Associate Project Manager

Location:           Chicago, IL
Type:                 Full-time position
Category:          Community/Economic Development, Development Finance, Economics/Finance Research
Experience:       3-5 years

SB Friedman is seeking an Associate Project Manager to join our growing economic development and real estate advisory team in Chicago. Our ideal candidates are creative, detail-oriented, and analytical minds that are seeking to make positive impacts on communities and the built environment across the country.

Our Firm

Our team works at the intersection of real estate economics, development finance and urban planning. We work with our clients to establish the plans, strategies, partnerships, and tools to create equitable, economically resilient, and well-designed communities. We work in a variety of places and contexts – which keeps us excited about our work – with a key commonality being that we are working collaboratively with our clients to address complex land use and development issues. We work nationally, with much of our team’s work centered in the Midwest, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Mountain West regions. We work in a highly collaborative environment, and fund and provide time for training and professional development activities.

Our firm is committed to building a diverse team. Women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Role

Associate Project Managers are integral parts of our project teams, having ownership over various analyses and deliverables, and collaborating closely with project directors, more junior staff, and clients. Successful Associate Project Managers are curious critical thinkers that enjoy analyzing data, asking thoughtful questions, drawing reasonable conclusions, proposing recommendations, composing compelling narratives and visuals for deliverables, and keeping projects on track. Over time, our Associate Project Managers develop into increasingly influential thought partners on projects. The day-to-day work includes:

Conducting analyses with limited oversight, which may include:
- Gathering and synthesizing quantitative and qualitative data
- Conducting socioeconomic and demographic analyses
- Evaluating real estate market potential for various land uses
- Estimating unmet housing needs at the community level
- Evaluating real estate pro formas to assess financial feasibility
- Preparing tax projections to assess fiscal impacts and inform public-private partnership development
- Using GIS software to conduct spatial analyses
- Conducting economic impact analyses
Developing work plans and tracking project progress
Supporting billing by project managers and directors
Preparing deliverables (presentations, technical memos; graphically oriented briefing books and reports)
Managing and training more junior staff
Working collaboratively with project managers and teams while balancing multiple projects at one time

The Associate Project Manager position presents an opportunity to build on your existing professional and analytical skill sets.

Qualifications

We are looking for candidates that:

Hold a graduate degree in urban planning, real estate development, public policy, business, economics, or a similar field, or hold a bachelor’s degree and have relevant professional experience
Demonstrate a strong proficiency in data-driven analyses and GIS
Demonstrate familiarity with market-based urban planning, public-private partnerships, community and economic development and/or related topics
Are detail-oriented and focused on accuracy
Have advanced quantitative analysis skills, particularly using Microsoft Excel
Demonstrate strength in oral communication, interpersonal skills and writing
Demonstrate ability to meet deadlines and effectively work with multiple managers
Have 3-5 years of experience in one or more of the following areas: community/economic development, development finance, economics/finance research.

You will stand out if you have experience in a consulting environment and/or with financial feasibility analysis. All Associate Project Managers must have or obtain a driver's license within six months of start.

OTHER DETAILS

We are focused on the professional success of our employees and offer the following:

Competitive salary
Performance-based bonus compensation
Generous benefits package, including: company-paid health and dental insurance premiums, 401(k) with employer contribution, flexible spending programs for health and childcare expenses, paid vacation time, paid sick time, paid parental leave, and 11 paid holidays
A blend of in-office and work-from-home/remote work
Paid membership in one professional organization to encourage professional growth
Employer-backed volunteering events taking place in metro Chicago
Charitable donation matching program
Regular peer-delivered “brown bag” sessions on topics of professional interest
Monthly happy hours and staff get-togethers

All applicants will be afforded equal opportunity without discrimination because of race, color, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability unrelated to ability, pregnancy, marital status, familial status, parental status, cultural differences, physical appearance, arrest or conviction record, political beliefs, military status, or any other protected classification under federal, state or local law. To view our firm's Civil Rights Compliance and Affirmative Action Plan, please contact us at info@sbfriedman.com.

TO APPLY

Please email the following to jobs@sbfriedman.com with "Associate Project Manager Position" in the subject line.

Cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications for this role
Resume
Written sample of your professional work