GIS & Geomatics Job Opportunities

About Turner Drake & Partners Ltd.

Headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Turner Drake & Partners Ltd. has provided commercial real estate. consulting services for over four decades, offering seamless solutions to real estate challenges through valuation, appraisal, property tax, planning, economic intelligence, counselling, Lasercad® space measurement, and brokerage services. Founded in 1976, Turner Drake is one of the largest and oldest commercial real estate consulting firms in Atlantic Canada with offices in Halifax, Saint John, Charlottetown, St. John’s, and Toronto. This firm also takes in projects from every province and territory across Canada.

Turner Drake has a longstanding reputation for delivering high-quality work that exceeds client expectations, prioritizing meaningful connections over transactional interactions. Their thorough research and access to state of the art in-house databases ensure accurate results, while their commitment to timeliness and exceptional client care provides first class value for money. The team’s focus extends beyond fulfilling immediate client needs – they are dedicated to assisting clients in achieving their long- term strategic goals.

Their team of 30 individuals undergo extensive training, including a comprehensive program based on the renowned real estate degree from the University of British Columbia complemented by 27 in-house training models. Investing in their people is a top priority for Turner Drake & Partners Ltd. You will have the opportunity for professional development to pursue professional designations (MRICS, AACI, and/or similar to). They have developed an industry-leading IT system and implemented an internationally recognized quality management standard that demonstrates their unwavering commitment to surpassing industry standards.

About The Opportunity

Reporting to the VP, Planning and Economic Intelligence, the Manager, Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), holds a crucial role in Turner Drake to spearhead a diverse range of consulting assignments and cultivate strong client relationships. This is a specialized research service designed to address the real estate challenges and opportunities faced by practitioners. By combining your market research with extensive real estate knowledge, you will provide practical solutions that assist property owners in navigating the ever-evolving landscape in today’s world. Their products are tailored to the needs of each client, and include Market Surveys, Demographic Reports, Site Selection Studies, Trade Area Analyses, Supply and Demand Surveys, and Specialised Studies for properties throughout the Atlantic Provinces and beyond. Turner Drake blends traditional real estate consulting techniques with the technology of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to forecast future trends for business and real estate. Divisions within the firm collaborate, but you will work closely with their Planning Division on a regular basis. On some projects, you may work as part of a collaborative team; as well as leading projects, and reviewing the work of others. You will also have two direct reports.

While the majority of the work will be focused in Atlantic Canada and Western Ontario, there may be opportunities that require travel. Maintaining a work-life balance and enjoying a fulfilling personal life is highly valued by Turner Drake.

About You

As the ideal candidate, you have several years of experience in the field coupled with an MBA or EMBA. You have a genuine curiosity for people and excellent communication as well as business and/or analytical skills. You thrive in conversations with individuals of various ages and backgrounds, engaging with peers and senior and junior professionals. Having an Advanced Diploma in Geographic Sciences (GIS for Business) or a Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Data Analytics from the Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS) or a degree in Geography may also be considered as a nice-have. Additionally, experience in responding to requests for proposals (RFPs) will be highly advantageous, as well as familiarity with SPSS.

You are detail-oriented, reliable, energetic, and have an inquiring and open mind. This role will also require a sharp mind for math and statistical analysis, delving into data to uncover valuable insights. But it doesn’t stop there your understanding of the human element behind the numbers is equally important. A collaborative team environment will be your preferred setting, where you will gain an in-depth understanding of varied experiences and knowledge and share a collective passion for the work.

Testimonials

Below are some thoughts shared by a few of their staff members that have recently joined the firm after graduating:

“One of the benefits that I saw in working here when I was first starting out was the opportunity to be mentored by some of the most highly–educated and well–respected individuals in the industry (all of whom ultimately proved most generous in sharing their time and expertise). I also saw real estate consultancy to be a unique application of the skills I’d acquired at Dal − it combined them in a way that other disciplines  I’d considered did not.”

“The ability to work independently and take a project from start to finish. I really enjoy the fact that I may be analyzing the cash flows from an office building one day and inspecting a shipyard the next.”“

The Offer

Venor and Turner Drake embrace a culture of belonging in the workplace. No matter who you are, where you’re from, how you think, what you believe in, or who you love, we welcome your application. We all come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, bringing in unique perspectives and experiences. We encourage applications from Indigenous- Mi’kmaw, African Nova Scotians, African Canadian and People of Colour (BIPOC), as well as newcomers to Canada, folks with disabilities, and members of the 2SLGBTQ community. If you require any accommodation in the application and interview process, please let us know (including different materials or otherwise).

Interested candidates can send their cover letter and resume to Shardeigh McGillivray at [email protected] and Nada Halaweh at [email protected]. And/or, apply here.

Real Estate Economics GIS Consultant
Turner Drake & Partners Ltd.

Meld Your GIS Skills into One Cool Career!

Yesterday you searched 400 km of intricately shaped coastline to locate the ideal site for an experimental radar station. Today you are analysing the market to quantify/predict demand for residential development. Tomorrow you will conduct a survey of the office and industrial markets throughout Atlantic Canada. Next week, you will conduct a trade area analysis for a potential shopping centre. If you have a Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Data Analytics or Geographic Information Systems from COGS, or comparable program, and are interested in a career, rather than just a job... this is it!
Together your GIS Diploma and undergraduate degree can unlock the door to a career as a Chartered Geomatics Surveyor. A career most have never heard of… but once discovered find exciting, challenging, satisfying, fulfilling, remunerative, where you will be limited only by your own ambition. This is not a strictly GIS position. It requires a broader skill set (critical thinking, financial analysis, problem solving) all focused on providing solutions to real estate issues. You will participate in further company funded study that forms the University of British Columbia’s real estate degree, together with our in-house training program. You will be rewarded monetarily, as well as intellectually, as you proceed through this unique program. From our offices in Halifax your work will take you throughout Atlantic Canada and offer a good balance between office and field work. The work environment is friendly, supportive and (usually) good fun. Our IT system is state of the art. Check our web site www.turnerdrake.com (currently being updated) for a more detailed look at us.

