Are you an innovative leader with a passion for real estate and a proven track record in property acquisition?
Are you ready to take charge of a dynamic leadership role and make a significant impact on the province's highway network?
If so, consider this opportunity to join a team of experts at the Transportation Infrastructure Management Division and help shape the future of transportation infrastructure in Ontario.
As the Head of Property, you will be responsible for strategically planning and managing the acquisition and ongoing management of property necessary for the construction and maintenance of provincial highways. This includes determining settlement of compensation arising from the acquisition of land or interests in land, the removal of buildings or other obstacles to allow for highway construction, and the disposal of surplus lands.
Please note: The successful candidate can work from any of the office locations listed below with the expectation that travel to the Toronto area may be required for operational reasons:
• 159 Sir William Hearst Avenue, Toronto
• 659 Exeter Road, London
• 301 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines
Leadership in the Ontario Public Service A leadership career in the Ontario Public Service offers meaningful opportunities to lead impactful projects, collaborate with diverse teams, and shape policies, programs and services that positively influence the lives of millions of Ontarians, all within a supportive and inclusive work environment. Our leaders enjoy comprehensive benefit plans, a robust pension program, and challenging and rewarding work that will keep you motivated and fulfilled.
About the job
Create the Work EnvironmentIn the Ontario Public Service, we hold our leaders to the highest standards, expecting them to embody authenticity, accountability, and courage in every action and decision. It will be your responsibility to create a work environment and team culture that ignites innovation, nurtures collaboration and champions inclusivity by creating a diverse, anti-racist and accessible workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment. By aligning your choices with these values, you will create a vibrant work environment where every individual can thrive.
Deliver on Business Goals and PrioritiesYour leadership will be crucial in guiding the team towards the achievement of their business goals. It will be your responsibility to inspire and motivate your team to deliver their best performance and align the teams daily actions with the strategic vision of the ministry.
In this role, you will:
• Manage the delivery of a real estate services program, including property appraisal, acquisition, land management, sales, leasing, and legal conveyancing to support capital construction for ministry programs.
• Lead the investigation and settlement of business loss claims arising from ministry property acquisition activities.
• Lead the acquisition and management of external consulting and contract staff.
• Manage stakeholder relations with all relevant parties, including consultants, contractors, other Ontario Public Service offices and functions, regulatory agencies, municipal and other governments, and Indigenous communities.
• Identify financial, material, and human resources needs and manage the operational/program/project or activities budget.
• Respond to emergency situations affecting real estate assets, collaborate with other offices/units, and determine a course of action for effective issue resolution.
What you bring to the team
Leadership Skills:
• You are a collaborative leader and have incorporated the principles of inclusion and diversity across all elements of your management style.
• You have proven experience in managing teams by communicating values, strategies, expectations, and promoting an engaged environment.
• You possess knowledge of human resources practices, policies, directives, and collective agreements related to recruitment, training and development, and labor relations to support an inclusive and engaged team
• You have demonstrated the ability to lead and provide guidance to staff from various units to ensure proper considerations are accounted for, and risks are mitigated.
Technical Knowledge and Expertise:
• You possess knowledge of real estate market conditions and trends, as well as environmental issues, legislation, and policy frameworks governing the acquisition, sale, and lease of real estate (e.g., infrastructure improvement and management, Expropriations Act, Public Lands Act, Highway Traffic Act, and Occupational Health and Safety Act).
• You have knowledge of case law, past practices, and industry trends from various sources, such as the Board of Negotiations, Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT)), mediations, other tribunals, and legal counsel, to make recommendations and approve settlements.
• You have demonstrated the ability to provide technical guidance and direction to staff regarding appraisals, land management, conveyancing, expropriation, and negotiation processes and procedures. You also provide recommendations and approvals on reports, legal documentation, and briefing notes.
Communication and Stakeholder Management Skills:
• You have demonstrated the ability to manage stakeholder relations, negotiate effectively, and communicate with stakeholders and their legal counsel.
• You have demonstrated the ability to communicate effectively with senior provincial and municipal elected officials as well as Indigenous communities.
• You have demonstrated the ability to build key horizontal relationships, manage stakeholder negotiations and consultation processes, with a view to developing and fostering key linkages across the OPS and other sector stakeholders.
Analytical and Project Management Skills:
• You have knowledge of economic analysis and research that enables you to provide specialized advice to senior management on property acquisitions, compensation to owners, business loss, impact of construction activities, forecasting, options, costs, and impacts in support of decisions, recommendations, and approvals.
• You have demonstrated the ability to analyze technical, legal, and policy issues to interpret and apply policies, internal and industry standards, regulations, judicial/tribunal decisions, and a variety of provincial statutes relating to all aspects of real estate and the valuation/quantification of claims under relevant acts.
• You have knowledge of government and ministry financial and administrative procedures, enabling you to manage and control allocated financial and material resources, including developing annual budgets and managing assets and contract service providers.
• You have knowledge of project management principles and methodologies, allowing you to manage the delivery of program plans, initiatives, and goals.
Don't meet every qualification?
If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!
How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility
The OPS is an innovative, responsive and accountable public service that works hard to be diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable. Diversifying leadership is a top priority for the OPS. Our goal is to achieve parity with the Ontario labour force by 2025 for the most under-represented groups (Indigenous, racialized and persons with disabilities) on our leadership teams.
The OPS invites all interested individuals to apply. As an organization that promotes equity and diversity, the OPS encourages applications from Indigenous, Black, racialized individuals, and persons with disabilities.
The OPS is an accessible employer and we offer accommodation in all aspects of employment, including the recruitment process.
Visit the
OPS Anti-Racism Policy, the
OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint, and the
Multi-Year Accessibility Plan to learn more about the OPS commitment to advancing racial equity, accessibility, diversity and inclusion in the public service.