Director Acquisitions

FOCUS DEVELOPMENT INC • Chicago, IL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director Acquisitions role is based at Focus’ corporate office in Chicago, Illinois, and reports to the Executive Vice President, Development. The position leads sourcing for ground-up multifamily and mixed-use development opportunities in Chicago, its suburbs, and nationally, with an emphasis on the Southeastern United States. The role develops and maintains relationships with brokers, landowners, development and investment partners, and third-party clients to secure on-market and off-market sites.

The Director monitors market conditions and evaluates potential markets to inform site selection, underwriting, and Focus’ geographic expansion. In partnership with executive leadership, the role helps shape business development strategy, including target markets, product types, deal criteria, and pipeline goals. The Director also supports due diligence, zoning and entitlement feasibility, initial financial modeling, and stakeholder engagement, and represents Focus within the real estate industry. Travel to the Southeastern United States, the greater Midwest region, and new or emerging markets is required as necessary.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in Business or Real Estate and at least 5 years of experience in Real Estate Acquisitions.
• Demonstrated success sourcing and securing ground-up development sites, including off-market opportunities.
• Robust real estate industry network, including established relationships within the brokerage community.
• Strong command of market research and analysis, including the ability to assess market conditions and evaluate new markets.
• Experience contributing to business development or growth strategy at the leadership level.
• Proven ability to identify and execute on a vision within real estate development.
• Experience in multifamily underwriting.
• Ability to obtain buy-in for contentious and/or complex transactions.
• Tenacity.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, verbal communication, and presentation skills.
• Exceptional leadership skills.
• Knowledge of MS Office, including PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing of ground-up multifamily and mixed-use development sites and maintain a robust pipeline of on-market and off-market opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong brokerage relationships, positioning Focus as a preferred buyer and partner and generating early access to off-market deals.
• Research, evaluate, and recommend new markets, and lead market entry efforts by establishing local broker, landowner, and partner networks.
• Monitor and interpret market conditions, including supply and demand, rent and sale comparables, land pricing, construction costs, and competitor activity, and translate findings into actionable insight for leadership.
• Partner with executive leadership to develop and refine business development strategy, including target markets, product types, deal criteria, and pipeline goals.
• Evaluate opportunities through due diligence and zoning and entitlement feasibility reviews, and assist with initial financial modeling and underwriting in partnership with the Senior Analyst.
• Collaborate with the Development Team and Capital Markets & Investments Team to prepare for and support zoning entitlements, including neighborhood, aldermanic, and community meetings.
• Network in the real estate industry to attract new business, promote Focus projects, and connect executive leadership with key industry events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director