Vice President - Operations, Property Acquisitions and Capital Projects

Vice President, Operations, Property Acquisitions and Capital Projects
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer 
Department: Operations, Facilities, Major Capital Projects
Level - 12

Covenant House helps youth ignite their potential and reclaim their lives. As Canada’s largest agency serving youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk, we offer the widest range of services to hundreds of young people every day.
More than a place to stay, we provide life-changing care with unconditional love and respect. We meet youth’s immediate needs and then we work together to achieve their future goals. We offer 24/7 crisis shelter transitional housing options on-site and, in the community, health and well-being support, training and skill development, and ongoing care once youth move into the community.       
For over 40 years, Covenant House has been dedicated to its mission of serving youth on the street and to protect and safeguard all youth with absolute respect and unconditional love. Since 1982, Covenant House has supported more than 100,000 young people.

Purpose of Position:
Responsible for all CHT Capital Projects and Housing Acquisitions, including being CHT’s lead (operational and technical) on the Main Site Capital Project and other major capital projects and housing-related initiatives.  Responsible for acquiring and adding housing to the CHT housing portfolio to add housing capacity.  Leads managers in all aspects of Operations and Facilities including Food Services.  Ensures the operations team provides a safe, clean, healthy living and working environment for CHT youth and staff.  Responsible for directing operations/facility/food services/business reception activities, including maintenance of all building systems, overseeing site safety/security and mitigating risk, ensuring compliance with relevant laws/regulations/safety standards, and long-range planning to support future needs/growth.
The VP, Operations, Property Acquisitions & Capital Projects is a strategic and transformational role that leads and oversees all aspects of CHT’s real estate portfolio, including acquisition, development, management, and sale of properties, as well as leased facilities which includes residential housing units.  Provide expert advice and guidance on real estate and development matters, working closely with CHT constituents, consultants, and external stakeholders.  

Background Information:
CHT’s facilities include its main site (currently ~100,000+ square feet) plus residential homes/properties owned/leased in the community which are used for CHT housing programs which currently total approximately 50,000 square feet.  With the addition of the expected new Main Site Development project, and new shelter site (Dufferin) as well as other pending site additions, CHT’s total real estate footprint will exceed 250,000 square feet.  This position entails oversight of typical annual capital budgets of more than $2 million (which will increase substantially over time as sites are added) and operating budgets (operations/facilities/food services/business reception) totaling >$4.5 to $5 million.  The Operations/Food Services team includes a team of >50 staff.  With the rapid expansion of CHT’s program area, including residential housing (shelter and transitional housing), this position is responsible for an ever-growing portfolio of CHT owned and leased real estate and managing relationships with key stakeholders (development consulting support such as prime consulting architect, project management consulting support and other key technical resources and Board/Volunteer support on such projects).  This position is a key member of CHT’ Major Projects Coordinating Committee (MPCC, a standing committee of CHT’s Board which oversees our Main Site development project) as well as our MPCC-Advisory Group (MPCC-AG, which is a subset of CHT’s MPCC/Board along with external volunteer consulting resources who have expertise in the development and construction areas). This role will also be a key position at the staff Executive Team providing input and support to strategic priorities and critical issues.
In this role, this position must oversee sequencing, risk mitigation, temporary site planning, and cross-team coordination to ensure uninterrupted service delivery during redevelopment; lead development of a coherent forward-looking housing strategy that identifies opportunities, evaluates feasibility, and positions CHT to scale effectively; and build an integrated facilities function that ensures reliability, safety, and proactive asset stewardship across all CHT properties.

Key Responsibilities
•    Facilities Management & Operations: Includes developing preventative maintenance programs, oversight of daily operations through a large operations team (cleaning, security, ensuring safety compliance including legislated requirements to ensure compliance with applicable laws/regulations, and facilitating emergency response for facilities) onsite and offsite.  Direct, supervise and mentor a team of Operations/Facilities/Food Services managers.
•    Capital Projects & Development and Housing Management: Manage CHT’s real estate portfolio – lead activities related to real estate acquisition, development, investment, management, and sale.  Provide expertise and guidance on real estate and development matters.  Lead the development of new sites and ensure successful implementation.  Key tasks include capital planning, managing all stages of capital projects, planning and managing multi-million-dollar budgets, and overseeing contractors/consultants.  Liaises with external consulting resources such as Project Managers, Engineers, Prime Consulting Architects, Urban Planners, etc., in conjunction with major redevelopment projects and day-to-day operations.  Ensure sites are properly appointed (e.g., furniture, fixtures and equipment, commercial/non-commercial kitchen facilities).  
•    Leadership & Administration: Encompasses leading and mentoring a large operations/facilities/food services team, managing operating budgets and utility costs, and acting as a liaison with various stakeholders.  Building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders – collaborate with stakeholders to achieve shared goals.  Represent CHT at meetings and events related to real estate development.

