Director, Development - Metrolinx

Day-to-day

As Director, Development at Metrolinx, you will play a pivotal role in advancing large-scale transit projects and commercial opportunities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. This position is central to the Integrated Delivery Division, focusing on strategic portfolio management, stakeholder engagement, and overseeing significant commercial agreements that enhance connectivity and access to Metrolinx transit services. You will guide the execution of complex development projects, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and legislative compliance.

• Negotiate Metrolinx’s interests in large-scale agreements for third-party funded projects that enhance connectivity and access to transit services and stations.
• Collaborate with senior leadership, business units, and external partners to assess and implement development and commercial opportunities aligned with Metrolinx's business objectives.
• Drive the integration of transit facilities and lead projects that enable enhanced station connections, working with public and private stakeholders.
• Oversee internal teams and manage external consultants to ensure successful project execution.
• Provide strategic direction for Metrolinx's Development team, identifying commercial opportunities in line with corporate goals and legislation.
• Act as a key interface with government agencies, third parties, and industry stakeholders to foster relationships and facilitate project success.
• Participate in decision-making processes related to program strategy, project prioritization, and station real estate optimization.
• Mitigate corporate risk by ensuring compliance with legislation, identifying and managing potential issues, and providing guidance to resolve conflicts that could affect capital projects and transit operations.
• Guide continuous improvement efforts, identifying opportunities for innovation and ensuring the alignment of projects with strategic corporate goals.
• Manage financial performance, oversee budgets, prepare reports, and ensure the financial feasibility of projects and initiatives, while supporting business unit performance functions and contributions to business unit objectives.
• Cultivate and maintain critical relationships with external stakeholders, including government officials and industry leaders, to support the Metrolinx Development team workstreams and enhance its reputation.
• Lead staff performance and development, providing professional growth opportunities, aligning team efforts with corporate goals, and fostering a positive working environment.
• Oversee the implementation of change management initiatives resulting from organizational or technological changes.
• Lead briefings on portfolio strategy decision points, high value transactions, and commercial agreements, to the Integrated Delivery leadership team, Metrolinx senior management, and CEO.

What you'll bring

To succeed in this Director, Development role, you will bring a robust background in commercial development and transit project delivery, coupled with strong leadership and negotiation skills. Your experience will be critical in managing high-value commercial agreements and navigating complex public-private partnerships within the transit sector.

• Completion of a degree in Business Administration, Urban and Regional Planning, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Progressive experience in commercial transactions, development, and transit delivery, and in leading large scale negotiations, and providing leadership/senior management oversight to high value commercial agreements.
• Knowledge of/expertise in large scale transit oriented projects. Experience leading transit-related commercial strategies for a large division or corporation, with particular experience delivering projects in the context of public private partnerships.
• Leadership/senior level management oversight. Relationship building with senior level stakeholders in private sector corporations, government organizations and communities.
• Financial oversight experience to ensure teams are cost-effectively meeting objectives within budget. Knowledge of risk management systems and processes to identify and mitigate risk.
• Experience successfully negotiating major agreements, including land and asset transactions, service agreements, and other commercial agreements, with a variety of key industry players such as land and asset owners, government organizations, and contractors.
• Proven leadership in change management to lead the implementation of new organizational structures, business models, technology and processes.
• Experience evaluating commercial business proposals.
• Project Management Certification an asset.
• Knowledge of Human Resources legislation (e.g. Employment Standards Act) and experience working with collective agreements.

Who you'll work with

As Director, Development, you will be a central figure in a dynamic environment, collaborating extensively both internally and externally. You will work closely with Metrolinx's senior leadership and various business units within the Integrated Delivery Division. Externally, your role involves critical engagement with government agencies, third parties, industry stakeholders, and community representatives to foster relationships and facilitate the successful delivery of transit projects and commercial development initiatives. You will also lead and mentor your own team, fostering a positive and growth-oriented work environment.

Perks and benefits

Metrolinx is dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace where every team member can thrive. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, Metrolinx offers a supportive environment focused on professional growth and development. The organization is committed to its values of serving with passion, thinking forward, and playing as a team, ensuring a positive and collaborative culture for all employees. Metrolinx also provides reasonable accommodation to job applicants throughout the hiring process.