Location: Chicago, IL
Type: Full-Time Position
Category: Community/Economic Development, Development Finance, Economics/Finance Research
Experience: 1 - 3 years
SB Friedman is seeking early career professionals to join our growing economic development and real estate advisory team in Chicago. Our ideal candidates are creative, detail-oriented and analytical, and 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 assist our clients with establishing 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 and engaged – with a key commonality being that we collaborate with our clients to address complex land use and development issues. We work nationally, with much of our projects located in the Midwest, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Mountain West regions. Our work environment is highly collaborative, and we fund and provide time for training and professional development activities.
THE ROLE
Associates are integral parts of our project teams, having ownership over various analyses and deliverables, and collaborating closely with project directors, managers and clients. Successful Associates are curious critical thinkers that enjoy analyzing data, asking thoughtful questions, drawing reasonable conclusions, and composing compelling narratives and visuals for deliverables. Over time, our Associates develop into increasingly influential thought partners on projects. Nearly everyone at the firm started as an Associate.
The day-to-day work includes:
- Gathering and synthesizing quantitative and qualitative data
- Conducting socioeconomic and demographic analyses
- Evaluating real estate market potential
- Estimating unmet housing needs
- Developing real estate pro formas to assess financial feasibility
- Preparing tax projections to inform public finance and public-private partnership opportunities
- Using GIS software to conduct spatial analyses
- Conducting economic impact analyses
- Preparing deliverables (presentations, technical memos, graphically-oriented briefing books, and reports)
- Working collaboratively with project managers and teams while balancing multiple projects at a time
The Associate position presents an opportunity to build a variety of 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 an interest in data-driven analysis and 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 ability
You will stand out if you have experience with GIS, real estate market and financial feasibility analysis, and have a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and effectively work with multiple managers. All Associates must be willing to 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:
- Expected base salary for this position ranges from $65,000 to $75,000. Actual salaries may vary based on several factors, such as a candidate’s qualifications, skills and experience.
- Performance-based bonus compensation
- Generous benefits package, including: 100% company-paid health and dental insurance premiums, 401(k) with employer contribution, flexible spending programs for health and childcare expenses, pre-tax transit benefits, employer-sponsored bikeshare membership, free membership to onsite building gym, paid vacation time, paid sick time, paid parental leave, 11 paid holidays with the ability to float holidays, and paid time off (office closure) between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
- Hybrid in-office/remote work policy
- Paid membership in a professional organization (or other professional development)
- Firm-wide volunteering events in metro Chicago
- 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 or expression, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, national origin, genetic information, height, weight, physical or mental disability unrelated to ability, pregnancy, marital status, familial status or responsibilities, parental status, cultural differences, physical appearance, arrest or conviction record, political beliefs, partisan considerations, military status, matriculation, credit information, 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 Jenny Kleiman Dowd, Administrative Director at jobs@sbfriedman.com with "Associate Position" in the subject line.
- Cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications for this role
- Resume
- Written sample of your professional or academic work
Writing samples should be primarily authored by the applicant; if a work product prepared as part of a team is submitted, clearly indicate the responsibilities and contributions of the applicant. Incomplete submittals or submittals in other formats may not be considered or reviewed.