Real Estate Director

Brief profile

At Cazas Wonen, everything revolves around one question:what does this decision mean for our residents?We are looking for a Real Estate Director who embodies, lives by, and reinforces that guiding principle. Someone who will take the lead in further professionalizing our real estate organization and in deepening our collaboration with supply chain partners, always with the residents’ living environment as both the starting point and the ultimate goal. You will translate Cazas Wonen’s strategic direction into concrete decisions and results within the housing stock. You will ensure that new construction, renovation, maintenance, and sustainability initiatives are developed and implemented in a coordinated manner, and that the real estate organization operates in a professional, data-driven, results-oriented, and cost-conscious manner. 

About Cazas Wonen 

Every day, Cazas Wonen works to ensure the well-being of more than 16,000 households across five municipalities in the Green Heart. In our2023–2026 Strategic Plan, we translate our social missionintofour major priorities: strengthening livable neighborhoods, building and maintaining sufficient and affordable housing, accelerating sustainability efforts, and working closely and collaboratively with our residents and partners. These challenges form the basis for our decisions and our way of working, guided by our core values: 

• Together, because we believe in connection, collaboration, and partnership.
• Be bold, because social challenges require courage, ingenuity, and clear decisions
• We do this because residential happiness isn’t created on paper but in practice, through tangible results that our tenants can actually feel.

We are a relatively young organization full of energy, ambition, and drive, formed on January 1, 2022, through the merger of Provides and GroenWest. We continue to build a shared identity and an organization that operates with a steady course, professionalism, and a forward-looking approach, without losing the warm, engaged, and personal character that defines us.

The region where we operate is undergoing rapid change: pressure on the housing market is mounting, the demographic makeup is shifting, there is a growing need for new housing models, and the challenge of making our housing more sustainable is becoming increasingly urgent. That is why Cazas Wonen is taking a deliberate stand. We seek collaboration with residents, municipalities, healthcare organizations, social service partners, and fellow housing associations—because the challenges in our region can only be solved through collective effort. We aim to be an organization that is both steadfast and agile, guided by the interests of our tenants, and that strongly supports the region in building livable, sustainable, and future-proof communities.

The Power of Cazas 

The Power of Cazas is the organizational development program that guides our growth. In the“From Strategy to Practice” track, we work on clarity, focus, and staying the course, so that strategic decisions are translated into priorities that visibly contribute to our tenants’ satisfaction with their housing. In“Strengthening Organizational Connections,”we reinforce our culture, leadership, and collaboration: we build teams that work better together and take shared responsibility. The third track,“Digital Transformation,” makes the organization future-proof: through data-driven work, digital skills, and modern service delivery, we increase our effectiveness and agility.

The Executive Team (ET) serves as the collective leadership of Cazas Wonen. Comprising five directors and the CEO, the ET sets the strategic direction, establishes frameworks, and guides development, ensuring a consistent, ethical, and predictable approach to management. In a young organization that is constantly evolving, the MT plays a key role in creating stability, clarity, and prioritization, so that the organization knows where it stands.

Our core values are evident in the DT’s collaborative approach:Together, by acting as a single team;Daring, by not shying away from difficult choices; andDoing, by translating ambitions into realistic plans and concrete results for tenants. The new Director of Real Estate strengthens this collaborative approach by providing direction, fostering cohesion, and further deepening the DT’s shared leadership.

About the Real Estate Division

The Real Estate Division consists of approximately 50 employees and is responsible for implementing Cazas Wonen’s real estate strategy. Real estate development, scheduled maintenance, and day-to-day maintenance have been consolidated into a single division. This represents a significant step toward a more integrated approach to work, in which decisions regarding development, maintenance, and management are made in a coordinated manner. 

Real Estate Developmentfocuses on expanding and renewing Cazas Wonen’s housing stock. This involves planning and executing new construction projects, redevelopment initiatives, and acquisitions. The team works closely with municipalities, developers, and other partners to bring projects to fruition that align with the strategic portfolio and address the region’s social challenges.

Scheduled Maintenance and Major Maintenance (PO/GO)is responsible for the scheduled maintenance, renovation, and sustainability improvements of the existing real estate portfolio. Based on long-term maintenance plans, the quality, safety, and sustainability of the housing stock are ensured. The team works closely with supply chain partners and maintenance contractors and plays a key role in further professionalizing project management and results-oriented collaboration.

