The City of Lethbridge is seeking an experienced municipal land and real estate leader to take on the role of Land Investment & Development Manager within the Corporate Services division.

 

This senior leadership position is responsible for shaping and stewarding the City’s municipal land and property portfolio in support of long-term growth, financial sustainability, and community benefit. Reporting to the Director of Corporate Services, the Land Investment & Development Manager provides strategic oversight of land planning, development initiatives, real estate transactions, and governance frameworks that guide how municipal land assets are acquired, developed, leased, and leveraged over time.

 

The successful candidate will bring deep land development expertise, financial and market insight, and strong political acumen. This role influences enterprise-level land decisions and ensures municipal land strategies are aligned with Council priorities, infrastructure planning, and long-term corporate objectives.

The Land Investment & Development Manager provides strategic leadership and management oversight for the City’s municipal land and property portfolio. This includes leadership of land development projects, real estate transactions, lease administration, land banking strategies, financial planning, and governance frameworks.

 

Reporting to the Director of Corporate Services, this position operates with a high degree of independence, judgment, and political awareness. The incumbent leads a team of land and property professionals and collaborates extensively across Corporate Services, including Facilities, Finance, Procurement, Legal Services, Planning, Engineering, and Economic Development to support integrated asset management and coordinated decision-making.

 

Importantly, this role is responsible for leading municipal land development projects from concept through implementation, ensuring initiatives move effectively from strategic planning and approvals through servicing, construction coordination, and final delivery in alignment with municipal priorities.

 

The position provides authoritative advice and evidence-based recommendations to the Director, Executive Leadership Team, and City Council on strategic land and real estate matters.

 

In this role you will:

·         Provide enterprise level leadership of the City’s municipal land and real estate portfolio, ensuring strategic alignment with Council priorities, long term growth planning, and corporate financial sustainability.

·         Lead municipal land development projects from concept through implementation, exercising full accountability for strategic direction, regulatory approvals, servicing coordination, construction oversight, financial performance, risk mitigation, and delivery outcomes.

·          Establish and execute long term land acquisition, land banking, development, redevelopment, leasing, marketing, and disposition strategies that optimize municipal value and community benefit.

·         Guide and oversee zoning amendments, subdivision processes, development approvals, architectural controls, and builder compliance in collaboration with Planning and Infrastructure partners.

·         Oversee procurement strategies and contract administration for land development initiatives, including construction services, consulting agreements, and real estate transactions, ensuring compliance with municipal governance and financial controls.

·         Oversee and negotiate complex real estate transactions, balancing market realities with governance requirements, political considerations, and stewardship of public assets.

·         Own the financial performance of the land portfolio, including operating and capital budget planning, revenue forecasting, return optimization, and long term asset sustainability.

·         Anticipate and proactively manage financial, construction, regulatory, market, and reputational risks associated with municipal land decisions.

·         Strengthen governance frameworks and modernize policies and processes to improve transparency, accountability, and performance across the land portfolio.

·         Provide expert, strategic, and decision-ready advice to the Director of Corporate Services, Executive Leadership Team, and City Council on high-impact land and property matters.

·         Represent the City of Lethbridge in strategic negotiations, intergovernmental discussions, industry engagement, and public forums related to land and development matters.

·         Lead and develop the Land department, setting clear performance expectations, managing workload and accountability, and fostering a high performing team culture.

What You Bring to the Table

Education & Experience:

·         Bachelor’s degree or diploma in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

·         Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in Land and Real Estate Development and/or Project Management.

·         Demonstrated 10+ years of management or supervisory experience with significant accountability and scope.

·         Proven experience leading complex municipal land development initiatives from concept through implementation.

·         Extensive experience negotiating and structuring complex real estate transactions, leases, acquisitions, and development agreements.

·         Experience working within a municipal or public-sector environment, including familiarity with governance structures, Council processes, and legislative frameworks.

·         Strong background in financial analysis, capital planning, budgeting, and business case development to support strategic land decisions.

 

Technical & Leadership Expertise

·         Strong understanding of real estate markets, valuation principles, and development economics.

·         Working knowledge of municipal legislation, land use planning frameworks, zoning processes, subdivision approvals, and property law.

·         Experience coordinating procurement strategies and overseeing construction and consulting contracts related to land development projects.

·         Demonstrated ability to interpret legal descriptions, development agreements, surveys, and servicing requirements.

·         Strong political acumen with the ability to navigate complex organizational, community, and Council environments.

·         Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage competing priorities, and drive accountability across diverse stakeholders.

·         Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.

 

Why You’ll Love It Here:

At the City of Lethbridge, this role offers the opportunity to shape the long-term direction of municipal land strategy in a growing community.

As Land Investment & Development Manager, you will:

·         Influence how the City plans, develops, and leverages land assets to support sustainable growth and economic development.

·         Work closely with the Director of Corporate Services, Executive Leadership Team, and City Council on high-impact land and real estate decisions.

·         Lead complex, visible initiatives that directly impact infrastructure planning, financial sustainability, and community outcomes.

·         Steward public land assets with accountability, transparency, and long-term strategic vision.

·         Contribute to a leadership culture grounded in service excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement.

·         Competitive salary range $135,154.50 to $168,928.50 per year, commensurate with experience

·         Comprehensive benefits package and a supportive, professional work environment.

 

For further information on this opportunity, please contact:

Rob Ulrich, Director of Corporate Services, at 403-320-4174 or rob.ulrich@lethbridge.ca or Ola Adediji, Senior People and Culture Business Partner, at 403-360-5792 or ola.adediji@lethbridge.ca.

 

Qualified candidates are invited to submit their resume with cover letter, online by clicking on “Apply” at the top of this screen

Applicants must apply online. We are unable to accept paper copies of resumes or applications sent via email.

 

Closing Date: March 11, 2026 at 4:00PM MST

                                               

All applicants are thanked in advance for their interest. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

                                                                                                                               

The City of Lethbridge (www.lethbridge.ca) proudly acknowledges that we are located at the heart of Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot) Territory, home of Kainai, Piikani, Siksika and Amskapi Piikani (Montana, USA) First Nations. Lethbridge is also located within the Métis Nation of Alberta.

 

The City of Lethbridge recognizes the diversity of our community and is working to ensure programs, services, facilities, and employment opportunities are inclusive to all people.

               

Civic Administration Association