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Chief Development Officer (CDO) - Toronto Community Housing Corporation

Phelpsgroup

Affordable Housing Residential

Toronto, Ontario

Salary Estimate: $211,000.00 - $296,000.00

Employment Type: Full Time

Work Place: Office

Experience Required: 10+ to 15 years

Education Required: 4 Year College

Job Description

Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) is the largest social housing provider in Canada and the second largest in North America. Wholly owned by the City of Toronto, TCHC operates as a non-profit organization. As shareholder, the City provides TCHC with a Shareholder Direction, which outlines the fundamental principles that govern business.

TCHC has approximately 1,347 buildings and 50 million square feet of residential space, which represent a $10 billion public asset. TCHC is home to 92,000 residents and its vibrant communities are in 106 of Toronto’s 158 neighbourhoods. TCHC provides homes to 41,000 low and moderate-income households and residents come from many different diverse backgrounds, including age, education, language, mental and physical disability, religion, ethnicity, and race. TCHC employs over 2,350 committed and compassionate employees who provide support to tenants across the City of Toronto.

About the Role

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) will lead Toronto Community Housing Corporation's (TCHC) planning, redevelopment, and new construction initiatives. Reporting directly to the President and CEO, the CDO will focus on revitalizing existing communities and creating new housing stock to foster healthier neighborhoods, reduce energy costs, and improve tenant living conditions.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: Develop and lead TCHC’s real estate and development strategy. Oversee site acquisition, planning, and design reviews to ensure compliance with best practices in urban design, environmental stewardship, and energy efficiency.
Project Management: Oversee major construction projects, ensuring tendering processes, budget accountability, and performance metrics are met. Address site issues, manage change orders, and ensure proper project turnover, commissioning, and warranties.
Team Leadership: Build a high-performance team through leadership development, succession planning, and strategic delegation. Provide effective leadership and management to a division of approximately 60 team members.
Sustainable Community Development: Drive innovation in sustainable design and green building practices. Establish benchmarks for energy efficiency, water conservation, and construction waste reduction.
Stakeholder Relations: Act as the primary spokesperson for TCHC’s development projects. Cultivate strong relationships with stakeholders, including government bodies, tenants, employees, investors, and commercial partners.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a visionary leader with extensive experience in real estate and community development, who thrives in dynamic, high-stakes environments. They possess a proven track record of leading large-scale real estate and construction projects, demonstrating a collaborative approach to tenant-focused community revitalization. With strong interpersonal skills, they excel at managing diverse stakeholders and fostering innovative partnerships. Equipped with exceptional leadership and team-building capabilities, the candidate also brings expertise in project management, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable community development, including green building practices that promote environmental stewardship and long-term sustainability.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field required; advanced education in related disciplines is an asset.
10+ years as a senior real estate executive, preferably including experience in the non-profit or government sectors.
Extensive expertise in residential and commercial real estate development and construction.
Working knowledge of public housing regulations and related legislation.

To apply to this key role in housing, submit your application to executive search firm Phelps by clicking: https://bit.ly/4j8rFeV

Application deadline: February 10th, 2025

Development