Director, Business Operations – Global Real Estate Operations
Location: Toronto, ON
Duration: December 15, 2026 – December 14, 2027
Position Overview
Our client is seeking a Director, Business Operations to support a global real estate operations function across Canada, the United States, and Asia.
This role will be responsible for developing and maintaining operational policies and standards, managing business unit risk and compliance programs, overseeing contracts and vendor relationships, supporting business continuity planning, and driving operational efficiencies across a global real estate investment platform.
The successful candidate will bring strong experience in investment management, real estate operations, business operations, risk, compliance, contracts, and process management, along with the ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders across multiple functions and regions.
Qualifications & Core Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Real Estate Management, or a related discipline preferred.
- 10+ years of professional experience, including at least 5 years within the investment management industry.
- Strong ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and meet tight deadlines.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
- Experience with real estate accounting systems required.
- Experience with Yardi, VTS, or Anaplan is an asset.
- Strong understanding of real estate investment, asset management, accounting, and administration.
- Experience working with real estate funds is an asset.
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills across multiple teams and geographic locations.
- Excellent communication, influencing, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong risk assessment and data analysis capabilities.
- Experience reviewing, monitoring, and auditing financial, operational, performance, and data reports for accuracy and integrity.
- Strong organizational, time management, and prioritization skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and perform effectively under pressure while maintaining a high level of attention to detail.
Key Responsibilities
1. Operational Policies & Process Management
- Develop, own, and lead the implementation of operational policies and procedures.
- Act as a subject matter expert for leasing policies, procurement policies, playbooks, and templates.
- Maintain an inventory of business unit policies, procedures, and templates, including tracking review and renewal dates.
- Lead third-party manager oversight programs, including tenant engagement surveys and property management/leasing broker scorecards.
- Develop and manage onboarding and offboarding processes for investments.
- Develop processes for onboarding new ventures and funds, including fund operational playbooks and clearly defined accountabilities across business functions.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and support organizational change.
2. Compliance & Risk Management
- Manage business unit compliance and risk management programs.
- Maintain organized records of business-managed contracts, including master agreements, service contracts, and vendor agreements.
- Lead responses to internal audits on behalf of the business unit.
- Coordinate and oversee external audit activities as required.
- Support administration of AML/ATF programs, including onboarding screening, monitoring, and reporting requirements.
- Coordinate compliance programs including AML, privacy assessments, and fraud risk assessments.
- Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities across compliance and risk management programs.
3. Contract & Vendor Management
- Lead business unit contracting and contract management activities.
- Work with stakeholders to identify critical business processes, assess risks, and develop mitigation strategies.
- Ensure procurement policies and third-party risk management standards are followed.
- Train stakeholders on procurement and third-party risk management requirements and act as a subject matter expert.
- Manage selected third-party vendor relationships.
- Develop business cases and obtain stakeholder consensus for new contract types.
- Maintain a centralized contract database/inventory containing contract terms, renewal dates, pricing, and other relevant information.
- Monitor contract renewals and expiry dates and proactively coordinate renewals or renegotiations.
- Review and process vendor invoices, ensuring accuracy, appropriate purchase order/contract matching, and required approvals.
4. Business Continuity Management
- Own and maintain the business unit's Business Continuity Plan (BCP).
- Work with stakeholders to identify critical business processes and assess operational risks.
- Develop strategies to mitigate potential business disruptions.
- Ensure employees understand their roles and responsibilities during business continuity events.
- Support preparedness and effective implementation of continuity plans during a crisis.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a senior business operations professional with a strong background in real estate investment management, who can combine operational leadership with risk management, compliance, contract management, vendor oversight, and business continuity. They should be comfortable working across regions, managing senior stakeholders, and driving process improvements in a complex investment environment.
