Director, Real Property Acquisitions (Ontario)

At Alto, we are actively contributing to the transformation of Canada's future with our high-speed train project connecting Quebec City and Toronto. With the support of the Government of Canada, this innovative project aims to improve the quality of life of our citizens, strengthen ties between communities and stimulate economic growth.

Would you like to take on a stimulating, high-impact challenge?  We are looking for a Director, Real Property Acquisitions. Please note that the candidate may be based in one of our 2 offices: Toronto or Ottawa.

The role

Reporting to the Senior Director, Land Acquisitions and Development, the Director, Real Property Acquisitions plays a critical leadership role in delivering Alto’s land acquisition program in support of Canada’s first high-speed rail project.

This role is accountable for the planning, coordination, and execution of property acquisition activities across multiple project phases, ensuring alignment with project schedule, budget, and risk objectives. Acting as a primary interface with Alto’s Private Development Partner (Cadence) Lands team, the Director provides oversight and direction to ensure governance, integration, and stage-gated delivery across all property-related workstreams, from pre-acquisition through closing and portfolio onboarding.

Working in close partnership with the Project Management Office and cross-functional teams including Engineering, Construction, Finance, Legal, and Commercial, the role integrates land strategy, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) objectives, and stakeholder commitments into a cohesive acquisition program that supports project delivery certainty and long-term value creation.

The responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of portion of Alto’s Land Acquisition Program across Ontario in coordination in coordination with other subject matter experts at Alto and with the Private Development Partner
• Implement the approved Land Acquisition Strategy and translate priorities into executable plans, schedules and transactions within established governance frameworks.
• Develop and execute acquisition and deal strategies for early and strategic acquisitions to support project delivery and risk mitigation, preparing recommendations for senior-level review and approval.

• Support integration of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) objectives into land acquisition planning, ensuring alignment with approved station-area development strategies and stakeholder commitments.
• Manage relationships with municipalities, developers, Indigenous partners and external authorities, representing Alto within delegated authority and escalating issues, risks and recommendations as required.
• Engage constructively and diplomatically with landowners and the public, as required, to facilitate mutually beneficial outcomes in land transactions and to uphold the reputation and trust in the organization
• Act as one of Alto’s day-to-day counterparts to the Private Development Partner (Cadence) Lands team, coordinating property-related workstreams, resolving issues and supporting stage-gated decision-making.  

• Support and participate in formal oversight forums with Transport Canada, VIA Rail and other stakeholders by coordinating inputs, tracking decisions and ensuring follow-up on scope, budget, schedule, and risk.

• Strategically employ acquisition tools to de-risk property acquisition and achieve acquisition within defined project timelines
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of acquisition processes, systems and PMO integration, promoting consistency, data quality and effective cross-functional coordination.

• Implement and apply acquisition governance, risk mitigation and stage-gate controls across due diligence, approvals, transactions and expropriation pathways with Legal and internal partners.

• Manage acquisition budgets and forecasts, ensure compliance with Alto’s Delegation of Authority and Procurement-to-Payment policies.
• Prepare executive and Board level briefings, dashboards and decision materials on acquisitions, risks, and decisions, supporting senior leadership governance and reporting.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Vision: Ability to translate land acquisition strategies into executable plans, priorities and delivery approaches that support real property objectives within a defined scope.
• Risk Management: Demonstrates sound judgement in identifying, assessing, and managing risks related to property acquisition, due diligence, approvals and delivery.
• Relationship Building: Builds and maintains strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, which facilitates collaboration and alignment across diverse teams.
• Leadership: Provides day-to-day leadership to teams and cross-functional partners; supports a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Communication & Influence: Communicates clearly and credibly with senior managers and external stakeholders; prepares concise, well-structured reports, briefings, and recommendations that support decision-making.

The requirements 

• Minimum 10 years of experience in real estate acquisitions, land development, or major infrastructure delivery; including leadership of complex, multi‑stakeholder programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in negotiations, due diligence, regulatory approvals, and risk management for land transactions.
• Knowledge of public sector (provincial or federal) tools and strategies to support land acquisition for large capital programs.
• Familiarity with railway, public transit or other major projects as well as Transit Oriented Development strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex negotiations involving diverse stakeholder interests and political sensitivities.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a past faced, high-pressure environment.
• Demonstrated success leading teams and influencing senior public/private partners
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; English required; bilingualism considered an asset.
• Willingness to travel throughout Ontario and Québec as required.

Why join our innovative team?

• Basic paid group insurance for you and your family: medical, dental, life, disability, etc.
• Access to wellness and health accounts to support your lifestyle.
• Flex-Alto account of $500 to encourage a healthier approach and a more sustainable mode of transportation.
• A retirement plan and savings options (RRSP and TFSA).
• Vacations based on experience, available upon hiring.
• An incentive compensation program.
• Flexible hybrid work mode.
• A work environment that encourages initiative, innovation, and forward-thinking solutions.
• A unique opportunity to shape the future of transportation in Canada.

We work to create high-performance, diversified teams

At Alto, we believe in the power of diverse teams. We aspire to provide an inclusive and equitable work environment where everyone can develop and flourish. Alto offers equal employment opportunities to all and invites qualified individuals, regardless of their identity, origin or situation, to apply.

Please let us know if you need any adjustments during the recruitment process. We will do our utmost to provide you with a fair and pleasant experience, while keeping any adjustments confidential.

Please note that we will communicate only with those candidates whose applications are selected for further consideration. To find out more about the entire project, visit Alto - Home.