Asset Manager

ABOUT CANADIAN URBAN

Canadian Urban is a market-leading independent Canadian real estate investment manager. Our team of seasoned, agile, and highly motivated professionals share a common purpose in delivering exceptional returns to our clients.

With a real estate portfolio spanning coast-to-coast, and corporate offices in the GTA and Edmonton, we are active in the industrial, office, retail, and multi-family residential sectors.

Our strategic advice and guidance, coupled with in-house research and analysis, have allowed our clients to achieve superior risk-adjusted returns consistently.

Our team of advisors leverages our experience and extended network of partnerships to match our clients’ needs with the right investment opportunities.

Diligent in-house research and analysis capabilities enhance our decision-making abilities at every turn. Established in 1971, Canadian Urban is one of Canada’s most innovative and disciplined real estate investment managers.

The Canadian Urban Asset Management team oversees a diverse mix of industrial, office, retail, and multi-family residential properties from coast-to-coast.

Working in collaboration with our Property Management department, our Asset Management department takes great pride in the successful, transparent, and seamless management of our properties.

Our Asset Management team includes an expert group of individuals with decades of collective experience in full-service commercial real estate asset management.

Asset Management works closely with all other departments of Canadian Urban with the goal of maximizing investor returns, realizing positive asset growth, and exceeding our investor’s strategic goals.

Our Asset Management team inspires trust by providing best-in-class service and returns, with customized solutions tailored to any given investor’s needs.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The ASSET MANAGER will ensure all assets are managed and maintained cost-effectively, safely, and efficiently as per the operating parameters and business plan set forth for each individual property.

This position will focus on the active management of each asset within their portfolio and conduct periodic analysis of new and existing assets, in collaboration with the Investments team.

As well, the successful candidate will work closely with Canadian Urban’s Property Management, Facilities Management, and the ESG & Innovation teams on capital projects and ESG initiatives.

This position will assist the Investments team with the performance of due diligence activities for potential acquisitions and dispositions, participate in the development of our annual and long-term operating and capital budgets for each property, as well as play an integral role in periodically updating our financial forecasts throughout the year.

The ideal candidate will be a proven leader with extensive experience in commercial, industrial, retail, and office operations.

As an integral member of the Canadian Urban management leadership team, this position reports to the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer.

RESPONSIBILITIES

STRATEGIC PLANNING

• Provide strategic guidance, critical analysis, and a focused path for their assets and overall portfolio to support Canadian Urban’s long-term growth plans.
• Collaborate with other leaders on the Canadian Urban management team in establishing short and long-term strategic priorities for the Asset Management and Property Management teams.
• Lead the formulation and implementation of the investor’s strategic plan, by asset and portfolio-wide, with a focus on maximizing returns and total value.
• Develop and execute strategies with the Director of ESG & Innovation to support required ESG initiatives across the Canadian Urban portfolio.

FINANCIAL PLANNING, ANALYSIS & REPORTING

• In collaboration with the Property Management and Accounting teams, prepare detailed monthly and quarterly financial analyses, provide commentary on strategy, positioning, returns and valuations for the investor’s portfolio, and prepare ongoing project status reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Assist with the preparation of annual operational and capital budgets.
• Review and approve all capital projects.
• Evaluate performance of the portfolio and recommend and implement revisions to asset management plans, as necessary.
• Prepare investor presentations.
• Focus on maximizing net operating income and investment returns for our clients by successfully executing approved capital projects, identifying operating procedures and processes for continuous improvement and effective cost controls.
• Ensure relevant property or leasing updates are shared amongst all teams within Canadian Urban.
• Create asset plans that include buy / sell / hold recommendations.

LEASING, APPRAISALS, AND OPERATIONS

• Analyze specific property investment and leasing markets applicable to the properties within the portfolio.
• Liaise with leasing agents, as required, and lead or assist with lease negotiations for new / prospective or renewing tenants.
• Analyze specific leases, project feasibility assessments, cash flow projections, return calculations, and benchmarking.
• Prepare leasing and marketing strategy to maximize revenue and value of each property, supported by market-based comparable transactions and competitive information.
• Conduct annual appraisals for each property (at a minimum), including the engagement and selection of external appraisers, as required.
• Liaise with property management team and direct them in concert with the Senior Vice President of Property Management, Vice President of Property Management, and Senior Property Managers.

CAPITAL PROJECT OVERSIGHT

• In conjunction with Property Management, monitor progress of capital projects to ensure timely completion and quality control.
• Engage appropriate third-party providers for design-related capital projects; direct, review, and recommend design projects for implementation with the Property Management team.
• Assist Property Management with review of consultants and contractors to ensure they meet client-partner requirements and contractual obligations.
• Oversee and actively participate in the procurement process for approved large-scale capital and operational expenditures.
• Identify value creation opportunities (e.g. building expansions, redevelopments, and / or building improvements).

TEAM MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT

• Demonstrate effective leadership as a professional asset manager to deliver a best-in-class investor and tenant experience.
• Responsible for the continued build-out of workflows and processes to ensure operational success of the department.
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to best-in-class service.
• Mentor and develop team members using a supportive and collaborative approach.
• Acknowledge and celebrate successes with the team.

INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

As a technologically savvy asset manager, monitor current and emerging technological trends in asset and investment management, and develop and recommend plans to support Canadian Urban’s investment in new technologies.

SUSTAINABILTY & ESG

• Support Canadian Urban’s Director of ESG & Innovation in development of the ESG strategy for each asset within the portfolio.
• Develop and communicate sustainability action plans to all tenants and fellow team members within Canadian Urban.
• Consider the implementation of ESG into capital plans, where appropriate.
• Support Canadian Urban’s best-in-class initiatives designed to achieve desired building certification accreditations, such as LEED, BOMA Best, Fitwel, CaGBC Zero Carbon, and WiredScore.
• Support the development of organizational ESG targets and oversee the implementation at the asset level.

OTHER

• Assist in the selection, placement, and management of property-level and / or portfolio-level debt.
• Complete, at a minimum, an annual site visit to each property, with frequency to be determined on an as required basis.

Conduct a site inspection, review findings, and develop critical action plans in collaboration with the Property Management team.

• Assist with due diligence on potential acquisitions by way of site inspections, reviewing capital plans and other required due diligence.
• Liaise and regularly communicate with other internal departments and team members regarding value-add opportunities and special projects (i.

e. energy-savings initiatives).

• Work in collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President & COO to develop short and long-term systems and process enhancements for the department.
• Conduct other day-to-day and ad-hoc relations with third parties, including property managers, suppliers, lenders, brokers, consultants, advisors, accountants, lawyers, insurers, appraisers, and regulatory bodies.

QUALIFICATIONS and REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• 5+ years’ experience in a real estate analysis or asset management role.
• Diploma or degree in Business, with a further specialization in a real estate-related field (such as Finance or Urban Planning).

Achievement or pursuit of an MBA, CFA, and / or CFA is considered a valuable asset.

• Proven leadership capabilities and skills.
• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Extensive knowledge of asset management and facility operations.
• Experience with Yardi software is considered a valuable asset.
• Experience with due diligence reviews of commercial real estate properties.
• Strong understanding of environmental and building reports, including environmental site assessments (ESA’s), phase I, phase II, and building condition assessments (BCA’s).
2 days ago