Director, Real Estate and Facilities

Toronto, ON, Canada

Full Time

Real Estate & Facilities

Senior Executive

We are looking for the visionaries, the change-makers, the self-starters who are seeking more from their career. Change begins with the small decisions we make, each day, to support each other and strive to create inspiring incredible educational experiences for all students, no matter where they are or how they learn. In choosing a career with Yorkville University, you will have the opportunity to push boundaries, flex your creativity and inspire positive change for so many people.

Our core values put the student experience at the center of what we do, reflecting who we are and aspire to be. If you want to shine a light on academic excellence, be empowered to make an impact on the transformation of the Canadian post-secondary education landscape, and work collaboratively beyond levels, join us.

Who we need

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, we are hiring a Director, Real Estate and Facilities, to lead the planning, management, and stewardship of all Yorkville University and Toronto Film School facilities. As our new Director, you will oversee a diverse real estate portfolio spanning three provinces, which includes campus operations, leased and owned properties, as well as construction and renovation projects in British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Ontario. You will play a central role in planning and executing our transition to a unified Toronto-based campus, partnering closely with a third-party design firm and collaborating with academic, operational, and executive teams. You will spearhead the short and long term strategies to build out our campuses in B.C. and Fredericton, NB.

This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity to revitalize our learning and working environments to reflect our institutional brand, commitment to innovation, and ambition to provide modern, welcoming, and inspiring spaces for students, faculty, and staff. You will ensure that we operate safely, efficiently, and sustainably, while identifying opportunities to enhance the student and employee experience through thoughtful planning, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

This is an onsite role working 5 days per week in our downtown Head Office.

What’s in it for you

Impact and influence. You will drive the transition of Yorkville University and Toronto Film School into a unified, modern multisite space. Working closely with Academic leadership and external consultants, you will oversee the setup of learning spaces and creative environments to ensure they meet program, operational, and safety requirements.

Leadership. You will guide strategic decisions in Ontario, New Brunswick, and British Columbia to help both schools deliver innovative, compliant, and student-centred facilities that support our mission, vision, and the evolving needs of our students, faculty, and staff.

Autonomy. This is a rare chance to step into a role that provides both the authority and the organizational backing to plan, build, and modernize facilities with speed, clarity, and accountability. You will have the freedom to make informed strategic decisions that directly influence how students and employees experience our campuses every day.

As our new Director, Real Estate and Facilities, you will:

Lead and deliver. You will oversee all real estate projects, managing vendor relationships, budgets, and project work independently or in partnership with external consultants. This ensures that projects are completed on time, within scope, and aligned with institutional goals. You will bring disciplined oversight, transparent communication, and a commitment to quality in all phases of project delivery.
Oversee operations. You will manage the day-to-day operations of all owned and leased properties, partnering with Campus Operations Leadership to ensure that classrooms, offices, and shared spaces operate seamlessly and meet institutional standards for safety and compliance. You will maintain a strong presence across locations, ensuring operational excellence and consistent performance.
Plan strategically. You will develop and execute long-range plans that anticipate future growth and infrastructure needs across campuses and office locations. You will work collaboratively with colleagues in Academics, Information Technology, Human Resources, and other departments to align facility planning with institutional direction and program evolution.
Ensure compliance and safety. You will work in partnership with the Director of Safety and Security to ensure that facilities meet or exceed all applicable laws, codes, and safety standards across provinces. You will contribute to the establishment and reinforcement of transparent processes, documentation practices, and quality controls to minimize risk and ensure a safe and compliant environment for students and employees.
Manage budgets and resources. You will be accountable for operating and capital budgets, including procurement, purchase orders, and financial reporting. You will identify cost efficiencies, sustainability opportunities, and responsible resource allocation strategies to support long-term institutional stewardship.
Drive excellence in facility management. You will conduct inspections, monitor maintenance, and evaluate vendor performance to ensure reliability and quality of service. You will review and enhance policies, procedures, and systems to align with best practices, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement.
Evaluate opportunities. You will assess real estate opportunities that support institutional expansion and enhance the student and employee experience. You will apply data-driven analysis and rigorous due diligence to ensure thoughtful and strategic decision-making.
Champion culture and values. You will contribute to a positive, inclusive, and collaborative culture that supports equity, wellness, and continuous improvement across all operations. You will model professionalism, respect, and service excellence while fostering strong relationships across campuses and departments.

