Director, Leasing

Who We Are

For over 30 years, our entrepreneurial mindset and strategic vision have fueled our growth into one of Canada’s largest and most successful REITs. Our retail-focused and mixed-use portfolio reflects our commitment to creating vibrant community spaces where people want to shop, live, work, and play. We take pride in our strong legacy while continuously adapting, innovating, and investing in the future. We’re proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures, Canada’s Greenest Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, and a Greater Toronto Top Employer.

At RioCan, we believe our people are our greatest strength. We foster a welcoming, inclusive culture where employees can connect authentically, grow continuously, and bring their whole selves to work. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, lead, and make an impact every day.

Position Overview

The Director of Leasing is a senior role responsible for driving leasing strategy, execution, and performance across RioCan’s Western Canada portfolio. This role leads a team of leasing professionals, partners closely with Asset Management, Property Management, Construction, and Marketing, and is accountable for maximizing occupancy, rental growth, and long‑term value creation in alignment with corporate objectives.

Responsibilities

• Leasing Strategy & Portfolio Performance
• Develop and execute leasing strategies that optimize occupancy, rental income, and tenant mix across assigned properties;
• Drive market‑based leasing decisions informed by demographics, competitive analysis, and retailer performance;
• Lead leasing plans for redevelopments, intensification projects, and major repositioning in partnership with Development and Asset Management;
• Ensure leasing activity supports long‑term asset value and overall portfolio objectives;
• Meet and exceed the Leasing Budget for the Western Canada portfolio;
• Transaction Leadership
• Lead and oversee lease negotiations, including national and anchor tenants, renewals, expansions, relocations, and restructurings;
• Provide strategic guidance on deal economics, rent structures, incentives, and risk mitigation;
• Review and approve deal terms in accordance with internal approval authorities and policies;
• Ensure consistency and discipline in leasing standards, documentation, and execution;
• Team Leadership & Talent Development
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Leasing Managers, Leasing Representatives and Leasing coordinators;
• Set clear performance expectations, goals, and accountability metrics;
• Foster a high‑performance, collaborative, and professional leasing culture;
• Support succession planning and talent development within the leasing organization;
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
• Partner closely with Asset Management to align leasing strategy with financial forecasts, budgets, and reforecasts;
• Collaborate with Property Management to ensure tenant needs are met and operational issues are addressed proactively;
• Work with Marketing on merchandising, brand strategy, and leasing support initiatives;
• Coordinate with Legal, Lease Administration and construction to ensure timely and accurate execution of leases and turnover of the Tenants premises on time;
• Market & Relationship Management
• Maintain strong relationships with national, regional, and emerging retailers, brokers, and industry partners;
• Represent the organization at industry events, conferences, and broker meetings;
• Stay current on retail trends, consumer behavior, and market dynamics;
• Provide leadership insights on market opportunities, risks, and competitive positioning;
• Reporting & Governance
• Monitor and report on leasing activity, pipeline, deal status, and key performance indicators;
• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, approval processes, and governance standards.

Qualifications

• University degree or equivalent in Business, Real Estate, Finance, or a related discipline;
• 7+ years of progressive commercial leasing experience, preferably within retail or mixed‑use real estate;
• Deep understanding of retail markets, tenant economics, and merchandising strategy;
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross‑functional partners and senior stakeholders;
• Demonstrated strategic thinking with the ability to evaluate opportunities and align decisions with broader business objectives;
• Proven negotiation and relationship management skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective internal and external partnerships while dealing with closing complex, high‑value and high‑volume transactions;
• Ability to perform financial and market analysis to support informed business decisions and identify opportunities;
• Results‑driven with a sense of ownership, demonstrating accountability and a proactive approach to achieving outcomes.

Why Join RioCan?

We believe in rewarding you for what you do and investing in your career and long‑term success. Our total rewards program is designed to help you thrive in every aspect of your life: physically, emotionally, financially, and socially. Here’s what we offer:

An Extensive Health and Benefits Program

That includes health and dental benefits starting on day one, healthcare and wellness/lifestyle spending accounts, access to an employee family and assistance program, virtual healthcare services, and other resources to support your overall well‑being.

A Comprehensive Retirement Program

To help prepare you for your future. This includes matching employee contributions in a retirement savings plan, pension plan, and an employee unit purchase plan.

Work/Life Balance

That prioritizes you. Enjoy flexible work hours, an extra‑long weekend with our RioCan Cares Day, and half days before every long weekend in the summer.

Professional Growth and Development

Opportunities to advance your skills and grow your career through our continuing education reimbursement, mentorship and leadership development programs, on‑demand online learning, and cross‑functional training opportunities.

Additional Perks and Benefits

That include paid time off, parental leave top‑up, employee discounts, referral and recognition programs, and year‑round opportunities to connect through community initiatives, committees, and social events.

Application Statement

If you share RioCan’s values and a passion for real estate, we want to hear from you.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment where all employees are valued, included, and empowered to do their best work and bring great ideas. People are at the core of who we are, and we respect that they have taken all paths to get here. RioCan welcomes applications from all candidates and is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require accommodation at any stage of the application process, please let us know and we will be happy to work with you to meet your needs.

You can visit us at and follow us on LinkedIn to learn more about who we are and what a career at RioCan can look like for you.