Development & Finance Associate

Align Capital Solutions•McLean, VA

5d•$110,000 - $125,000

About The Position

Align Capital Solutions is a real estate advisory firm that applies private-sector financial expertise to the “missing middle” housing challenge. It works with institutional, public, and nonprofit owners and developers to finance attainable multifamily rental housing, using original research, technical expertise, and innovative financial structures. The firm connects clients with debt and equity providers and draws on legal and tax insights to support housing for essential workers. The Development & Finance Associate will evaluate and help finance workforce housing investments, gaining exposure to how capital markets shape financial decisions. The role involves market research, underwriting, financial modeling, capital-stack structuring, preparation and presentation of investment materials, coordination with financing partners, transaction support, and proposal development. As a growing startup, Align offers the opportunity to contribute to scaling the business and financing housing projects. The position is based primarily in a professional office and may require occasional travel to other locations, including active construction sites. The work involves prolonged periods at a desk, detailed computer and document work, movement around the office and sites, and occasional lifting. The role is demanding and may require extended hours and responsiveness outside regular working hours during critical project phases, deadlines, or emergencies. A pre-employment fitness-for-duty drug screening and random quarterly tests are required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in real estate, finance, economics, or business.
At least 4 years of relevant experience in multifamily development or finance, including a demonstrated track record of closing or assisting with the closing of transactions.
Strong understanding of real estate fundamentals, including operating pro formas, market dynamics, and financial modeling.
Working knowledge of real estate project capital structures and financing sources, such as construction debt, private equity, tax-exempt financing, LIHTC, and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac programs.
Experience working in a highly collaborative, team-based setting.
Ability to work independently, take initiative, and meet deadlines.
Excel skills that include financial and real estate cash-flow modeling and knowledge of key financial and real estate concepts and metrics.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to perform prolonged focused desk and computer work, communicate effectively, and review complex documents with sharp visual acuity.
Ability to move around the office and construction sites, travel occasionally using different modes of transportation, and lift and move up to 10 pounds regularly and up to 25 pounds occasionally.
Willingness to work extended hours during critical project phases or client deadlines and to monitor and respond to communications outside regular hours when business needs require it.
Ability to follow applicable safety policies and procedures at construction sites and other work locations.
Successful completion of a pre-employment drug fitness-for-duty screening and participation in random quarterly drug testing.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) is strongly encouraged but not required.

Responsibilities

Lead due diligence for apartment and mixed-use investments through local market feasibility research.
Evaluate mixed-income assets in light of Area Median Income restrictions, real estate market fundamentals, and state or local tax abatements such as PILOT agreements.
Develop and maintain complex, multi-tiered financial models for ground-up development deals, including blended cost of capital, waterfall distributions, and the effects of long-term affordability covenants on exit values.
Advise clients on project- and portfolio-level capital needs and structure capital stacks using sources such as private equity, taxable and tax-exempt debt, subordinate soft debt, and grants.
Prepare investment memoranda synthesizing macroeconomic trends and drivers of multifamily and mixed-income housing.
Present technical modeling outputs and feasibility analyses to investment committees, nonprofit boards, and government agencies.
Coordinate with financing partners, including tax-exempt and conduit bond issuers, underwriters, HUD/FHA lenders, commercial banks, and CDFIs.
Assist with reviewing and managing project contracts and finance-related documents, including regulatory agreements that support long-term financing viability.
Lead responses to RFPs and RFQs for solicited and unsolicited mixed-income development opportunities.