The Role

The Land Development Finance Lead serves as a key strategic partner in managing and expanding Build Waterloo Region’s 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 closely with the Build Waterloo Region team and a diverse network of internal and external stakeholders, this leader delivers advanced financial modelling, in-depth business analysis, high-level relationship management, and strategic insights to propel the Region’s land development initiatives forward.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Establishes and maintains high-level relationships with senior government officials, ministers, and key decisionmakers at the provincial and federal levels to advocate for funding, policy changes, and regulatory improvements that support Build Waterloo Region’s land development initiatives.
• Regularly liaises with executives from major development firms, industry associations, and business leaders to align regional land development goals with market trends and investment opportunities.
• Conducts economic impact assessments for major land development projects to quantify job creation, housing supply improvements, and long-term economic contributions.
• Represents the Region in intergovernmental forums and strategic industry events to position Waterloo Region as a preferred destination for investment.
• Develops and negotiates agreements with private sector partners and public agencies to leverage investment in strategic land development.
• Advocates for policies and funding mechanisms that support inclusive economic growth, workforce housing, and equitable access to employment lands.
• Prepares and updates development pro forma financial modelling, and communication of the results, for active and proposed projects, including ensuring accurate assumptions when considering project timelines, hard and soft costs, absorption rates, revenue projections, structured financing, and desired return parameters.
• Develops and maintains financial models to evaluate the impact of decisions related to the Region’s land portfolio and industrial land reserve for redevelopment opportunities, emphasizing affordable housing, industrial and commercial sites, and strategic regional projects.
• Champions sensitive negotiations with strategic investment partners looking to invest in Waterloo Region. Promotes and markets incentive programs while providing solutions to industry challenges ranging from partnerships with provincial and federal levels of government to innovative partnerships within the private sector.
• Creates and markets development opportunities on strategic Build Waterloo Region lands to private developers, joint partnerships, and non-profit entities.
• Provides recommendations and manages operational and capital budgets related to the strategic land portfolio.
• Monitors land market activity continuously and is proactive and reactive to opportunities in the market. Identifies development potential in lands that have previously been overlooked through the recommendation of land use changes.
• 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.
• Assesses the local and global business climate, socioeconomic factors, trends, and other criteria to determine the probability of project success and manages cross-departmental and cross-disciplinary resource allocation while considering political implications at every step of the process.
• Identifies and prepares business assessments for prospective investors by using solution-based delivery methodologies, tools, techniques, and trends and developing business cases related to specific land parcels and clusters.
• Develops engagement strategies to build trust with local communities, ensuring that development decisions consider public interest and long-term social impact.
• Collaborates with various internal teams, or researches external best practices, to identify, recommend, and implement changes or enhancements to financial models

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

• Provides development pro forma modelling and financial analysis consulting for nonprofit organizations from a land use lens while considering the organizations’ specific needs.
• Develops and maintains data-driven KPI dashboards and presents briefing materials, reports, and information to peers, senior management and Council, as required.
• Ensures compliance with financial sustainability policies while proposing funding solutions.
• Prepares incentive calculations and development proposals for strategic business industries. Presents and tailors proposals for these external clients to achieve specified needs. Ensures alignment with market trends and assumptions used across the province
• Prepares base operating and capital budgets for Build Waterloo Region leadership review/approval. Prepares initial budgets, and reviews and makes changes per client/corporate/federal and provincial government decisions. Provides input into budget issue papers, including projecting financial impacts.
• Works closely with the Build Waterloo Region team and seeks strategic project updates from development expeditors, project managers, land portfolio managers, and internal and external stakeholders to ensure project data is reviewed and accurate.
• Understands and coordinates capital financing for the Build Waterloo Region Land Readiness team, including debentures, development charges, reserve funds, and other types of financing. Updates capital budgets based on Council approvals. Determines year-end carry-forward budget amounts and financing requirements for Build Waterloo Region projects and coordinates with internal and external financial and business unit stakeholders.
• Maintains awareness of reserve funds to ensure adequate funds are available to finance Build Waterloo Region projects. Develops long-term strategies, scenarios, and projections to fund capital budgets.
• Monitors actual expenditures and revenues monthly against approved budgets and implements financial control procedures. Works with the Build Waterloo Region Land Readiness team for forecasting and planning purposes, identifies possible variances, investigates and develops strategies to mitigate variances, and reports to senior management and Council as appropriate.
• Reviews and reconciles information to prepare yearly financial statements, including trial balances, financial information returns, and financial statement notes. Records tangible capital asset accounting information in the general ledger.
• Participates in the periodic review of the Region’s Development Charge by-law.
• Provides guidance and financial expertise when speculating land potential while coordinating with the Build Waterloo Region team (Development Expeditor).
• Authorizes purchase orders, invoices, and cheque requisitions. Reviews expenditures over $10,000 for compliance before payment. Reviews and makes recommendations on system needs.
• 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, plus progressively responsible related experience.
• Must hold a designation as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or other relevant professional designation.
• 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, developing land use incentive models and proposals, budgeting, management control systems, planning and accounting principles.
• 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, generally accepted accounting principles, related legislation (e.g., financial management, purchasing, municipal, development charges, public sector accounting board), and collective agreements.
• Ability to assemble and present complex data so it is clear, visually appealing, and understandable by all levels.
• Extensive experience analyzing and interpreting data within large datasets derived from various sources such as market trends, property listings, historical financial data, demographic information, etc.
• Extensive knowledge of current economic development, investment attraction, and planning issues in the Waterloo Region and surrounding areas. Proficient at staying informed about industry trends and best practices.
• Skill in facilitating discussions among various independent groups, both locally and globally, leading to solution-oriented conclusions.
• Demonstrated political acumen and ability to collaborate and engage in meaningful discussions with federal, provincial and municipal officials and staff, land developers, non-profit organizations, residents, Indigenous communities and equity-deserving groups, and other key interest holders.
• Ability to think innovatively and explore new ideas to help eliminate barriers to the development of shovel-ready parcels and clusters.
• Significant industry experience identifying and assessing business needs, delivering solutions through various methodologies, tools, techniques, and trends, and developing compelling business cases.
• Relevant experience collaborating directly with business developers and investors to promote business attraction, retention, and expansion.
• Awareness of processes and requirements related to developing employment lands, including infrastructure servicing, building permits, licensing, and other approvals.
• Ability to build and foster relationships with the development industry, private sector investment prospects, senior levels of government, not-for-profits, and other partners.
• Analytical, problem-solving, and continuous improvement skills to plan and develop objectives; conduct analyses; provide input into new guidelines and procedures for financial issues; make recommendations and decisions on financial issues; use initiative to resolve problems and achieve objectives; and resolve unusual or complex issues without precedent in consultation with senior management.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Human relations and communication skills to communicate often complex and politically sensitive information to senior management and clients; obtain and promote cooperation with clients when exercising financial control over assigned budget areas; assist clients in adapting and changing with new legislation and regulations; conduct presentations and training to clients on financial systems; respond regarding financial and budgetary concerns and special projects; and participate as an effective team member.
• Ability to read and interpret Council/Committee reports, legislation and guidelines, technical proposals, policies, by-laws, and legal/funding agreements.
• Ability to write letters and reports to management, Council, and external contacts regarding financial updates and budget information, and draft/provide input into by-laws and legal agreements as required.
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office and financial information systems.
• Must provide an acceptable criminal record and judicial matter check for bondability.
• Ability to travel within and occasionally outside Waterloo Region for meetings, training, and special projects.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.