Director, Real Estate Services

Metro Vancouver; Burnaby; On-site; CAD 175,000 - 206,000; Full time

Job summary

Metro Vancouver is seeking a Director, Real Estate Services to lead real estate strategy and transaction management for its four legal entities from Burnaby. This leadership role demands independent judgment, strong negotiation skills, and oversight of complex portfolios and major capital projects.

You will supervise real estate professionals, negotiate high-stakes transactions, manage budgets, and provide strategic guidance to senior leaders while ensuring public value and alignment with

Qualifications

• A university degree in business, real estate, urban land economics, finance or related field with 10 years+ real estate leadership.
• Professional designation such as AACI, RI(BC), CCIM, CPM, RPA, MCIP or equivalent.
• Experience leading large, complex portfolios including valuation, leasing and asset stewardship.
• Deep knowledge of public sector real estate laws and policies.
• Proven ability to provide strategic advisory services for major projects.

Responsibilities

• Directs real estate services and portfolio stewardship across four legal entities including acquisition, redevelopment, leasing and asset optimization.
• Leads complex transactions: purchases, sales, leases, easements, rights-of-way and more.
• Manages budgets, forecasting, reporting and long-term financial planning for real estate assets.
• Advises senior staff on strategy, contracts, valuation, and risk matters.
• Makes major decisions and presents recommendations to the General Manager or Board.
• Oversees acquisitions through negotiation or expropriation and ensures legal compliance.
• Develops policies, standards, and framework for decision-making and performance.
• Reviews contracts and coordinates with Legal Services to protect interests.
• Hires and develops staff, drives accountability and inclusive leadership.
• Builds strong relationships with jurisdictions, First Nations, tenants, developers and stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Portfolio management

Stakeholder management

Real estate strategy

Executive presence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Real Estate

Urban Land Economics

Finance

Commerce

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Status: Full-Time Regular

Department: Procurement and Real Estate Services

Employee Group: Exempt

Location: 4515 Central Boulevard, Burnaby

Salary Range/ Wage Rate: Management / Leadership, Level M5B ($175,280.90 - $206,262.90 annually)(2024 wage rates)

Our Procurement and Real Estate Services Department is seeking a Director, Real Estate Services who will lead real estate strategy and transaction management for Metro Vancouver’s four legal entities, with broad decision-making latitude, considerable independent judgment, and accountability for matters with significant financial, legal, operational, reputational, commercial, political, and relationship implications.

You are a poised influential leader with proven exceptional communication skills, executive presence and the ability to confidently engage, negotiate and build trust with senior leaders and stakeholders. You bring deep expertise in real estate services, complex negotiations, and portfolio management within a multifaceted organizational environment.

The Director, Real Estate Services reports to the General Manager, Procurement & Real Estate Services.

This role:

