Development director Jobs in Markham, ON

About the Company

Our client is a real estate development company. They are looking for a Senior Manager, Investments and Development who will be responsible for advancing the company’s real estate development pipeline, with a strong emphasis on project execution, cross-functional coordination, and financial analysis. This is primarily a development and execution role, rather than a traditional finance, investment analysis, or acquisitions position.

Approximately 95% of the role focuses on development activities. Acquisitions involvement is limited primarily to evaluating the viability of land for development.

The position combines financial modelling with extensive project management, operational coordination, and commercial execution.

Why Work Here

• Meaningful, Purpose-Driven Work: Opportunity to contribute to the development of essential seniors' living facilities. The role can be positioned as an opportunity to participate in social infrastructure development.
• Strong Career Advancement: Multiple advancement levels are available, including progression from Senior Manager to Director, Senior Director, and potentially more senior leadership positions.
• Growing Team: Opportunity to help build and develop the team, with 1–2 analyst-level hires anticipated over the next 1–2 years.
• Significant Project Exposure: Work on a pipeline of approximately 12 active development projects, gaining experience across financial analysis, operations, project coordination, and commercial execution.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Opportunity to work closely with senior leadership, Operations, Finance, development partners, lenders, and numerous internal departments.
• Professional Development: The company’s is willing to invest in training and developing the right candidate, including individuals without direct real estate development experience.
• Promotion Opportunities: High performers are rewarded, with examples of promotions occurring approximately every two years.

About the Opportunity

Commercial Structuring & Transaction Execution

• Support the commercial structuring and execution of development opportunities, including the evaluation and negotiation of key deal parameters, economic terms, and financing considerations to optimize risk-adjusted returns.
• Collaborate closely with internal legal counsel and external advisors throughout the transaction lifecycle.
• Support the drafting, negotiation, and execution of Letters of Intent (LOIs), Purchase and Sale Agreements (PSAs), and other transaction-related documentation.
• Coordinate transaction execution activities, ensuring adherence to critical timelines, approval requirements, and closing deliverables.
• Facilitate communication among internal stakeholders and external partners.

Financial Modelling & Investment Analysis

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve comprehensive financial models to forecast project costs, timelines, and expected returns for development opportunities.
• Build and maintain redevelopment models to project cash flows and calculate returns under various operational and financing scenarios.

Investment Committee & Board Reporting

• Lead the preparation of investment memoranda, business cases, and development summaries for Investment Committee and Board review
• Synthesize complex financial, operational, and due diligence information into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Support portfolio and pipeline reporting activities, providing analysis and insights on development status and strategic opportunities.

Due Diligence & Development Coordination

• Coordinate and manage due diligence processes across cross-functional teams.
• Review, interpret, and synthesize third-party reports, including:
• Appraisals.
• Environmental assessments.
• Engineering studies.
• Legal documentation.
• Incorporate key findings into underwriting assumptions and investment recommendations.
• Lead reporting requirements and oversee procurement processes for development projects and contracts.

Strategic Collaboration & Business Partnership

• Partner with senior leaders across the organization to align development opportunities with strategic objectives, operational capabilities, and long-term portfolio goals.
• Work collaboratively across departments to support the successful execution of development initiatives.

About You

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Mathematics, or Real Estate preferred.
• CPA, CFA, and/or MBA designation is a strong asset.
• 5–7+ years of relevant working experience in real estate investments, development, asset management, or corporate finance.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to gather and synthesize data across Finance and other functions.
• Experience building and maintaining dynamic financial and development models across multiple operating, development, and financing scenarios.
• Ability to critically assess and summarize third-party reports with sound commercial judgment.
• Strong business acumen with an interest in real estate development, seniors housing, and AI applications.

How to Apply

Click the “Apply Now” button and follow the instructions to submit your resume. Please know that we only accept documents in MS Word or Rich Text formats.

When referencing this job, quote #306746

This position for employment is for a current vacancy with Vaco/Highspring’s client. You must currently reside within the Greater Toronto Area and be permitted to work in Canada to be considered for this opportunity. A recruiter will be in touch with you if your profile meets our client’s requirements for this role.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual’s skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company’s 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.

EEO Notice

Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com.

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada: Based on Highspring’s discussions with its Client, Highspring’s understanding is that this position for employment is a current vacancy (either through Highspring as a contractor or with the client directly).

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (“we,” “our,” or “Vaco by Highspring”) respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring’s use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client’s use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual’s skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.