Director Real Estate

Sonepar • Brampton, ON

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

As the Director, Real Estate at Sonepar Canada, you will manage the national portfolio of distribution centers, branch locations, and offices, leading lease negotiations, renewals, terminations, and new site acquisitions. You'll develop and execute long-term real estate strategies aligned with business goals, collaborating with senior leadership to forecast space needs and optimize site selection. Additionally, you'll oversee real estate transactions and support capital projects, ensuring timelines, budgets, and quality standards are met. Managing relationships with landlords, brokers, and internal departments, you'll ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and internal standards, including environmental and safety guidelines.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in commercial or corporate real estate management, ideally within distribution, logistics, or multi-site retail environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
• Proficient in real estate software (e.g., CoStar, Yardi, ProLease) and MS Office Suite.
• Deep understanding of Canadian real estate markets, lease law, and commercial property operations.
• Ability to work in a matrix organization and in a fast-paced environment that is continuously changing, demonstrating an ability to champion change and drive improvements.
• Strong ability to deal with ambiguity and manage through difficult situations.
• Cross functional team leadership with the ability build consensus.
• Excellent ability to delegate and can effect change through others without direct involvement.
• Strong financial modeling, influence, negotiation, project management, conflict management, analytical and presentation skills.
• Proven skills in leadership, continuous improvement, and change management.
• Proficient in the full MS Office suite of applications and safety software.
• Excellent organizational, time management, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• High attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Travel is required.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Real Property Administrator (RPA)
• Bilingual (English/French) is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Manage Sonepar Canada’s national portfolio of distribution centers, branch locations, and offices.
• Lead lease negotiations, sub-leases, renewals, terminations, and new site acquisitions.
• Maintain lease database/software, track critical dates, and ensure compliance with lease terms and financial obligations.
• Develop and execute long-term real estate strategies aligned with business goals and regional growth plans.
• Collaborate with senior leadership, operations, and finance to forecast space needs and optimize site selection.
• Identify opportunities for consolidation, relocation, expansion, or downsizing through comprehensive analysis of business and market intelligence trends.
• Oversee end-to-end real estate transactions including site selection, due diligence, budgeting, and contract execution.
• Support capital projects related to facility build-outs, renovations, and relocations.
• Ensure project timelines, budgets, and quality standards are met.
• Manage relationships with landlords, brokers, legal counsel, property managers, and third-party service providers.
• Act as liaison between internal departments (Finance, Legal, HR, Operations) and external partners.
• Develop KPIs and reporting dashboards for real estate performance metrics and cost control.
• Ensure real estate operations adhere to legal, regulatory, and internal compliance standards, including environmental and safety guidelines.
• Other duties as required.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Flexible benefits program allowing you to choose from options that best fit you and your dependents’ needs.
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Health Spending Account
• RRSP matching
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Discounts
• Career path
• Company paid Life Insurance
• Employee paid disability

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director