• Directs professional real estate services and strategic portfolio stewardship across Metro Vancouver’s four legal entities (GVRD, GVWD, GVS&DD and MVHC), including acquisition, redevelopment, repurposing, consolidation, leasing, disposition, and asset optimization. Provides strategic advice on real estate implications for major capital projects, utility and regional services, housing priorities, and corporate initiatives.
• Leads complex transactions, including purchases, sales, leases, licences, easements, rights-of-way, statutory rights-of-way, tenure arrangements, and other land and property agreements.
• Accountable for budget preparation, resource planning, forecasting, reporting, and short and long term financial planning related to real estate assets, property rights, and tenure requirements. Monitors and controls spending ensuring the effective and efficient expenditure of funds within the approved budget. Develops enterprise strategies, work plans, portfolio priorities, and performance improvements aligned with Board direction, corporate objectives, financial plans, and client needs.
• Provides expert guidance to senior staff and client departments on real estate strategy, negotiations, contracts, valuation, and sensitive property issues. Manages complex, confidential, high-profile, and in-camera matters involving significant expenditures or revenues to protect the organization from financial harm and liability.
• Makes significant decisions and recommendations on transactions and portfolio management in a way that protects public value, supports infrastructure and housing priorities, and advances service delivery, affordability, resilience, climate action, and reconciliation; develops strategies for contractual, legal, and risk issues; and presents defensible reports, business cases, and recommendations to the General Manager, CAO, Committees, or Board as required.
• Provides leadership for acquisitions through negotiation or statutory expropriation, including litigation direction, claims settlement, and strategies to minimize cost, delay, and risk. Ensures compliance with the Local Government Act, Expropriation Act, land title requirements, and other applicable frameworks.
• Develop policies, procedures, protocols, standards, delegated authority frameworks, work plans, service standards, and performance measures that support timely, transparent, defensible, and risk-informed real estate decisions.
• Reviews, negotiates, prepares, and approves contract language and transaction documentation, working with Legal Services and internal partners to protect the organization’s interests.
• Hires, supervises, directs, coaches, and develops staff; manages performance against division, department, and corporate objectives; and builds a flexible, high-performing workforce through leadership development, technical training, knowledge transfer, succession planning, accountability, service excellence, innovation, and inclusion.
• Builds effective relationships with member jurisdictions, internal departments, other governments, First Nations and Indigenous governments and organizations, Crown agencies, tenants, developers, consultants, service providers, elected officials, media, and the public; supports meaningful, reciprocal engagement on property matters aligned with reconciliation commitments.
• Performs other related duties as required.

To be successful, you have:

• 10 years of recent, demonstrated experience leading and optimizing large, complex real estate portfolios, supplemented by a university degree in business administration, commerce, real estate, urban land economics, finance, or a related field, plus specialized training in real estate strategy, asset management, appraisal, and negotiation; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Accredited professional designation such as AACI, RI(BC), CCIM, CPM, RPA, MCIP, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated expertise leading and optimizing large, complex real estate portfolios, including valuation, appraisal, acquisition, leasing, development support, property management, marketing, disposition, and asset stewardship from owner and tenant perspectives.
• Extensive knowledge of legislation, regulations, bylaws, and policies governing public sector real estate, including expropriation, zoning, subdivision, site development, permitting, land title matters, and Board and committee governance.
• Proven ability to provide strategic advisory services and lead property acquisition and real estate strategy for large-scale, complex, multi-stakeholder capital and infrastructure projects with significant organizational impact.
• Excellent budgeting, financial management, and analytical skills, including the ability to manage budgets, evaluate options, interpret market and valuation information, develop defensible business cases and recommendations and ensure the effective and efficient expenditure of allocated funds.
• Proven excellent communication, presentation, and public speaking skills, with the ability to clearly and persuasively convey complex information to senior leadership, Boards, Committees, elected officials, and external stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills, including the ability to build trust, navigate conflict, and work tactfully in controversial, complex, and time-sensitive situations.
• Demonstrated ability to make complex and sometimes controversial decisions, exercise independent judgment, resolve issues with broader organizational impact, and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to lead with urgency, proactively advance priorities, and deliver complex, high-impact work. Demonstrated highly developed leadership, management, and supervisory skills, including the ability to inspire, coach, mentor, evaluate, and develop teams while driving individual and organizational excellence across direct, indirect, and matrixed environments. Sound understanding of labour and employee relations, collective agreements, and corporate policy requirements.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office applications and other digital tools relevant to reporting, planning, presentations, and project coordination.
• Valid BC Class 5 Driver’s License.

Our Vision:

Metro Vancouver embraces collaboration and innovation in providing sustainable regional services that contribute to a livable and resilient region and a healthy natural environment for current and future generations.

Metro Vancouver employees proudly serve the region and demonstrate the behaviours and attributes of six leadership competencies: Accountability, Adaptability, Building and Nurturing Relationships, Communication, Continuous Learning, and Strategic Thinking and Action.

At Metro Vancouver, we are committed to cultivating a diverse, safe, equitable, and inclusive work environment for all. We strive to attract and retain a talented, diverse workforce that is reflective of the region we serve. If an accommodation is required during the recruitment and selection process, please contact [e-mail] for support. Learn more about our commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion here.