Lead Owner's Representative

Title: Lead Owner's Representative

Employee Status: Full Time-Exempt

Grant Funded: No

Salary: Grade 7

Starts at $107,700

Reports to: Managing Director of Real Estate Solutions – Chicago

Matrix Reporting: None

Department: Real Estate Solutions

Location: Chicago, IL

Department Function: Real Estate Solutions (RES) provides real estate consulting and development services that support nonprofits in the planning, design, and construction of facilities with scopes of services including feasibility analysis, facility condition assessments, site search and due diligence for property acquisition, and owner’s representative services. RES also collaborates internally across departments to build nonprofit capacity in targeted sectors and through programmatic initiatives.

The Organization

IFF is a mission-driven lender, real estate consultant, and developer that helps communities thrive. Key to our success has been a deep sense of purpose, a broad perspective, and a relentless focus on achieving positive results. Across the Midwest we help clients from every sector, including human service agencies, health centers, schools, affordable housing developers, and healthy food grocery operators. Staff contribute extensive business experience and an unrivaled connection to the mission of IFF to the clients we serve.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Partnering to create thriving communities is at the heart of everything we do. We leverage knowledge, capital, and resources to advance equitable and transformational outcomes in under-resourced communities, guided by our commitment to be an inclusive, anti-racist and anti-oppressive institution that honors communities as asset-rich and as experts in their own stories.

Basic Job Function

The Lead Owner’s Representative (LOR) leads major real estate projects; oversees the Owner’s Representative and Senior Owner’s Representative staff assigned to projects to complete facility design and construction activities on behalf of RES’s nonprofit clients for their renovation and new construction projects; and manages client relationships using a solutions-based, trusted advisor approach. The LOR works on several real estate projects simultaneously, under the supervision of the Managing Director of Real Estate Solutions – Chicago and in close coordination with the Director of Consulting – Design and Construction.

A successful candidate demonstrates the following key attributes of the position:

• Ability to work independently and productively in a multi-dimensional work environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong group facilitation and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities.
• Proven adaptability, flexibility, and creativity.
• Aptitude and desire for mentoring and training.
• Demonstrated commitment to client satisfaction.
• Appreciation for individuals from diverse racial, socioeconomic, academic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.

IFF is looking for candidates with a commitment to the work we do who can demonstrate their creativity, diligence, enthusiasm, growth-mindset, thoughtfulness, and passion to make meaningful change in the areas of economic and racial justice.

Core Responsibilities:

1. Provides supervision and management of RES Chicago Owner’s Representative and Senior Owner’s Representative staff within the Chicago office. The LOR may occasionally support projects in other market locations as well.

• Provides day-to-day direction and management in order to ensure that assigned projects are completed according to IFF and professional standards.
• Monitors and manages workload to ensure that local RES staff are achieving agreed-upon utilization goals.
• Work with Directors of Consulting to support quality assurance, ensuring departmental work product meets standards for quality. Coaches and trains staff, supporting the achievement of staff professional development goals.

2. Leads Chicago real estate projects, which may include the following:

• Conducts facilities conditions assessments, evaluating facilities’ major systems and floorplan for suitability for program purposes. Synthesizes information collected through visual observation and data evaluation into a written report that includes recommendations for program-driven capital improvements and order-of-magnitude cost projections.
• Coordinates predevelopment services, establishing project requirements for budget, schedule, and quality in coordination with the client through thought leadership and strategic guidance. Services include facilitation of due diligence activities such as environmental assessments, geotechnical investigation, and site surveying; procurement of contracted and professional services, including architectural/engineering teams and prime contractor; contract negotiation support in partnership with client’s legal counsel; and design oversight.
• Facilitates construction and other associated client activities, ensuring that established project requirements and development milestones are achieved:

--Reviews construction drawings and specifications for conformance with client’s project requirements, including program conformance and budget;

--Supports permitting activities, including meetings with authorities having jurisdiction and progress tracking and troubleshooting to ensure permit is secured according to schedule;

--Manages relationships with contractor and architect during construction, attends construction meetings, reviews project documentation, and works toward resolving construction-related disputes that arise during the project, while maintaining and reinforcing accountability among members of the project team;

--Manages and tracks all project-related accounting to ensure that project stays within budget; and

--Assesses the status of projects against their plan and schedule, identifies and anticipates project risk, and facilitates solutions to ensure that the projects are completed as planned.

3. Assists with successful development and implementation of broader impact work aimed at achieving various nonprofit sector objectives, originating from both IFF and local partners.

• Provides leadership on issues of importance to IFF, including meeting with key influencers, participating in coalitions and making presentations to pertinent groups.
• Identifies opportunities to impact the local nonprofit landscape, develops initiatives and leads implementation.
• Works with IFF overall management team to ensure coordination across all of IFF’s target markets and sectors.

4. Participates in departmental and cross-functional knowledge-sharing and training efforts by conducting research, assisting in committees in support of departmental performance goals, and making presentations as needed.

5. Maintains required job knowledge and skills and core professional competencies. Attends and participates in required educational programs and staff meetings, while pursuing independent professional development activities.

6. Demonstrates a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Promotes an environment of empathy and respect, ensures the inclusion of all team members, and will actively engage in EDI events and learning opportunities.

7. Perform other projects as assigned.

Performance Measures:

1. Accurate and thoughtful completion of assigned projects according to goals set for each project, project budget and schedule, and RES’s policies and procedures, achieving the highest quality of work product for both internal and external clients.
2. Achieves and maintains a superior level of satisfaction and working relationships with all internal and external clients, partners and team members in the development and execution of project efforts.
3. Communication is clear, well organized, comprehensive, and persuasive.
4. Cultivates a culture of openness in information sharing. Encourages open communication, cooperation, and the sharing of knowledge.
5. Models personal accountability that promotes ownership and engagement.
6. Builds and maintains effective working relationships with IFF colleagues, architects, contractors, and others, particularly obtaining a high level of colleague satisfaction with respect to work performed.
7. Values and supports differences in others, contributing to an inclusive work environment. Demonstrates the ability and willingness to communicate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences to create a collaborative, collegial, and caring community.

Position Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree required in a field related to the development of commercial real estate, preferably in architecture, engineering, construction management, or similar. Advanced degree in real estate, architecture, construction management, or engineering preferred.

Previous Experience: At least seven years’ direct experience in architecture, engineering, construction

management, facilities management, or real estate development required.

Additional Requirements: Travel, both locally and throughout the Chicago Metro area and Milwaukee, is required. Periodic travel possible to other RES offices to support staff working in those markets. The LOR will visit and evaluate abandoned buildings and vacant lots as well as construction project sites. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

IFF does not offer the following:

• relocation package

• 100% remote

• provide sponsorship to applicants who require or will require a work permit.

Check off only some boxes in the requirements listed above. Studies have shown that marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every qualification. So, if you're excited about this role, we encourage you to apply.

Application Instructions: Please visit the Careers section of our website to apply online. Both a resume and cover letter are required.

IFF values equity, diversity, and inclusion as part of its mission to strengthen nonprofits and the communities they serve. IFF is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.