Daily Maintenance and Contract Maintenance (DO/CO) isresponsible for ensuring that the housing units function properly in day-to-day use. The team organizes and oversees repair maintenance, move-in/move-out maintenance, and technical services for residents. The focus is on providing fast and reliable service, with an emphasis on the livability of the complexes and tenant satisfaction. 

Profile of the Director of Real Estate

As Director of Real Estate, you are responsible for the development, maintenance, and quality assurance of the real estate portfolio, working closely with the asset management team, which sets the strategic framework. 

Interior Real Estate

You will lead the Real Estate Division and ensure that real estate development, scheduled maintenance, and day-to-day maintenance work together to contribute to a future-proof housing stock. A key challenge is to further integrate these areas into a single, cohesive real estate organization. This requires, among other things, the continued development of collaboration, management, and professional project management. 

You will translate Cazas Wonen’s strategic direction into clear priorities for the real estate organization, operating at the intersection of strategy and execution. You will monitor the long-term development of the portfolio while ensuring that maintenance, renovations, and projects are carried out professionally and efficiently. In doing so, you will combine a social perspective on housing with a business-oriented approach to real estate management.

A key substantive challenge lies in strengthening the foundation of real estate management. You will work to gain better insight into the performance, costs, and lifespan of the real estate portfolio, and ensure that maintenance programs, long-term maintenance and renovation plans (MJOP/MJOB), and investment forecasts are more reliable and better substantiated. By improving data quality, scenario planning, and management information, you will enhance predictability in planning, quality, and costs. At the same time, you will continue to build the stability and professionalism of the Real Estate Department, which has undergone various changes in recent years and has had several managers. You will bring calm and continuity, build on what has been set in motion in the recent period, and ensure that ongoing improvement initiatives are completed and embedded in a sustainable manner. 

You will directly supervise one manager and two team managers, and you will support them in further strengthening their leadership skills, both individually and as a team. In doing so, you will foster a culture in which professionals take responsibility, actively seek to connect with one another and other parts of the organization, and prioritize the services provided to residents.

You also have a keen eye for the people in the organization: you are visible, approachable, and engaged with what is happening within the teams. You are clear about your expectations, involve employees in changes, show appreciation for their efforts, and foster an open and safe work environment where people feel seen and heard. The executive team is currently pursuing several initiatives aimed at further professionalizing real estate management. The most important ones are:

• Results-Oriented Collaboration (RGS)– we collaborate with supply chain partners according to the principles of RGS, focusing on performance, functional requirements, scenarios, and lifecycle costs rather than traditional specifications. Further developing this approach is a priority and requires greater expertise, leadership, and data maturity within the organization.
• Digitalization and Data Quality in Real Estate Management (DDVB)– focuses on improving the quality and utilization of real estate data so that maintenance, investments, and portfolio development can be increasingly guided by data.
• Integrated Contract and Supplier Management (ICLM)– focuses on further developing contract management and supplier relationships, with the aim of gaining greater control over collaboration with market participants and further professionalizing procurement.

You ensure that these initiatives do not stand alone, but work together to contribute to the professionalization and ongoing development of the real estate organization.

Within the organization

As Director of Real Estate, you will be part of the Executive Team at Cazas Wonen, which is jointly responsible for the organization’s strategic direction, priorities, and development.In this role, you will look beyond your own area of expertise and actively contribute to organization-wide issues and decision-making. Within the Executive Board, you will contribute your expertise in real estate, investments, maintenance, and portfolio development. You will carefully weigh social challenges, financial frameworks, and feasibility against one another, thereby contributing to well-considered strategic decisions for Cazas Wonen as a whole.

Collaboration with the Strategy and Policy Department is crucial in this regard. This department—which also oversees asset management—sets the direction for the development of the real estate portfolio and investment decisions. Real Estate is responsible for the implementation and execution of these decisions. You ensure that this collaboration functions effectively and that strategic decisions, in coordination with asset management, are effectively translated into concrete projects, maintenance programs, and investments.

