Senior Director, Real Property Strategy and Asset Management

At Alto, we are actively contributing to the transformation of Canada's future with our high-speed train project connecting Quebec City and Toronto. With the support of the Government of Canada, this innovative project aims to improve the quality of life of our citizens, strengthen ties between communities and stimulate economic growth.

Would you like to take on a stimulating, high-impact challenge? We are looking for a Senior Director, Real Property Strategy and Asset Management.

Please note that the candidate may be based in one of our 4 offices: Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto or Ottawa.

The role

Reporting to the Vice President, Real Property, the Senior Director, Real Property Strategy and Asset Management is responsible for providing strategic leadership for Alto’s Real Property function through the development of acquisition strategies, governance frameworks, business planning processes, risk management practices, and portfolio management programs.

Working in close collaboration with the Senior Director, Real Property Acquisitions, the Private Development Partner (PDP) Cadence’s Lands Team, the Project Management Office (PMO), and other internal functions including Engineering, Construction, Finance, Commercial, Government Relations and Information Technology, this position is responsible for ensuring the Real Property function is supported by the strategies, processes, tools, partnerships, reporting, and operational frameworks required to successfully deliver Alto’s land acquisition mandate. The position will lead Alto’s strategic relationship with Cadence’s Lands Team, oversee the Permission to Enter (PTE) Program, support the development of land acquisition strategies, provide oversight of Real Property business planning and risk management activities, and establish the policies, governance, and controls required to manage Alto’s growing real property portfolio.

The responsibilities

Leadership & Stakeholder Relations

• Lead Alto’s Strategy and Asset Management team and serve as the senior strategic counterpart to Cadence’s Lands Team and other relevant workstreams.
• Serve as Alto’s primary Real Property representative with government, agency stakeholders and other key external partners on land acquisition strategy, processes and policy matters.
• Provide strategic guidance on landowner engagement approaches, communications strategies, escalation pathways, and stakeholder management practices in support of Alto’s acquisition objectives.
• Drive alignment across Real Property, PMO, Engineering, Construction, Commercial, Finance, Government Relations, and other functional teams to ensure consistent planning assumptions and effective delivery.

Planning & Program Development

• Lead the development and maintenance of Alto’s Real Property Land Acquisition Strategy in collaboration with the Senior Director, Real Property Acquisitions, ensuring alignment with acquisition priorities, funding requirements, risk considerations, and project delivery needs.
• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of governance frameworks, reporting structures, business processes, performance measures and operating practices that support Alto’s land acquisition mandate.
• Oversee the planning, governance, stakeholder coordination, performance monitoring and reporting of Alto’s Permission To Enter campaign.
• Oversee Real Property business planning activities, including the development, review and coordination of scopes of work, procurement requirements, budgets, funding requests, and project cost estimates with the Private Development Partner, ensuring alignment with Alto’s acquisition mandate.
• Lead Alto’s agricultural strategy, including policy development, stakeholder considerations, operational requirements, and alignment with acquisition and property management activities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives through process optimization, strategic planning, performance measurement, and operational efficiency reviews.
• Work with the PMO, IT, and other internal functions to define, prioritize, and drive delivery of Real Property technology requirements supporting acquisition, portfolio management, reporting, and decision-making.
• Prepare detailed briefings, reports, and presentations for senior management, senior Government stakeholders, and the Board of Directors.
• Integrate risk management principles into real property planning and pre-acquisition activities, proactively identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with land acquisition and portfolio management.

Property Management Oversight

• Develop and oversee Alto’s property management policies, governance framework and operating model, providing strategic oversight of property management activities, compliance, operating costs, land stewardship, lease administration, property access, security requirements, etc.

Competencies

• Strategic Vision: Ability to develop and implement a strategy that aligns with organizational goals and drive the success of real property and asset management initiatives.
• Risk Management: Skilled in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks related to property acquisition.
• Relationship Building: Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, which facilitates collaboration and alignment across diverse teams.
• Leadership: Mentors, coaches, and develops high-performing teams; fosters a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Communication & Influence: Communicates complex ideas clearly to senior management, boards, and external stakeholders; presents reports, briefings, and recommendations with impact and clarity; influences decision-making.

The qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Urban Planning, Engineering, Business Administration, Law, Public Administration, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 12-15 years in real estate, land acquisition, infrastructure development, transportation, or related fields, including experience in complex transactions and multi-stakeholder environments.
• Significant experience supporting major infrastructure, transit, transportation, real estate development, or land-intensive projects involving regulatory approvals, stakeholder engagement, and project delivery considerations.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing governance frameworks, business planning processes, performance measurement programs, and risk management practices.
• Experience overseeing real property portfolios, asset management programs, property management functions, or land stewardship activities.
• Strong understanding of land acquisition strategies, negotiations, due diligence, regulatory requirements, and risk management principles.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams and influencing executive-level stakeholders across government, private sector, and complex project environments.
• Proven ability to develop strategic recommendations and communicate complex issues effectively through executive briefings, reports, and presentations to senior leadership and Boards.
• Experience working within public sector, Crown corporation, transportation, or large infrastructure environments is considered a strong asset.
• Bilingualism (English and French) is considered an asset.

Why join our innovative team?

• Basic paid group insurance for you and your family: medical, dental, life, disability, etc.
• Access to wellness and health accounts to support your lifestyle.
• Flex-Alto account of $500 to encourage a healthier approach and a more sustainable mode of transportation.
• A retirement plan and savings options (RRSP and TFSA).
• Vacations based on experience, available upon hiring.
• An incentive compensation program.
• Flexible hybrid work mode.
• A work environment that encourages initiative, innovation, and forward-thinking solutions.
• A unique opportunity to shape the future of transportation in Canada.

We work to create high-performance, diversified teams

At Alto, we believe in the power of diverse teams. We aspire to provide an inclusive and equitable work environment where everyone can develop and flourish. Alto offers equal employment opportunities to all and invites qualified individuals, regardless of their identity, origin or situation, to apply.

Please let us know if you need any adjustments during the recruitment process. We will do our utmost to provide you with a fair and pleasant experience, while keeping any adjustments confidential.

Please note that we will communicate only with those candidates whose applications are selected for further consideration.

To find out more about the entire project, visit Alto - Home.