Director, Global Real Estate Strategy

Requisition ID: 267994 

Join a purpose driven winning team, committed to results, in an inclusive and high-performing culture.

The role:

Reporting to the VP, Real Estate Strategy & Business Relationship Management, 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.

The role provides enterprise-wide strategic decision support through portfolio analysis, external market intelligence, financial modelling, scenario development, and executive-ready recommendations. The Director leads work related to portfolio optimization, enterprise location strategy, market entry and exit considerations, site selection, acquisitions, dispositions, lease strategy, capital planning, and long-term location planning across Scotia’s global footprint.

As a trusted advisor to senior leadership, the Director translates complex real estate, market, financial, demographic, and business data into actionable strategies that support sustainable value creation, cost effectiveness, risk mitigation, and the Bank’s global growth objectives.

A key mandate of the role is to stand up an enterprise location strategy for Scotia globally, including at the business unit and corporate function levels. This work requires the integration of real estate portfolio insights with labour analytics, government incentive opportunities, global talent movement trends, business growth plans, and ongoing peer organization benchmarking data to inform where the Bank should grow, consolidate, reposition, or invest.

Is this role right for you? In this role you will:

Global Real Estate Strategy & Portfolio Leadership
Enterprise Location Strategy

• Stand up and lead an enterprise location strategy for Scotia globally, including location strategy frameworks and decision support at the enterprise, business unit, and corporate function levels.
• Develop structured approaches to assess priority markets, growth locations, consolidation opportunities, and potential exit decisions, ensuring recommendations are aligned to business strategy, talent considerations, cost efficiency, client needs, and operational risk.
• Incorporate labour analytics, government incentives, global talent movement trends, market competitiveness, geopolitical considerations, and peer organization benchmarking into location strategy recommendations.
• Partner with business lines, corporate functions, HR, Finance, Strategy, and regional leaders to develop location options, scenarios, and executive recommendations that support Scotia’s global operating model and long-term growth priorities.
• 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.

Global Market Intelligence & External Insight

• 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.

Intelligence Governance

• Act as senior relationship owner for external global market intelligence vendors and advisory partners.
• Define intelligence requirements, data standards, deliverables, and governance expectations to ensure outputs align with Scotiabank’s strategic priorities.
• Integrate external market intelligence with internal portfolio, financial, and business information to create a cohesive strategic narrative for executive decision-making.
• Continuously assess vendor performance, relevance, innovation, and value to ensure the Bank maintains best-in-class global market awareness.

Enterprise Partnership, Risk & Leadership

• Partner with Portfolio Management, Finance, Operations, Legal, HR, Technology, and regional leadership to ensure real estate strategies are integrated, feasible, compliant, and value-driven.
• Champion a client-centric culture to deepen client relationships and leverage broader Bank relationships, systems, and knowledge.
• Understand how the Bank’s risk appetite and risk culture should be considered in day-to-day activities and decisions.
• Ensure all real estate activities adhere to zoning laws, environmental regulations, internal policies, compliance requirements, and the Bank’s risk management framework.
• Create an environment in which the team pursues effective and efficient operations in accordance with Scotiabank’s Values, Code of Conduct, and Global Sales Principles, while ensuring appropriate day-to-day business controls are in place to meet operational, compliance, AML/ATF/sanctions, and conduct risk obligations.
• Build a high-performance, inclusive team environment by attracting, retaining, developing, and motivating talent through coaching, succession planning, and clear communication of vision, values, and business strategy.

Do you have the skills that will enable you to succeed in this role?  We’d love to work with you if you have:

• 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.
• Experience developing enterprise, business unit, or corporate function location strategies, including the use of labour analytics, incentive analysis, global talent movement trends, market benchmarking, and scenario planning to support executive decision-making.
• 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.
• Relevant credentials such as IFMA, BOMA, PMP, P.Eng., CFA, or equivalent are considered assets.

What’s in it for you?

• A rewarding career path with diverse opportunities for professional development.

• A culture that promotes teamwork and cross-functional collaboration to achieve business goals. Inclusive workplace that values diversity of thought, background, and experience.

• An organization committed to making a difference in our communities – for you and our customers.

• Opportunity to work with a very enthusiastic team that helps our clients by ensuring the Bank is able to continue to operate to deliver key business services.

Location(s):  Canada : Ontario : Toronto 

Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future", we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets.  

At Scotiabank, we value the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the Bank, and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site, alternate format documents, ASL Interpreter, or Assistive Technology) during the recruitment and selection process, please let our  Recruitment team know. If you require technical assistance, please click here. Candidates must apply directly online to be considered for this role. We thank all applicants for their interest in a career at Scotiabank; however, only those candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.