Director, Real Estate Strategy

About the role

Join a purpose-driven winning team, committed to results, in an inclusive and high-performing culture. Global Banking and Markets is a leading Canadian Capital Markets and Investment Banking business with a growing platform in the US and Latin America, operating globally for over 100 years.

Scotiabank’s strong U.S. presence provides our clients an important bridge to this key global market for trade and investment flows across the Americas and the world. Global Banking & Markets provides a full range of investment banking, credit and risk management products and services relevant to the financing and strategic development needs of our clients.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the VP, Real Estate Strategy & BRM, the Director, Real Estate Strategy is a strategic leader responsible for shaping and advancing Scotiabank’s global real estate strategy in alignment with enterprise priorities, business objectives, and regional operating models.

• Lead the development of global real estate strategy aligned to the Bank’s enterprise objectives, business growth plans, regional operating models, and long-term financial priorities.
• Provide strategic oversight of portfolio optimization, acquisitions, dispositions, lease strategy, site selection, relocations, consolidations, and market entry or exit decisions.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of market trends, demographic shifts, business forecasts, capital requirements, and operating costs to identify opportunities for value creation and risk mitigation.
• Develop executive-ready business cases, scenarios, and recommendations to support strategic real estate decisions and capital investments.
• Establish and lead a global market intelligence capability that provides forward-looking insight into real estate markets, emerging cities, sub-markets, supply and demand dynamics, cost trends, labour considerations, and competitive benchmarks.
• Translate external market data and vendor research into Bank-specific strategic insight that informs growth planning, location strategy, portfolio repositioning, and risk management.
• Monitor economic, demographic, geopolitical, regulatory, and real estate trends to identify emerging opportunities and risks across the global footprint.
• Provide senior leadership with clear market options, strategic implications, and recommended courses of action.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Real Estate, Finance, Economics, Urban Planning, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in real estate strategy, portfolio management, market intelligence, transaction strategy, or management consulting, preferably within a global financial institution or similarly complex organization.
• Demonstrated success aligning real estate strategies with broader organizational goals, enterprise priorities, and financial objectives.
• Proven ability to manage complex international real estate matters, evaluate global market dynamics, and support high-value strategic decisions.
• Deep knowledge of leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, development, construction, operations, valuation, and real estate accounting principles.
• Strong analytical, financial modelling, problem-solving, and strategic planning capabilities, with the ability to synthesize complex data into clear recommendations.

Skills

• Demonstrated success in vendor management, contract negotiations, performance assurance, and relationship management with large service providers or advisory partners.
• Well-versed in real estate law, insurance, taxation, appraisal practices, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
• Exceptional communication, executive presentation, stakeholder engagement, and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and team-building capabilities with experience leading geographically dispersed teams.

Benefits

Scotiabank wants you to be able to bring your best self to work – and life, every day. With a focus on holistic well-being, our many flexible benefit programs are designed to help support your unique family, financial, physical, mental, and social health needs.