About Wilfrid Laurier University

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading Canadian university that excels at inspiring lives of leadership and purpose. Its holistic approach to learning integrates innovative programming with hands-on experience outside the classroom. Through its community of researchers, leaders and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its academic excellence and global impact. In acknowledgement of its exemplary workplace policies and programs, and its commitment to sustainability and lifelong learning, Laurier was named one of the Waterloo Area’s Top Employers in 2020 and 2021. Laurier specializes in arts and social sciences, business and economics, music, science, social work, education, and theology.

The University has over 20,000 students, campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, locations in Kitchener and Toronto, and a research office in Yellowknife. Kitchener, Waterloo and Brantford are on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnawbe and Haudenosaunee peoples. Wilfrid Laurier University’s Waterloo and Brantford campuses and Kitchener location are located on the Haldimand Tract.

Associate Director of Real Estate and Land Use Planning

Under the direction of the AVP of Facilities & Asset Management (FAM), the Associate Director of Real Estate and Land Use Planning is responsible for overseeing the university’s long-term strategic plan as it relates to matters of the university’s real estate assets, land use and development. The Associate Director is responsible for providing leadership in identifying and evaluating real estate opportunities at all campuses and locations. Real estate opportunities entail negotiating complex agreements for the purchase, sale and leasing of capital assets. The Associate Director will oversee the work of consultants and lawyers.  Further, the Associate Director will engage with private sector property owners, municipal officials and internal and external stakeholders to handle all aspects of real estate transactions varying in size from thousands of dollars to millions of dollars.  The Associate Director must be a strategic communications professional with superior written and verbal communication skills in addition to strong negotiating skills in order to be able to lead real estate transactions.

In addition to internal collaboration and consultation, the role involves a significant amount of external engagement with consultants, neighboring landowners, government officials and the broader community. Within these interactions, the incumbent must display a superior level of professionalism, accountability and knowledge in dealing with sensitive and confidential information of consequence to the university’s reputation and strategic priorities. The ability to provide strategic direction to external legal counsel and other consultants is key to the role.

This position has a university-wide mandate and is based at the Waterloo Campus.  The incumbent provides leadership in a multi-campus environment, requiring regular interaction, communication and collaboration with staff and stakeholders at the Waterloo Campus, Brantford Campus, Yellowknife location, Kitchener location and Milton Campus. The Associate Director will ensure the unit’s policies, programs and services are delivered equitably across all campuses and reflect the needs of local stakeholders.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Post-secondary education (business, legal, real estate or other related field), and at least ten (10) years’ experience providing leadership in a real estate, or development role;
• Strong working knowledge of real estate law, planning policy and real estate finance and investment.

Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to think strategically, and identify short/medium/long term implications and opportunities of proposed recommendation and decisions;
• Demonstrated experience successfully negotiating high value and complex transactions with sophisticated counterparts
• Experience fostering strong relationships with counterparts, industry representative and the broader community
• Ability to provide leadership and direction, and to make timely decisions;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to work collegially and effectively with individuals at all levels within or related to a complex organization (students, staff, faculty, administrators, and external constituencies including alumni, government, and members of business community);
• Ability to participate effectively in a team-based information sharing environment;
• Appreciation of diverse perspectives and ability to work with diverse groups;
• Ability to consistently exercise independent judgement.
• Experience successfully managing projects and new initiatives,
• Ability to clearly organize and communicate financial/budgetary information to staff/managers at all levels;
• Ability to work to deadlines, proven dependability and flexibility, including a willingness to adjust work hours from time to time to meet deadlines;
• Demonstrated ability to plan, prioritize and deliver on multiple tasks on time in a rapidly-changing and challenging environment;
• Technically adept with applicable software applications, Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), web applications, and enterprise resource planning solutions; with the ability to, and interest in, learning applications in the Laurier IT environment.
• An in-depth knowledge of the University’s processes is an asset.

How to Apply

To express interest in this opportunity please apply online at: https://meridiarecruitment.ca/Career/17010

For more information about this exciting opportunity, please contact Mark Gillis, Partner, at mgillis@kbrs.ca or Natalie Lagace, Recruitment Specialist, at nlagace@kbrs.ca.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with the best available candidates who have the appropriate combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Wilfrid Laurier University is committed to equity and values diversity. We welcome applications from qualified individuals of all genders and sexual orientations, persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons and racialized persons.

Candidates can request to complete an Applicant Equity Survey to identify if they belong with one or more of the federally designated groups (more broadly referred to at Laurier as equity seeking groups).  Members of the designated groups must self-identify to be considered for employment equity.  Further information on the equity policy can be found at: https://www.wlu.ca/about/governance/assets/resources/8.4-employment-equity.html.

Wilfrid Laurier University and KBRS will provide support in the recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation in order to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact accommodate@kbrs.ca or communicate your needs to the recruitment professional named in the job description.