment and scalable operating platforms.

The role requires 15+ years of senior leadership in shared services or enterprise transformation, with governance design, cross-border experience Canada/US, and a track record of delivering cost

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership in shared services, corporate services or enterprise transformation.
• Experience leading operations across Canada and the US, including cross-border regulatory and workforce considerations.
• Broad functional experience spanning IT/digital enablement, analytics and digital workplace initiatives.
• Experience in marketing, transformation, and property management, with knowledge in risk and legal.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the firm's business strategy aligned with growth and geographic expansion into the US.
• Design and implement scalable governance frameworks, policies, and decision-making processes across Canada and the US.
• Hold functional heads accountable for strategy, execution, and performance; standardize end-to-end processes.

Skills

Executive leadership

Cross-border operations

IT & data fluency

Strategic planning

Change management

Stakeholder alignment

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/IT/related

MBA or professional designation (asset)

Tools

ERP systems

Cybersecurity awareness

Analytics tools

Job description

As Chief Operating Officer – Corporate, you will lead the strategy, integration, and performance of Equiton's enterprise support functions, creating an operating platform that scales with the firm's growth. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and serving on the senior leadership team, you will oversee the heads of Marketing, Information Technology, Equiton Living (Property Management) and Transformation/PMO, holding each accountable for the performance of their function while driving cross-functional alignment. You will maintain close partnership with Legal & Risk, which reports directly to the CEO, providing operational support.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with the CEO to define and deliver the firm's business strategy, ensuring it keeps pace with AUM growth and geographic expansion into the US.
• Design and implement scalable governance frameworks, policies, and decision-making processes across both Canada and the US.

Oversight of Functional Leaders:

• Hold each department head accountable for the strategy, execution, and performance of their function.
• Standardize and simplify end-to-end processes across departments, eliminating unnecessary, redundant, or low-value activities while preserving work required for legal, regulatory, or risk reasons and maintaining appropriate business-partner support.

Marketing and Communications:

• Set strategic direction for the Marketing function and hold the Marketing leaders accountable for aligning brand, communications, investor and channel marketing, growth and digital, content and creative, events, property marketing, and marketing operations into one coherent strategy.
• Ensure Marketing operates as a revenue-enabling function, with clear attribution to demand generation, brand growth, and talent outcomes.

Technology:

• Hold the Technology leader accountable for enterprise technology enablement, systems strategy, cybersecurity, data governance, automation and integrations, ensuring the roadmap is resourced and delivered in partnership with internal and external specialists.
• Ensure the technology roadmap supports the firm's growth and cross-functional efficiency.

Equiton Living, Property Management:

• Work closely with the COO, Income Producing Properties (IPP), to align divisional priorities with corporate objectives and ensure effective coordination across shared services functions.
• Support the delivery of strategic initiatives, governance, and operational improvements that require cross-functional partnership between Equiton Living and corporate teams.

Transformation & PMO:

• Sponsor the enterprise transformation agenda, working with the functional leader to prioritize, sequence, and resource the strategic initiatives that move Equiton toward its target operating model.
• Ensure the PMO delivers clear portfolio governance: a single view of all active initiatives, dependencies, resource allocation, and executive-level reporting.
• Drive change management discipline across the firm.

Operational Efficiency & Budget:

• Own the aggregated corporate budget framework, forecasting, resourcing and cost management in partnership with the CFO and functional leaders.
• Drive operational efficiency and productivity across the company, focusing resources on higher-value work and holding leaders accountable for measurable improvements, including the shared services cost-to-revenue ratio.

What You Bring:

• 15+ years of progressive leadership in shared services, corporate services, business operations or enterprise transformation, with significant executive-level accountability. Demonstrated success building, integrating, or transforming multiple support functions in a high-growth, regulated organization.
• Experience leading operations across both Canada and the US, including navigating cross-border regulatory, workforce, and operational requirements.
• Broad functional experience spanning IT/digital enablement, with strong technology and data fluency, including experience sponsoring enterprise systems, automation, cybersecurity, analytics and digital workplace initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in marketing, transformation/project management and property management, with knowledge in risk and legal.
• Proven ability to design scalable operating models, standardize processes, implement service-level measures and improve cost, quality, controls, and employee experience.
• Commercial and financial acumen, including budgeting, workforce planning, vendor negotiations, business cases, and benefits realization.
• Exceptional leadership, influence, and change-management skills, with a practical, hands-on style balanced by strategic thinking. Strong communicator with the credibility to align senior stakeholders and lead through ambiguity.
• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, information technology, or a related field; an MBA or relevant professional designation is considered an asset.
• Income Producing Properties (IPP) / operational background is considered an asset.
• Experience in financial services, investment management, real estate, or private equity is preferred.

About Us

Founded in 2015, Equiton is one of Canada’s fastest-growing private equity firms, helping Canadians build wealth through high-quality real estate investments. Our mission is to make private real estate accessible to more Canadians, and our team is the driving force behind our success.

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Why Equiton?

Our culture is built on integrity, accountability, and innovation. We empower our team to take initiative, think independently, and grow personally and professionally. To learn more about our core values, click here.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We’re an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and accessible workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. If you need accommodation during the hiring process, please let us know. We’re happy to help.

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please note that at present, legal eligibility to work in Canada is a prerequisite for this role.

As part of our recruitment process, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support activities such as resume screening, interview scheduling, note-taking, and candidate evaluation. AI-assisted tools are used to help improve efficiency and consistency; however, all hiring decisions are made by qualified members of our hiring team. We are committed to ensuring a fair, inclusive, and human-centered recruitment process.