Director of Community Real Estate and Asset Strategies

Position Title: Director of Community Real Estate and Asset Strategies

Salary: $140,000 - $160,000

Schedule: 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday to Friday (75 hours bi-weekly)

Organizational Focus:

Pacifica Housing Advisory Association (Pacifica Housing) has been providing safe and affordable homes for almost 35 years and is one of the largest non-profit housing providers on Vancouver Island. As a charitable organization, Pacifica Housing/'s vision is to provide Equitable housing in pursuit of thriving communities. Our mission is to advance independence of individuals and families through equitable housing and supportive services. Our values are Authenticity, Leadership, Respect and Social Justice.

Pacifica Housing is a rapidly growing organization dedicated to meeting the housing and support needs of our community. As such, we are committed to building up our fast-growing team with a culture that supports and drives our people and reinforces our team with caring, responsible innovators. Pacifica owns and/or operates 38 properties in addition to a number of programs. The annual budget is approximately $35M and the total staff complement is around 160 employees.

Pacifica is proud to be a Certified Living Wage Employer by The Living Wage for Families Campaign. A living wage is defined as the hourly amount a family needs to cover basic expenses and is calculated based on the cost of living for that region. Providing a Living Wage is beneficial to the economy, community and employees.

Summary of Position

Reporting to the CEO, the Director of Community Real Estate and Asset Strategies is a member of Pacifica’s Executive Team and works closely with the CEO to harness the maximum potential of adding density and improving the life span of Pacifica’s existing portfolio, while reducing its carbon footprint. The Director will help us leverage opportunities to acquire/build new sites, redevelop existing sites and implement capital upgrades where appropriate with the purpose of preserving and adding as much affordable housing stock as possible in the communities we serve. Overseeing a team consultants and contractors, the Director will act in the best interest of Pacifica at all times, working to ensure its long-term stability and financial viability while helping address the urgent need for affordable housing.

Pacifica is seeking a strategic systems thinker that is able to draw upon analytical skills, business acumen, relationship building, and project management experience to integrate and follow-through on practical solutions that strengthen the organization. The ideal candidate is mission driven and embraces that, at its core, the prudent management and growth of Pacifica/'s assets is in service to the community.

Primary Objectives

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this position this position plays a key role in providing effective leadership, management and support in the following areas:

1. Ensure a high standard of service delivery to a diverse internal and external stakeholder group (internal departments, tenants, clients, funders, neighbors, etc.).
2. Update and implement Pacifica Housing/'s 10-year real estate development plans.
3. Support the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Maintenance in designing strategies to address aging assets, including seeking financial tools to meet the organization/'s capital needs.
4. Evaluate, recommend and pursue acquisitions and divestitures where applicable.
5. Work with the Chief Executive Officer to seek out and secure funding and financing for the department/'s initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Real Estate Development and Acquisitions

- Update and implement Pacifica Housing/'s 10-year strategic real estate development strategy.

- Work closely with the Chief Executive Officer to coordinate the implementation and resourcing of the plan.

- Possess up to date and comprehensive knowledge of municipal, regional, provincial, and federal affordable housing capital and operational funding programs.

- Undertake funding program under-writing analyses in-house to assess the viability of redevelopment opportunities for both existing assets and potential acquisitions.

- Develop and maintain relationships with governmental funding agents and stakeholders.

- Provide consultant, contractor oversight of various development and redevelopment projects through completion.

- Support operationalization of new projects and overseeing resolution of deficiencies.

- Ensure reporting requirements take place to both internal and external stakeholders. This includes provincial and federal reporting for project funding programs.

- Provide staff support to the Board Real Estate Development Committee.

- Lead municipal approvals processes including assembling required documents, and consultation with neighbors, elected officials and stakeholders.

- Work with our Fund Development Manager to seek out and apply for funding opportunities, including alternative sources of funds, and developing a funding and financing strategy.

2. Engagement

- Participate in community engagement efforts with support from communications and engagement professionals.

- Collaborate and maintain positive relationships with all teams in Pacifica.

- Engage and maintain positive relationships with funders and multiple stakeholders.

- Provide timely and respectful responses to community inquiries or complaints in the spirit of our good neighbor policy.

- Engage and consult with sector peers to support problem solving and decision-making.

- Identify and develop partnerships and maintain strong relationships.

3. Other

- Develop risk assessment and mitigation strategies and provide regular project and strategy progress reports.

- Provide financial/budget expertise related to real estate development and construction, in close consultation with the Director of Finance.

- Other projects or duties that may arise from time to time.

Qualifications

Education:

- Master’s degree or an equivalent combination of post-secondary multi-disciplinary education and work experience in Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning, Urban Land Economics or a related field.

Experience:

- 7-10 years’ experience with management and/or control of real estate development and demonstrated experience delivering projects.
- PMP and Risk Management designation an asset.
- Demonstrated experience and success leading and coaching a team with over 5 years supervisory experience preferred.
- Experience in the non-profit housing/social services sector an asset.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

- Expert level project and contract management skills.
- Strong financial acumen with experience developing and managing capital budgets.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as problem solving and presentation skills.
- A skilled negotiator.
- Proven dispute resolution skills.
- Knowledge of the Residential Tenancy Act, Health and Safety regulations, and sector best practices.
- Knowledge of tendering and procurement practices is essential.
- Excellent management and leadership abilities.
- Proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively with stakeholders.
- Excellent interpersonal awareness and an ability to work as a positive member of a team.
- Sound judgement and decision making skills.
- Excellent knowledge of computers and software applications such as Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, Outlook, Yardi, Access, Project, SharePoint, etc.

Additional Criteria for Role

- Completion of a Criminal Record Check before employment commences.
- Must have valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle with a minimum of $2 million liability business class insurance.
- Must be available for crisis management and emergency situations, as required.
- Able and willing to travel.

As Pacifica Housing works with vulnerable populations, We require all staff to successfully clear a Vulnerable Sectors Criminal Record Check run by the Ministry of Justice. Any offer of employment is contingent on the applicant providing proof of criminal record check prior to commencing employment.

Pacifica Housing advises all employees, contractors and volunteers of the risk of violence, injury and harm that is present in the execution of their duties. Pacifica Housing is committed to providing a safe and risk-free work place, however, we acknowledge the inherent risk in social housing and direct support work while in homes and in other support relationships.

Benefits

- A mission driven and meaningful working environment
- Competitive salary from a Certified Living Wage Employer
- Three (3) weeks vacation entitlements plus significant wellness time
- Excellent benefits package for full-time employees (includes extended health and dental, life insurance, and more)
- Competitive employer RRSP contributions; no matching required
- Employee assistance program
- Career development and internal advancement opportunities
- Organization and individual training opportunities
- Social committee that includes robust team building and staff social events
- Dog friendly offices

Pacifica celebrates diversity and what makes you uniquely you. We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your culture, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, and diversability.

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