Project Manager, Real Estate Solutions

Title: Project Manager, Real Estate Solutions

Employee Status: Full Time – Exempt

Salary: Grade 3

Starts at $55,500 | Cleveland

Reports to: Director of Real Estate Solutions – Ohio

Department: Real Estate Solutions

Location: Cleveland, OH

Hybrid Remote: In office: T/W | Remote: M/Th/F

Department Function: The Real Estate Solutions Department provides a wide range of real estate consulting and development services to assist nonprofits with the planning, design, and construction of facilities, including project financial feasibility, facility condition assessments, site search and due diligence for property development, and owner’s representative services. RES collaborates with broader IFF cross-function, programmatic efforts to build nonprofit capacity in targeted sectors and mission-related 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 Project Manager builds and maintains relationships of trust with nonprofit clients and internal IFF colleagues by assisting in furthering real estate learning, planning and brick and mortar project goals. The Project Manager demonstrates strong multi-tasking abilities with their leadership of and support for simultaneous projects of different sizes, scopes, timelines, and locations. This includes assisting clients with assessing the financial feasibility of a real estate project; search for and secure a facility under a favorable lease or ownership agreement; package financing for loan approval and closing; and complete the due diligence, acquisition, and predevelopment phases of a facility project. The Project Manager also leads or supports internal and interdepartmental projects.

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. Plans, manages, and executes real estate consulting or development projects as project team lead, as well as provides support as project team member on large and/or complex projects. Manages and supports a variety of projects concurrently.

2. For each project assigned as a project team lead, coordinates all aspects of project management, including as a trusted advisor to a diverse portfolio of clients, managing to client goals and expectations; scheduling and preparing for internal and external meetings; delivering against project scope and goals as defined in engagement or amending project scope as needed; and managing project team members, as appropriate.

• Develops and analyzes project real estate development space needs, budgets, financing scenarios, and occupancy cost projections. Determines client’s ability to take on debt for a project and overall financial ability to own and/or lease and manage real estate.
• Conducts site visits and performs assessments and evaluations of potential buildings and vacant land for projects. Manages all aspects of such site visits including coordinating project team members and external vendors as necessary.
• Coordinates all predevelopment work associated with projects including necessary due diligence of buildings and land, hiring architects, contractors, and other external vendors, securing construction estimates and any other work necessitated by the project.
• Leads project team in preparation and delivery of written reports and analyses as necessary for clients, including real estate project feasibility reports, facility assessment reports, final project summary reports and other consulting reports as required by the project.
• Assesses the status of projects against their plan and schedule, identifies actual or potential problems, and facilitates and guides solutions to ensure that the projects are completed as planned.
• As project lead, assigns work to other team members, manages deadlines for completion and provides preliminary review.
• Keeps supervisor and/or Directors of Consulting apprised of progress through regular updates or meetings. Coordinates project deliverables review with Directors of Consulting on a timely basis.
• Solicits bids from and secures external vendors for work on projects. Evaluates and makes recommendations on bids and negotiates terms of work.

3. Assists other project leads as a project team member in a supporting capacity and carries out duties as assigned by that project lead.

4. Represents IFF Real Estate Services at meetings, presentations and events, when requested by supervisor and prepares written materials on projects for other IFF departments as needed.

5. Maintains required job knowledge and skills and core professional competencies. Attends and participates in required educational programs and staff meetings.

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. Successful completion of projects according to goals set forth for each project, the project budget and schedule, and the RES department’s policies and procedures. Completed projects meet quality standards

2. Demonstrated ability serving as clients’ advisor, including high level of client satisfaction with respect to services provided, client goals accomplished, and reports produced.

3. Internal and external meetings are facilitated in an organized way and are meaningful to the participants. The Outcomes of these meetings are analyzed and well presented.

4. Written reports are complete, accurate and clear and follow policies and procedures.

5. Oral presentations are clear, well organized, comprehensive and persuasive. Appropriate supporting material and visual aids are well utilized and enhance the technical and advisory aspects of presentation.

6. Cultivates a culture of openness in information sharing. Encourages open communication, cooperation, and the sharing of knowledge.

7. Models personal accountability that promotes ownership and engagement.

8. Builds and maintains effective working relationships with colleagues, peers and team members.

9. Cultivates a culture of openness in information sharing. Encourages open communication, cooperation, and the sharing of knowledge.

10. Models personal accountability that promotes ownership and engagement.

11. Builds and maintains effective working relationships with colleagues, peers and team members.

12. 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.

13. High level of satisfaction with both internal colleagues and external contacts.

Position Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in urban planning or studies, business, or finance. Advanced degree in real estate, planning, policy, business, social science, or social work preferred.

Previous Experience:

At least two years of experience in economic or community development, real estate analysis or development, financial analysis, public policy, or government administration required.

Special Knowledge & Skills:

1. Experience with client management and consulting work building trusted client relationships based on client project goals. Ability to understand and translate client project goals into project scope and deliverables.

2. Strong strategic and analytical skills, with an emphasis on finance and lending.

3. Direct project management experience, with demonstrated experience concurrently managing multiple complex projects of varying scopes, budget, and timelines.

4. Direct experience with real estate development projects.

5. Experience in or willingness to learn and embed equity, diversity and inclusion considerations into processes internally and externally.

6. Knowledge of nonprofit businesses preferred, including operations, governance, and financial management.

Additional Requirements: Regular travel in the assigned metro region and occasional travel throughout the Midwest is required. The Project Manager will visit abandoned buildings and vacant lots, as well as construction project sites, for purposes of inspection and assessment. 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. A resume is required, a cover letter is greatly appreciated.

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.