Main Site Major Real Estate Development Project and Site Expansion Activities Plus Decanting/Swing Space Responsibilities: 
o    Responsible for leading Major Real Estate Development/Expansion initiatives by acting as CHT’s main source of contact for real estate development activities such as the Main Site Redevelopment Project costing $200+ million.  As part of this project, CHT will be required to access swing space during demolition/construction which will be led by this position, including all logistics related to decanting and relocation to the redeveloped site when completed.
o    Responsibilities of this role also include further expansion activities such as the design/development of a new CHT shelter program to be opened in 2027 and ongoing operation of this facility which will include 50+ new crisis/transitional housing beds.  In addition, support new real estate projects as they arise, such as major expansion in leased housing facilities.  
o    This position acts as CHT’s primary liaison with designated consultants including legal counsel, prime architects, project managers, and construction firms involved with real estate expansion projects. 
o    This position is responsible for leading and overseeing the entire real estate development process, from concept to completion, with a strong emphasis on financial management, project execution, and stakeholder relations. This will happen with the support of other executive staff as needed for particular projects.
o    Responsible for ensuring CHT secures adequate swing space during decanting during the Main Site redevelopment project and mobilizing resources to successfully complete moves to the swing space during construction and ultimately moves into the new space.  In-house expert on real estate project management and project-related risk-mitigation, and operation of additional sites when they are completed (over time, it is expected that CHT’s facilities footprint could expand two-to-threefold.

Qualifications:
Education – A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as architecture, engineering, construction management, facilities management, or equivalent.
Experience – Significant progressive (7-10+ years) of executive/senior level leadership experience with exposure to large capital projects and renovation work (over $20 million and ideally over $50-75 million) plus facilities management, capital project management, and team leadership.
5+ years of leading multi-disciplinary teams ranging from leading leaders to technical roles.
Experience in operation of large physical facilities and related building systems, including operation of culinary facilities.
Technical Knowledge – A strong understanding of building systems, construction methods, and building codes. 
Strong skillset in teambuilding, negotiation and conflict resolution
Project Management – Proven experience in managing multi-million-dollar budgets and complex projects.  Construction & Design Management, Procurement (RFQs/RFPs/RFIs), and Business Continuity Planning (Disaster Recovery and Safety Planning).
Certifications – FMP, CVM, or PMP, or comparable experience.
Soft Skills – Strong communication, strategic thinking, problem-solving, and negotiation skills are critical for success in this role.

Key Competencies
Strategic Leadership – develop and execute a long-term housing strategy that expands CHT’s capacity, strengthens its real estate portfolio, and responds to housing needs of youth in Toronto.  Works well with Board members and executives on strategy.
Capital Planning & Project Management – Oversee major redevelopment, renovations, and new-build initiatives with strong planning, budgeting, vendor management, and risk oversight to ensure safe, timely and cost-effective delivery.
Facilities & Asset Management – Ensure proactive maintenance compliance, and life cycle management across all CHT properties, creating safe, reliable, and high-quality spaces for young people and staff.
Partnerships & Sector Engagement – Build strong partnerships with government, housing providers, real estate partners, and funders to unlock opportunities, navigate policy changes, and advance CHT’s housing goals.
Operation Excellence & Systems Thinking – Establish clear processes, controls, and performance standards across housing, facilities, and development functions to support efficiency, safety, and accountability.
Equity, Advocacy & Community Alignment – Champion equitable access to housing and represent CHT in sector conversations, ensuring that CHT’s housing strategy reflects community realities and the voices of young people.

Other Relevant Skills:
•    Strong interpersonal skills and ability to manage multiple tasks under tight time constraints.
•    Project management and excellent leadership skills; highly organized, detail oriented and focused.
•    Ability to write tender documents and lead complex requests for proposal (RFP) processes, including review of tender submissions and short-listing selected firms and reviewing proposals in depth to ensure CHT’s needs are addressed and related project risks are mitigated.
•    Ability to interpret architectural plans and understand their content and address areas of concern that might impact CHT’s operations once implemented.
•    Occupational Health & safety training and good working knowledge of the OH&S Act. 
•    Awareness of Food Safety and Control and Property/Trades management an asset. 
•    Broad general management skills including budgetary control techniques and negotiating. 
•    Demonstrated ability and experience in planning and systems development.
•    Excellent verbal and written skills and a team player; computer literacy.

APPENDIX – Accountabilities/Key Results Areas:
Building Operations/Safety and Security – 15%
Life Cycle & Major Capital Projects (Including Funding Proposals) – 10%
Major Real Estate Development – Special Projects/Facilities Development/Space Planning, Facilities Design and Layout – 50% 
People/Team Leadership and Budget/Administrative Control – 20%
Other - 5%

Interested candidates are welcome to apply directly to this posting on or by May 25, 2026. Only those selected to move forward in our recruitment process will be contacted. No agencies or phone calls please.

Use of AI and Technology in the Hiring Process

Covenant House Toronto does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to make or inform hiring decisions. However, we do use an external applicant tracking system (ATS) to help manage applications efficiently.

While our ATS may apply automated filters or sorting functions, all applications are reviewed and evaluated by human recruiters. No hiring decisions are made by AI.

Commitment to Equitable Recruitment

At Covenant House Toronto we believe in a workplace culture of inclusion that is welcoming, respectful and safe for all staff. It is critical to Covenant House Toronto success to eliminate barriers and promote the inclusion of equity groups. Equity groups have been, and continue to be, underrepresented and marginalized in the workforce, leadership roles, and in some specific occupations. Equity groups include but may not be limited to Indigenous persons, racialized people, gender diverse people, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Covenant House Policy on Accommodation, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the Covenant House recruitment process.

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