You have:

The educational background. You hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Real Estate, Project Management, or a related discipline (or international equivalent).
The commitment to excellence. You approach facilities management as a critical enabler of academic excellence, operational safety, and student success. You bring strategic foresight, operational discipline, and a mindset of continuous improvement to ensure our spaces remain safe, efficient, compliant, and inspiring. You understand the inherent risks of a student-centred environment and work closely with Safety and Security leadership to support institutional well-being.
The leadership experience. You have progressive experience in real estate, facilities, or construction management, including purchasing, RFPs, and vendor oversight. You have led complex, multi-site projects in dynamic environments, leveraging collaboration, shared knowledge, and partnership to drive success.
The operational expertise. You understand building codes, municipal processes, compliance frameworks, and the operational realities of environments used daily by students, faculty, and staff. Experience in academic settings, where safety protocols, behavioural considerations, and student-centred requirements are paramount, is a strong asset. You collaborate effectively with trades and external partners to deliver projects that meet or exceed all regulatory and institutional standards, upholding rigour, safety, and operational integrity.
The project management acumen. You excel at managing concurrent projects and cross-functional teams, bringing strong analytical skills, clear methodology, and a disciplined approach to tendering, contracting, scheduling, and vendor management.
The financial and technical proficiency. You have experience developing and managing CAPEX and OPEX budgets, negotiating leases, and ensuring fiscal accountability. You are proficient with Microsoft Office and modern project management tools, bringing the technical confidence needed to navigate complex facility and construction requirements.
The interpersonal skills. You communicate clearly, build trust across teams and vendors, and work effectively within a matrixed environment. You collaborate thoughtfully, manage competing priorities with professionalism, and engage with leaders, including academic and operational stakeholders, with respect and composure.

Why work at Yorkville University?

An atmosphere that successfully blends an entrepreneurial culture with education. We value innovation and continuously look towards expanding our programming, working with the latest research, tools and solutions. As a private school with government approval of our offerings, we have the opportunity to do more, stay current and be future-forward.
The chance to accelerate your career and disrupt education by responding to the needs you see and purposefully challenging the status quo. Everything we do here is about delighting and engaging our employees - and ultimately our students- from mentorship to teaching, from creative outlets to analytical ones.
A place where all individuals feel welcomed in the academic and workplace environments and can bring their authentic selves to the educational and work spheres. We celebrate the full range of human diversity and we acknowledge that equal access to opportunities and services may require the removal of barriers that equity-seeking communities experience in trying to obtain this access.
The opportunity to grow with access to free courses, certifications and programs - right up to our Masters' offerings.
An appreciation for the insights and skills you bring to work with a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, including a wide breadth of wellness services and a work-life balance.

Join us

We welcome and appreciate candidates with a range of backgrounds and experiences. If you have 70% of the qualifications we are looking for, express your interest.

What you can expect from our hiring process:

A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor discussing your interest in the role and the company. The conversation will be recorded using BrightHire, an AI-powered video interview tool. More details will be shared when you are invited to interview.
An in-person interview with the CFO and the VP, People to explore your leadership approach, strategic thinking, and alignment with the financial, operational, and people priorities of the organization.
An in-person interview with representatives from the internal teams that work closely with this role to understand how you collaborate, communicate, and partner across functions to move work forward.
A virtual meeting with the primary consultant who you will partner with in this role to discuss how you approach external collaboration, project execution, and shared accountability in delivering key outcomes.

Diversity, equity and inclusion are a critical component of life at Yorkville University and Toronto Film School and we are committed to making these values an integral part of our culture. We encourage applications from all qualified applicants, including women, persons with disabilities, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC), people from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning, Two-Spirit, Intersex, Asexual + (LGBTQ2SIA+) community and other equity-seeking groups.

Yorkville University is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act ('AODA'). If you require accommodation for disability, please notify Human Resources at 1-877-429-4029.

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Help us maintain an inclusive culture.

We want anyone, anywhere to have the same chance and opportunity to build a life they love and that they are proud of. We are proactive in creating a belonging environment that anyone can be a part of. Thoughtful, data-driven decision-making is core to this success. We ask these questions to strengthen our practices by using data to identify and mitigate unconscious bias in our hiring process.

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"Indigenous peoples" means First Nations, Inuit or Métis peoples of Canada.*

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"Persons with disabilities" are individuals who have a long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric, or learning impairment, and who consider themselves to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, or believe that an employer or potential employer is likely to consider them to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment. This includes persons whose functional limitations owing to their impairment have been accommodated in their current job or workplace.*

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4) To which gender do you most identify?*

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6) Are you legally eligible to work in Canada on an ongoing basis?*

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8) Have you previously worked for Yorkville University or Toronto Film School, or are you currently employed here?*

9) If you have been referred by a Yorkville University or Toronto Film School employee, include their first and last name below. If this is not applicable, type 'N/A' below.*

10) Do you hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Real Estate, Project Management, or a related discipline*

11) Are you able to work onsite at downtown Toronto and travel occasionally to BC and NB?*

12) Do you have experience overseeing facilities or real estate operations across multiple locations or provinces?*

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