Land Development Finance Lead - Kitchener

About Us · The Region of Waterloo is a thriving, diverse community committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations. · Waterloo Region is part of the Dish with One Spoon wampum, a treaty guiding our commitment to: · Taking only what we need · Leaving some f ...

Job description

About Us

The Region of Waterloo is a thriving, diverse community committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations.

Waterloo Region is part of the Dish with One Spoon wampum, a treaty guiding our commitment to:

Taking only what we need
Leaving some for others
Keeping the dish clean
This agreement underpins our vision, mission, and core value, and reinforces our dedication to meaningful reconciliation and equity.

Waterloo Region is home to over 674,000 residents and expected to grow to nearly one million by 2051.

Guided by our Strategic Plan, "Growing with Care," we prioritize homes for all, climate aligned growth, equitable services and opportunities and a resilient and future ready organization.

Our mission is to provide essential services that enhance the quality of life for all residents, while our core value emphasizes caring for people and the land we share.

Join us and be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful difference in our community.

The Role

Serves as a key strategic partner in managing and expanding Build Waterloo Region's(BuildWR) financial portfolio through innovative collaboration with government officials and private sector investors.

This role provides expert financial oversight for the development and management of the Region's land portfolio and industrial land reserve, driving redevelopment initiatives focused on affordable housing, industrial and commercial growth, and other strategic regional priorities.

Working within the BuildWR team and a diverse network of internal and external stakeholders, delivers advanced financial modelling, in-depth business analysis, high-level relationship management, and strategic insights to advance the Region's land development initiatives forward.

Duties/Responsibilities

Provides financial leadership across complex, high-profile, and politically sensitive development initiatives, ensuring alignment of financial strategies with planning approvals, land readiness needs, project feasibility, and portfolio-level investment goals.

Leads and is accountable for portfolio-level financial stewardship and strategy for BuildWR (governance, performance evaluation, revolving-fund growth, master development fund oversight, investment prioritization, and long-range scenario planning), serving as the senior financial authority on BuildWR project teams.

Presents complex portfolio and project financial recommendations, risks, and trade-offs to senior leadership and Council, influencing high-impact decisions affecting multi-year capital plans and regional growth outcomes.

Provides sound financial guidance to senior leadership on complex, politically sensitive development decisions with multi-year fiscal implications.
Integrates financial strategy with land-use planning, economic development, engineering, and housing program objectives to support BuildWR decision-making.

Provides financial leadership and technical direction across cross-disciplinary BuildWR project teams; chairs/co-chairs finance workstreams and coordinates inputs from planning, engineering, legal, real estate, environmental due diligence, procurement, and finance to produce unified recommendations and consistent underwriting.

Leads financial due diligence for potential land acquisitions, dispositions, partnerships, and joint ventures by analyzing development scenarios, funding requirements, risk-adjusted returns, and economic feasibility.

Interprets global and national economic trends, construction market volatility, interstate impacts, and real-estate capital market shifts to advise on Region-wide land investment strategies.

Develops forward-looking financial strategies that support industrial investment attraction, employment land competitiveness, and housing supply acceleration.

Assesses and structures financial participation models (e.g., equity positions, long-term lease backs, phased disposition strategies) to optimize Regional value capture.

Leads and negotiates financial terms and structures for complex multi-party transactions and partnerships (acquisitions/dispositions, joint ventures, revenue-sharing, phased dispositions, leasebacks, incentive structures), working with Real
Estate and Legal and representing the Region in negotiations with developers, lenders, institutional partners, and senior government agencies.

Serves as primary financial liaison for BuildWR, working with Development Expeditors, finance, real estate, legal, senior government agencies, external consultants, lenders, and others.

Represents the Region as BuildWR's financial lead in intergovernmental, public, and industry-facing forums; establishes and maintains relationships with senior government officials and industry leaders to advance funding, policy, and investment outcomes aligned with BuildWR priorities.

Leads development pro formas and underwriting for active and proposed projects, integrating approvals pathways, engineering/infrastructure requirements, construction cash flows, absorption/revenue assumptions, financing structures, and return/risk metrics; sets and maintains underwriting standards and quality assurance across BuildWR.

Designs and implements investment attraction strategies to secure major corporate investments, industrial developments, and new business expansions within Waterloo Region.

Researches and develops innovative strategies for expediting strategic land initiatives related to industrial, housing, and strategic regional development projects. Regularly reviews and revises strategies to adapt to local and global geopolitical trends.
Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge and skills are generally acquired through a bachelor's degree in a related field including but not limited to Business, Economics, Mathematics, Commerce, Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, Engineering, plus progressively responsible related experience.

Knowledge and skill in the design, development, and evaluation of businesses, budgeting, project management, and change management.

Knowledge and skill in land development financial analysis, pro forma financial model development for industrial, commercial, and residential development, construction financing, monitoring land development trends, and developing land use incentive models and proposals.

Experience applying principles and techniques relating to cost/benefit analysis, present values, statistical analysis, and forecasting.
Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, and legislation.

Ability to independently evaluate complex land development opportunities, including scenario modelling, risk-adjusted financial returns, partnership structures, and multi-phase development sequencing, and translate analysis into clear strategic recommendations for senior leadership and Council.

Extensive skill in negotiating and structuring development-related financial agreements, joint venture terms, incentive packages, and investment partnerships involving multiple stakeholders with divergent interests.

Knowledge of real estate finance concepts and tools (e.g., discounted cash flow valuation, NPV/IRR, intrinsic value, cap rates, absorption analysis, debt/equity structures, and sensitivity testing) applied across multiple development scenarios.

Ability to interpret and advise on planning policies, zoning regulations, infrastructure constraints, and market trends to anticipate how regulatory and technical considerations influence financial feasibility and portfolio risk.

Ability to travel within and occasionally outside Waterloo Region for meetings, training, and projects.
Ability to support and demonstrate the Region's values.

*For a full copy of the job description, please visit

Job Number: 3997


Job Type:
Full-Time


Vacancy Reason:
Net New

Location: 150 Frederick St - Regional Admin Headquarters

Job Category:
Administration

Number of Positions: 1


Department:
Land Portfolio

Division:
Planning, Development and Legislative Services

Hours of Work: 35

Grade:
Management/Management Support Grade 08

Salary Range:
$114,860 - $143,579

Region of Waterloo is committed to building a workforce through fair, equitable, and accessible hiring practices that allow us to hire qualified staff who reflect the diversity of the community we serve and to promote a respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including, but not limited to:
First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, and all other Indigenous peoples;
members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin;
persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities;
persons who identify as women; and persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions

For questions or to request accommodations during your recruitment, onboarding or employment, please contact , or by calling our Service First Contact Centre at phone number

Use of Artificial Intelligence in the

Hiring Process:
Region of Waterloo may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance efficiency during the recruitment process.

However, applications will also be reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team to ensure a fair and thorough assessment.

AI does not make final hiring decisions.

Please note:
candidates will be provided an update on their application.

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