Manager, Real Estate & Land Development

The Organization

The Winnipeg Airports Authority (WAA) is a community-based, non-share capital corporation that operates, manages, maintains, and invests in the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport and affiliate businesses.

WAA is a critical player in the development of one of Canada’s strategic transportation hubs. As a perennial “Manitoba Top Employer”, WAA prides itself as an organization that attracts engaged employees with the right combination of skills, values, and attitude to help us achieve our mission of connecting communities. http://www.waa.ca.

Job Title: Manager, Real Estate & Land Development

Reports to: Director, Real Estate & Commercial Development

Type: Permanent, Full Time

Closing Date: November 26, 2026

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Director, Real Estate & Commercial Development, the Manager, Real Estate & Land Development is responsible for the management, development, and growth of WAA's land and real estate portfolio outside the terminal building. This includes development campuses within the airport footprint, airside and groundside parcels, non-terminal buildings, and the associated ground lease and development agreement portfolio.

This role provides strategic guidance and recommendations related to commercial real estate development while ensuring activities align with WAA's Strategic Plan and Commercial Development Strategy. The successful candidate will steward existing real estate assets, identify and advance new development opportunities, negotiate transactions, manage leases and development agreements, and develop strong relationships across the development, brokerage, business, and airport communities. WAA’s land portfolio represents a material long-term growth opportunity, and this position is WAA’s working presence in the market that opportunity depends on.

The Manager plays a key role in driving revenue growth, supporting economic development, and maximizing the value of WAA's land and real estate assets through market engagement, strategic planning, and commercial transaction management.

Responsibilities include:

• Engage proactively with the market to identify, qualify, and advance new commercial development opportunities.
• Lead the day-to-day management and administration of WAA's ground lease and development agreement portfolio, including renewals, rent reviews, assignments, consents, and compliance activities.
• Oversee land development initiatives and support commercial development opportunities aligned with WAA's Master Plan and Commercial Development Strategy.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with developers, brokers, tenants, consultants, contractors, and government stakeholders
• Represent WAA at industry events, conferences, trade shows, and stakeholder meetings to promote airport development opportunities.
• Conduct market analysis, business case development, site-fit assessments, and transaction underwriting to support strategic decision-making.
• Negotiate leases, development agreements, licences, and related commercial arrangements within delegated authority.
• Monitor industry trends, market conditions, land values, leasing activity, and competitive developments to inform recommendations and strategy.
• Prepare financial analysis, forecasts, budgets, and revenue projections related to development projects and the land portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with applicable legislation, regulations, zoning requirements, environmental considerations, and airport planning requirements.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders across Infrastructure, Operations, Finance, Legal, Security, Communications, and other business units to advance development initiatives and align cross-functional teams to a common goal.
• Provide strategic advice and recommendations to the Director on land development, commercial real estate opportunities, risks, and portfolio performance.

Selection Criteria include:

• Driven, self-starting, solutions-based, and accountable, with a demonstrated growth mindset: a track record of finding and pursuing opportunities, seeking and acting on feedback, and effecting change to drive portfolio growth.
• A team-first approach: makes the people around them more effective, shares credit, raises issues early, and solves problems collaboratively and creatively.
• University degree and/or college diploma in Business, Real Estate, Urban Planning, or a related discipline; equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Minimum five (5) of progressive experience in land development, commercial real estate, leasing, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience sourcing, negotiating, or closing commercial real estate transactions.
• Strong understanding of lease administration, contract negotiation, market analysis, financial assessments, and business case development.
• Previous leadership experience, formal or informal, preferred.
• Excellent relationship-building, networking, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to represent WAA in public and industry settings.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Working knowledge of the Winnipeg commercial real estate market would be considered an asset.
• Professional designations such as AACI, RPA, CPM, or SIOR would be considered assets.
• Must possess a valid Class 5 Driver's License and be able to obtain and maintain a Restricted Area Identification Card (RAIC).

Work with us!

• Highly competitive salary.
• Full Benefits package of Health, Dental & Vision.
• DC Pension Plan.
• Healthcare Spending Account to use on additional benefit expenses.
• Lifestyle Spending Account to use on Wellness expenses such as health and fitness.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Supported Training & Development opportunities.
• Opportunity to work with a high functioning team of professionals working on a diversified portfolio.
• Proud to be named one of Manitoba’s Top Employers annually since 2011.

Conditions of employment include the ability to obtain and maintain an Airport Restricted Area Identification Card (RAIC) and Transportation Security Clearance (TSC), inclusive of approval for U.S. Preclearance.

Winnipeg Airports Authority is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We encourage all qualified applicants experiencing barriers to equity to self-identify in their application.

Accommodations are available upon request during the assessment and selection process.