Manager, Space Strategy

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Manager, Space Strategy

This role reports into the Director, Global Corporate Real Estate & Workspace and leads two direct reports: a Senior Analyst and a Space Strategy Team Lead focused on moves, adds and changes.

The opportunity

We are looking for a highly motivated Manager, Space Strategy to join our Global Corporate Real Estate & Workspace (CREW) team in Toronto. This role develops the long-term space strategy for OMERS businesses and translates portfolio, occupancy and business data into practical recommendations, multi-year plans and budgets.

Working closely with Facilities, IT, Finance, business leaders and regional CREW partners, you will assess current and future real estate needs, optimize the corporate office footprint and establish consistent global space planning practices. You will also oversee the reporting, systems and day-to-day planning capabilities required to keep space data accurate and decisions well informed.

This is an opportunity to shape how space strategy, workplace technology and portfolio analytics support business growth, corporate real estate optimization, employee experience and cost discipline across a global organization.

You will be responsible for:

• Develop and manage short-term and long-term space strategies that align the corporate office footprint with business priorities, workforce plans and anticipated growth.
• Lead portfolio scenario planning, space allocation recommendations, conceptual planning and business cases for construction, relocations, renovation, renewal, consolidation and expansion initiatives.
• Develop multi-year capital and operating budget recommendations for space-related initiatives; monitor approved budgets, forecasts, schedules, risks and outcomes.
• Analyze occupancy, utilization, headcount, cost and portfolio data to identify opportunities for optimization and provide clear recommendations to senior leadership and the Real Estate Committee.
• Lead the annual rent chargeback process, including validating occupancy and area data, allocating rent by square footage and cost centre, explaining material year-over-year variances and partnering with Finance on final outputs.
• Provide leadership to the global CREW team’s space and occupancy reporting needs by establishing common metrics, dashboards, data definitions and reporting standards across regions.
• Own the governance and continuous improvement of IWMS/CAFM and related space management tools, including data quality, floor plan standards, reporting requirements, user support and coordination with IT, vendors and regional teams.
• Establish and maintain global space policies, standards, procedures and protocols, with a focus on reliable occupancy data and consistent planning practices.
• Conduct and oversee space audits, occupancy studies, post-occupancy reviews and utilization analysis to confirm outcomes, identify improvements and support future planning.
• Oversee space-related projects from concept through execution, ensuring recommendations remain aligned with approved scope, budget, timing and business requirements.
• Lead, coach and set priorities for two direct reports: the Senior Analyst, responsible for analytics, reporting, data governance and space management tools; and the Space Strategy Team Lead, responsible for daily space requests and the planning and delivery of moves, adds and changes.
• Ensure short-term requests and MAC execution are aligned with approved long-term space strategy, standards, budgets and portfolio priorities.
• Partner with internal stakeholders, global facilities teams and external vendors to assess requirements, evaluate options, influence decisions and implement solutions.
• Research emerging workplace trends, flexible working models, utilization practices and technology; pilot innovative solutions that improve employee experience, productivity and space efficiency.
• Prepare agendas, presentations, recommendations and project status updates for the Real Estate Committee and other senior leadership forums.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, interior design, corporate real estate or a related field, with at least 5 years of relevant experience in a corporate real estate environment.
• Demonstrated experience developing strategic space plans, occupancy recommendations, budgets and executive-level presentations.
• People leadership experience, including setting priorities, coaching team members and aligning operational delivery with broader strategy.
• Strong knowledge of workplace planning and design principles, including hybrid, collaborative and flexible workplace models.
• Hands-on experience with space planning, AutoCAD and CAFM/IWMS platforms in a planning, data or governance capacity.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen, with the ability to synthesize complex data into clear conclusions, recommendations and business cases.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including lookups, pivot tables, calculations, charts and data analysis, with strong proficiency in PowerPoint, Word and Project.
• Ability to consolidate portfolio data and floor plans into clear, decision-ready presentations for business leaders and senior stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and influence partners at different levels.
• Experience managing workplace projects, consultants and vendors, including scope, costing, schedules and standard project practices.
• Working knowledge of systems and modular furniture, building regulations, and health and safety requirements.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience with BOMA measurement standards, square-footage-based allocation methodologies and the Ontario Building Code.
• Experience leading or supporting annual rent or occupancy chargeback processes in partnership with Finance.
• Experience with IWMS implementation, optimization, system support, testing or technology roadmap development.
• Exposure to utilization technologies, dashboards, portfolio scenario modelling and global data governance.
• Experience collaborating with global facilities teams across time zones and coordinating floor plan, occupancy and reporting updates.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.The expected salary range for this position is $103,000.00 - $157,000.00 per year.

You may also be eligible to receive an annual Incentive Award pursuant to our Short-term Incentive plan and our Long-Term Incentive plan (if applicable), and to participate in our group benefits and retirement plans – details on these elements of compensation are included within OMERS & Oxford offer letters.

As one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pension plans, our people-first culture is at its best when our workforce reflects the communities where we live and work — and the members we proudly serve.

From hire to retire, we are an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process that extends all the way through your employee experience. This sense of belonging and connection is cultivated up, down and across our global organization thanks to our vast network of Employee Resource Groups with executive leader sponsorship, our Purpose@Work committee and employee recognition programs.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are used to support certain stages of the OMERS recruitment process. While AI assists us in our process, human judgment and decision-making remain central to our candidate experience.