Skills and Qualifications
You will have a Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Data Analytics or Geographic Information Systems from the Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS) or similar program. You will have a Bachelors degree, with above average grades. Familiarity with MapInfo (as well as ESRI) and relevant work experience will be an asset. You will be mature, well-grounded and creative, with the ability to marshal your skills to solve real estate focussed problems. Your strong written and oral communication skills mean you can clearly distill analysis results and recommendations to clients. You will be interested in a career rather than just a job: something that will get you up in the morning with a spring in your step. You will want to work with colleagues who share your enthusiasm. You will enjoy variety and merit the respect of your peers. You will value working in a team environment, have an eye for detail, be thorough, trustworthy, reliable, and benefit from the opinions of your colleagues. You will have an enquiring mind and a sense of humour.

Work Environment
Turner Drake was incorporated in 1976 with the objective of providing clients with solutions to their real estate problems. In furtherance of this aim, the company has created a distinctive blend of complementary real estate services (Valuation, Property Tax, Counselling, Lasercad® Space Measurement, Economic Intelligence, Planning, Commercial Brokerage) delivered by salaried professionals with access to our proprietary information technology (IT) platform, CompuVal®.  Service delivery is governed by a quality system registered to ISO 9001:2015. The work environment values team and individual participation in a collegiate atmosphere. The small company size (currently 28 employees) ensures that each individual is a valued member of our team: our principal focus is on individual development and growth against a backdrop that fosters innovation and ideas.

Training
We have a choreographed training program which blends company funded study towards the University of British Columbia’s real estate degree, our own in-house training modules, and on the job training under the guidance of a mentor. We will give you responsibility to take jobs from start to finish within the first two months of you joining us and will carefully increase that responsibility as you gain knowledge and experience. Although you will “live” in our Economic Intelligence Unit, we will expose you to our Lasercad® Space Measurement, Valuation, Property Tax, Counselling, and Planning Divisions so that you can benefit from a broad exposure to real estate counselling.

The Sexy Stuff:
We asked the younger members of our professional staff what they enjoyed most about their careers with us. This is what they said:
“One of the benefits that I saw in working here when I was first starting out was the opportunity to be mentored by some of the most highly-educated and well-respected individuals in the industry (all of whom ultimately proved most generous in sharing their time and expertise).
I also saw real estate consultancy to be a unique application of the skills I’d acquired at Dal – it combined them in a way that other disciplines I’d considered (i.e. chartered accountancy and law) did not.”
“The ability to work independently and take a project from start to finish. I really enjoy the fact that I may be analysing the cash flows from an office building one day and inspecting a shipyard next.”
“I think a main benefit of working here is that you are able to learn a new field through on the job experience and the knowledge of senior staff and through education, the UBC courses. It is an opportunity to continue your education with a company that is willing to invest in you while gaining experience in a competitive field.”

• “ Working out of the office. Being able to get out of the office and work on job sites is a bonus.
• Continuous education.
• The mentor program, having someone that can answer all of those little questions that usually cause discomfort to a new employee is a big relief.
• Own office space. Not being in a bull pen set-up is great, because you have privacy.
• Social events with the company.
• In depth work experience as opposed to just being basically an assistant for someone else. You are doing real work with real deadlines.”

• “Good mixture of in-office and field-work.
• Opportunity to see the inside workings of factories and facilities that no one else gets to see.
• Opportunity for traveling through Atlantic Canada.
• Company funded courses.
• Quick and steady salary jumps (they worked out to be about $5,000/year in each of the first 5 years).
• Wide variety of property types (hangars/dairies/pulp and paper mills/pawn shops/residential/ container terminals/etc.)
• Wide variety of skill sets (financial analysis, critical thinking, negotiation, court work, etc.)
• Working in a medium sized firm (you’re not just another person in the firm that most people don’t know).
• TDP has a strong reputation.”

Compensation
This is a salaried position with a benefits and pension package (after a vesting period). Company sponsored training and professional designations are tied to salary increases, so your progression is only limited by your ambition and ability.
Enjoy a central urban office location in Atlantic Canada’s capital city, and an office culture that values a civilised work-life balance. Our operating model is firmly “office based” with the flexibility to work remotely when the situation demands it.

Application:
Submit your CV (together with a copy of your GIS Diploma and University Transcript) to:
Michael Turner, M.Sc., M.B.A., FRICS, MAI, CRE
Turner Drake & Partners Ltd.
Real Estate Counsellors
6182 North Street
Halifax NS B3K 1P5
email: [email protected]
Please direct any inquiries to Michael Turner (902) 429-1811 Ext. 312 or toll free (800) 567-3033 ext. 312.

Closing Date
Applicants will be evaluated and interviewed as they apply. An “official” version of your University Transcript is not required at this stage; a copy will suffice. The posting will be closed when the position is filled.

Confidentiality
All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

from the BuildNS website:

"Working as a GIS student with Build Nova Scotia (BNS), you will have the opportunity to assist with internal projects to develop Web GIS applications, and other tools, for integration into BNS's workflows. You will assist in the development of asset inventories and the BNS geographic information system. You will assist in the coordination of property information ...

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