A key responsibility of the DT is to provide stronger strategic leadership. This means that issues are not approached solely from the perspective of individual projects or situations, but that explicit attention is paid to broader patterns, neighborhood trends, and the long-term development of the real estate portfolio. As Director of Real Estate, you know how to strike the right balance between strategy and execution: you contribute to the organization’s strategic direction while keeping a close eye on what is happening in practice in terms of maintenance, management, and development.

You serve as a key and reliable sounding board for the executive. You help clarify issues, carefully weigh competing interests, and translate strategic decisions into clear priorities for the organization. You contribute ideas, challenge assumptions when necessary, and keep a close eye on what is feasible and realistic for the organization. In this way, you help ensure that the organization stays on course.

Within the region

You will make a significant contribution to fulfilling Cazas Wonen’s social mission: building, managing, and making sufficient affordable housing more sustainable. As Director of Real Estate, you will represent the organization in its collaborations with municipalities, developers, contractors, and other partners, and position Cazas Wonen as a reliable and professional partner and client. You will build lasting relationships with municipalities and market players and strengthen collaboration with maintenance and development partners in the supply chain. At the same time, you will closely monitor developments in the housing market, regulations, and the construction sector, and translate these into opportunities, risks, and strategic choices for Cazas Wonen’s real estate portfolio.

What are you bringing?

Cazas Wonen is seeking an experienced Real Estate Director who combines strategic insight with collaborative leadership and professional expertise. We are looking for someone who can provide direction to an organization in transition, strengthen internal processes, further deepen collaboration with supply chain partners, and always prioritize residents and their quality of life. Experience in the public housing sector is welcome but not required; more importantly, you should be able to quickly grasp the world of Cazas Wonen based on your experience and personal leadership. 

What skills do you bring to the table as a professional?

• Academic level of work and thinking.
• Extensive experience as a director within a complex organization.
• Extensive knowledge of real estate (development, management, and maintenance)
• Strategic and analytical skills to coordinate development, maintenance, sustainability efforts, and investments in a cohesive manner.
• Decisiveness, with the ability to make clear choices based on analysis and stay the course.
• Extensive experience in organizational development, including the professionalization of processes, collaboration, management information, cost control, and predictability.
• Administrative acumen, with experience in a complex social and political-administrative environment.
• Experience with results-oriented collaboration (RGS) and improving professional commissioning practices with supply chain partners.

What do you bring to the table as a leader?

• Unifying, steadfast, and decisive, bringing together different disciplines, interests, and cultures into a single real estate organization.
• Steady and visionary, with the ability to make clear decisions in a dynamic environment and to consistently steer the organization toward those decisions.
• Communicative, enabling you to explain complex issues clearly and engage employees and partners in decisions and changes.
• Curious and reflective, with the courage to question existing practices and encourage innovation.
• Professional and subject-matter-oriented, with a focus on delegating responsibility to lower levels of the organization and fostering expertise, ownership, and collaboration.
• A coach-like, approachable, and visible presence within the organization, with a focus on people, the ability to put things into perspective, and a sense of humor.
• Transparent, reliable, and ethical, with the ability to set a good example as a director by acting consistently and diligently, both within the organization and in collaboration with external partners.
• Resident-centered in thought and action.

Terms of Employment

We offer you a position with significant social impact, within an organization that is rapidly evolving and where your work directly contributes to the housing satisfaction of thousands of tenants. You can count on an attractive benefits package, with a salary in scale O (CAO Woondiensten) ranging from €7,442 to €10,738 gross per month for a 36-hour workweek, supplemented by a modern mobility budget of €1,000 gross per month. In addition, Cazas Wonen offers excellent benefits, ample opportunities for professional and personal development, and the option to work hybrid where appropriate. You’ll be part of an environment that fosters growth—both your own and that of the people you work with.

Appeal proceedings

Cazas Wonen is being assisted in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information, please contact Michiel van Kruijsbergen, senior partner at Colourful People, at 06-53476733 orm.van.kruijsbergen@colourfulpeople.nl

You can upload your cover letter and resume via the application form on the Colourful People website. Please submit your application by April 5, 2026. Interviews at Cazas Wonen are currently being scheduled. The dates will be added to this profile at a later time.