Vice President, Real Estate Development and Construction

Vice President, Real Estate Development and Construction

Is this you?

 You are reading this position profile because you believe in the transformative power of strong communities. You would be inspired to contribute to a high performing culture where residents thrive, team members feel supported, and partners in the community share this deep conviction about caring for seniors.

You work hard and you enjoy complex real estate development and construction projects that require disciplined attention. You are a team player – no task is too small, and you enjoy the details. You are focused and motivated to do great work because your values of high integrity, teamwork, compassion and passion for the work fuel you. You have high capacity and are comfortable managing many high-profile projects at once. You can do this because you are organized, efficient and a good delegator. You are very good at leading and working with experts who are high-performing and autonomous. You have a respectful style – so those with deep subject matter expertise enjoy working with and for you. You are curious and are committed to ongoing career development and learning. You enjoy being part of a team.

You are comfortable on a construction site as well as in an executive boardroom. You have a communication style that is effective and appropriate in both settings. If this sounds like you, read on.

The Position

Reporting to the Chief Corporate Officer and Executive Vice President – Real Estate, Sienna is seeking a highly engaged and strategic Vice President, Real Estate Development and Construction to lead their real estate development and construction team. The incoming Vice President, Real Estate Development and Construction will be a member of Sienna’s Senior Leadership Team and will be visionary with appropriate and substantive experience in real estate development and construction.

The role involves overseeing the planning, development, design and construction of new senior living projects, ensuring they align with the organization’s purpose and strategic objectives. It will participate in growth- related due diligence activities and supporting the integrity of the existing real estate portfolio. The successful candidate will have experience leading various size and complexity projects. Ideally, they will have experience working with Government stakeholders and a track record of successful project completion and handover to end users and being an accomplished people and team leader who enjoys leading and mentoring a team of high performers.

Key Accountabilities

• Oversight and leadership of Sienna’s real estate development activities as delegated from the organization’s growth strategy.


• Lead the Planning, Design and Construction teams with experience, confidence and collaboration.


• Engage and present professionally as owners’ representative with consultant and building teams, municipalities, partners and others to develop and execute projects and related activity.


• Evaluate and identify opportunities for value enhancement within the real estate portfolio and any excess land.


• Work with all internal and external stakeholders on approved projects to ensure alignment to organizational standards and requirements.


• Evaluate potential development sites for acquisition in accordance with the company’s identified growth strategy and undertake relevant due diligence activities.


• Work with Operations and Finance teams to support the analysis and feasibility planning for project opportunities.


• Prepare, manage and deliver on project budgets and schedule milestones for delivery of projects across the lifespan of the project.


• Monitor project costs against budget and report variances to align projects to underwriting expectations.


• Continuously monitor and identify opportunities to mitigate current and anticipated project risks.


• Participate in real estate due diligence as required for acquisition and expansion.


• Effectively manage and delegate resources to ensure project success.


• Other duties as required focused on real estate and growth.

The Ideal Candidate

•  Minimum 10 years of hands-on full project cycle experience in real estate planning, development and execution ideally in the seniors housing, hotel, hospital, or multi-residential sector.


• A Degree in Business Administration, Urban Planning, Real Estate, Economics, Environmental Studies, or a related discipline is important.


• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, mentor, connect with, and engage team members effectively.


• Experience obtaining municipal approvals, including zoning, site plans, variances, land conveyance, and land valuation.


• Experience with understanding and application of construction building codes, safety standards, and environmental regulations.


• Proven ability to conduct project feasibility assessments and due diligence, including creating project proformas.


• A proven track record in leading large-scale, multi-million-dollar real estate development projects from start to finish, particularly with a focus on regulatory compliance, delivering on time, and staying within budget.


• Well-versed in project management principles and practices.


• Strong written and verbal communication as well as presentation skills are a must.


• Possess a solid track record in developing and maintaining positive relationships with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels.


• Ability to travel as required, a valid driver’s license.

What you need to know

• This position is 5 days per week at our Markham office


• This posting is for a new position


• Sienna Senior Living may use artificial intelligence to screen or assess applicants for this position


• Sienna Senior Living is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.  In accordance with provincial regulations, upon request, support will be provided for accommodations throughout the recruitment, selection, and assessment process.