Real Estate Business Operations Director (REAL ESTATE)
Duration: 18 months
Location: Toronto, ON
Work Model: Hybrid – 3 days onsite per week
Industry: Financial Services / Global Asset Management
Function: Real Estate Operations
Job Overview
We are seeking a highly experienced Real Estate Business Operations professional to support global real estate asset management operations across Canada, the United States, and Asia.
This is a senior-level individual contributor/manager position focused on real estate operations, governance, policy development, risk management, compliance, audit coordination, contract management, and process improvement.
The role will work closely with senior real estate leaders and cross-functional teams including Risk, Compliance, Audit, Legal, Procurement, and external vendors.
This is not a traditional IT Business Analyst or accounting-focused role.
Key Responsibilities
Real Estate Operations & Governance
- Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of operational policies, procedures, playbooks, and governance frameworks.
- Manage and improve investment onboarding and offboarding processes.
- Support onboarding of new funds, ventures, and business initiatives.
- Establish clear operational processes, roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities across functions.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and implement process improvements.
- Oversee third-party management programs, including property management and leasing broker governance.
Risk, Compliance & Audit
- Partner with Risk and Compliance teams on business unit risk management activities.
- Coordinate internal and external audit responses and related activities.
- Support AML/ATF program administration, including onboarding screening, monitoring, reporting, and compliance activities.
- Coordinate privacy assessments, fraud-risk assessments, and other compliance reporting programs.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen risk and compliance processes.
Policy & Procedure Management
- Draft, maintain, and implement business policies and procedures.
- Act as a subject matter expert for areas such as leasing, procurement, operational governance, and third-party management.
- Maintain an inventory of policies, procedures, templates, and playbooks.
- Track policy review and renewal dates and ensure documentation remains current.
Contract & Vendor Management
- Manage and maintain business-unit contracts, including master agreements, service contracts, and vendor agreements.
- Support procurement activities and ensure adherence to third-party risk management requirements.
- Manage selected third-party vendor relationships.
- Track contract terms, renewal dates, pricing, and expiration dates.
- Coordinate contract renewals and renegotiations where required.
- Review and process vendor invoices while ensuring alignment with purchase orders, contracts, and required approvals.
Business Continuity
- Own and maintain the business continuity plan for the business unit.
- Identify critical business processes and assess operational risks.
- Develop strategies to minimize business disruption.
- Coordinate with stakeholders to ensure employees understand business continuity responsibilities.
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years of professional experience, including approximately 5+ years of experience in real estate management/operations.
- Strong commercial real estate / real estate operations background.
- Experience working with real estate investment, asset management, or real estate funds.
- Demonstrated experience drafting and managing policies, procedures, governance documentation, or operational playbooks.
- Experience partnering with Risk, Audit, Compliance, Legal, or Procurement teams.
- Strong understanding of real estate investment, asset management, accounting, and administration concepts.
- Experience with a real estate accounting system required; Yardi preferred.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
- Strong analytical, organizational, prioritization, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively under tight deadlines.
- Strong stakeholder management skills and ability to work across global teams and locations.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Real Estate Management, or a related field preferred.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Yardi, VTS, or Anaplan.
- Experience supporting global real estate investment operations.
- Experience with real estate funds or investment management.
- Contract and vendor management experience.
- Exposure to AML/ATF, governance, risk management, or compliance programs.
- Experience working with third-party property managers, leasing brokers, or other real estate service providers.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a senior Real Estate Operations / Asset Management / Investment Operations professional who combines strong real estate industry knowledge with experience in governance, policy development, risk, compliance, audit, contracts, and operational improvement.
Candidates should be comfortable working with senior stakeholders and global teams across multiple regions.
