Senior Project Manager, Real Estate Solutions

IFF•Kansas City, MO

19d•Hybrid

About The Position

IFF's Real Estate Solutions (RES) department specializes in providing creative real estate consulting and development services to nonprofits, helping them achieve their growth goals and better serve their communities. RES acts as a trusted advisor, assisting nonprofits with various real estate decisions, from feasibility analysis and site selection to property acquisition, construction, and project closeout. The department collaborates internally and externally to support nonprofits in under-resourced communities. RES is part of IFF’s Core Business Solutions, which drives corporate strategy across markets and includes business units like Capital Solutions, Real Estate Solutions, Community Development Solutions, Home First, Legal and Compliance. IFF itself is a mission-driven lender, real estate consultant, and developer focused on helping communities thrive across the Midwest, serving diverse sectors such as human services, health centers, schools, affordable housing, and healthy food operators. The organization emphasizes purpose, broad perspective, and achieving positive results, with staff contributing extensive business experience and a strong connection to IFF's mission. IFF is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, aiming to advance equitable outcomes in under-resourced communities and operating as an inclusive, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive institution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in urban planning, community and economic development, real estate development, architecture, public policy, or similar.
Five years of experience in applicable fields required.
Regular travel throughout the Midwest region.
Occasional early start or extended hours and evening or weekend work.
Direct experience with real estate development projects.
Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of community development practices and terminology.
Direct project management experience with the demonstrated ability to plan and implement multiple complex projects simultaneously.
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.
Strong strategic and analytical skills and background, with an emphasis on finance and lending.
Knowledge of nonprofit businesses, including operations, governance, and financial management.
Ability to work independently and productively in a dynamic work environment.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Strong group facilitation and interpersonal skills.
Excellent organizational and project management skills.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking abilities.
Proven adaptability, flexibility, creativity, and curiosity.
Aptitude and desire for mentoring and training.
Demonstrated commitment to client satisfaction.
Commitment to the work IFF does and the ability to demonstrate creativity, diligence, enthusiasm, growth-mindset, thoughtfulness, and passion to make meaningful change in the areas of economic and racial justice.

Nice To Haves

Additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Responsibilities

Plans, manages, and executes real estate consulting or development projects as project team lead, and provides support as a project team member on large and/or complex projects.
Manages and supports a variety of projects concurrently.
As a project team leader, coordinates all aspects of project management, acting as a trusted advisor to a diverse portfolio of clients.
Develops and analyzes client facility space needs, budgets, financing scenarios, and occupancy cost projections.
Conducts high-level evaluation of a client’s ability to take on debt for a project and their overall financial ability to own and/or lease and manage real estate.
Coordinates and participates in site visits with team members performing facility assessments and evaluations of potential buildings and vacant land for projects.
Collaborates with an owner’s representative on project due diligence work, including review of entitlements, hiring architects, contractors, and other external vendors, securing construction estimates, and creating project budgets.
Prepares and delivers written reports, electronic presentations, and analyses for clients, including real estate project feasibility reports, final project summary reports, and other consulting reports.
Monitors the status of consulting projects against their plan, schedule, and budget.
Identifies actual or potential concerns or delays and facilitates and guides solutions to ensure projects are completed as planned or adjusted accordingly in agreement with the client.
As project lead, collaborates with other team members, manages deadlines, tracks budget and schedule, and provides preliminary review as applicable.
Keeps the client and IFF team members apprised of progress through regular written and verbal updates, presentations, and meetings.
Solicits bids from various real estate professionals and vendors for work on projects.
Evaluates and offers input to the client to assist them in making decisions on bids and negotiating terms of work.
Provides formal training, coaching, and technical assistance for current and prospective nonprofit organizations to assist with their understanding, evaluating, accessing, and structuring facilities and finance options, including the role of CDFI financing.
Represents RES at meetings, presentations, and events, including with clients and IFF team members.
Periodically supports RES Market Leader with business development activities.
Participates in department knowledge sharing and training efforts by making presentations, conducting research, and participating on committees in support of department performance goals.
Maintains required job knowledge and skills and core professional competencies.
Attends and participates in required educational programs and staff meetings.
Demonstrates a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Promotes an environment of empathy and respect, ensures the inclusion of all team members, and actively engages in EDI events and learning opportunities.