Real Estate Advisor II

JOB SUMMARY

The mandate of the Corporate Real Estate Office (CREO) is to provide innovative property solutions and expert real estate leadership to the City of Ottawa, including a corporate and consistent approach to ensuring space in all facilities is being used efficiently and implementing the Corporate Accommodations Strategy. CREO serves as the City's corporate landlord, real estate manager, project manager and developer for approximately 3,781 properties, 52,000 acres of land and 1,040 buildings with over 12.8 million square feet and a $2.1 billion replacement value.

You are responsible to provide comprehensive day-to-day or strategic real estate services for City properties and projects, in one or more of the following areas: acquisition, disposal, leasing, development, or management of Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments.

You perform research/analysis, participate in the development of project, capital and operating budgets, communicate with various internal and external parties, oversee external real estate consultants (e.g. appraisers, real estate agents, environmental assessment specialists) and external contractors providing tendered services (e.g. property repairs, maintenance), and fulfil documenting and reporting requirements relating to your assignment.

You lead Real Estate Advisor 1 employees on cross-functional teams, or for specific projects, and provide oversight of data collection by clerical support staff.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of 3 year university degree or community college diploma in economics, geography, business management, real estate law, or related field

Minimum of 5 years of progressive real estate experience, applying functions relating to one or more of the following: real property acquisition/disposition, property management/leasing, multiple stakeholder negotiations, encroachment, land management, real estate financial analysis/administration, expropriation and/or environmental assessments). At least 3 of these years should include experience in a municipal government setting.

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENCES

KNOWLEDGE

• General knowledge of Federal/Provincial/Municipal legislation applying to real estate principles and practices, including the Registry Act, Land Titles Act, Municipal Act, Planning Act, Commercial Tenancies Act, Residential Tenancies Act, the Environmental Protection Act and regulations
• Knowledge of legal agreements as they apply to real property transactions in Ontario, including agreements of purchase and sale, agreements specific to the Expropriations Act, easements, lease agreements, licences, and a sound understanding of contract and real property law
• Knowledge of City processes relating to real estate/real property (e.g. land acquisition, disposal, leasing, management and/or environmental assessments)
• Knowledge of the Expropriations Act of Ontario, including the process, rights and obligations of the expropriating authority and the property owner
• Knowledge of expropriation negotiation and arbitration process of the Board of Negotiation and the Ontario Municipal Board
• General knowledge of the appraisal process, legal surveys and engineering plans as they relate to property rights and acquisition
• General knowledge of the environmental site assessment process
• Current knowledge of the Ottawa real estate market and general realty market trends
• Knowledge of preparation of Request for Proposals (RFP’s) and Standing Offer Agreements (RFSO’s)
• Principles of project management
• Technical report writing
• Knowledge of financial principles and analysis

Desirable Qualifications:

• Good understanding of City real property policies dealing with acquisition/disposal of real property, development and/or disposal of property rights, management of City Real Property assets, Phase 1 and 2 environmental assessments, and/or leasing activities.

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Self-motivated, and able to work with minimal direction in a fast-paced, multi-project environment, and collaboratively with others when leading/participating as part of a multidisciplinary team to influence problem solving and decision analysis
• Possess strong organizational skills and flexibility to plan, initiate, organize and prioritize own work and lead the work of others to effectively manage competing demands, conflicting priorities, sensitive issues, pressures and deadlines
• Possess computer literacy in MS Office Suite in a Windows environment, including use of Intra/Internet
• Able to use/learn other advanced computer applications or software specific to the work assignments (databases, GIS)
• Possess a high degree of accuracy and ability to draft legal agreements designed to secure land interests for the City and/or releases, including agreements of purchase or sale, easements, licences, etc.
• Possess research skills and the ability to interpret/analyze/evaluate issues and to make decisions/formulate recommendations
• Able to perform financial analysis and accurately estimate project costs on an ongoing basis
• Able to write comprehensive reports prepared in formats conducive to various audiences and City Council
• Possess strong presentation abilities, in order to appear before the public, Committees or Council to present information and recommendations on property related issues
• Possess excellent interpersonal, communication, and public relations skills
• Demonstrated ability to select and effectively manage the work of consultants retained to provide real property reports
• Proven negotiation skills to conduct successful negotiations with a wide variety of internal/external stakeholders and/or their agents, to secure the required property interests for the City
• Possess conflict resolution skills to influence decisions, at times under adverse conditions
• Thorough, self-motivated and reliable
• Organized, analytical and attentive to detail
• Possess sound judgment, tact and discretion
• Flexible and adaptable
• Possess a customer service orientation in dealing with property owners and the public
• Able to negotiate and influence effectively and to deal with contentious issues and situations
• Possess leadership skills, initiative and creativity