Welcome to CUPPA Careers!

The College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at UIC is the University of Illinois System's home for the study of public policy and contemporary urban challenges. We are CUPPA.

In the heart of Chicago, we offer degrees in fields of study that can change your life and change the world. CUPPA students and alumni are uniquely skilled to build and transform sustainable urban neighborhoods and communities and to address the challenges presented in the 21st century. Find our more about our Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees at cuppa.uic.edu.

Follow our job postings below and our national job tweets at @CUPPACareers. For student internships and student opportunities, head to the CUPPA Student Opportunities Blog

Have a job or internship to post? Send an email with the title, location, job description, and contact information to cuppa@uic.edu

Senior Project Manager, IFF - Chicago, IL

The Senior Project Manager assumes responsibility for coordinating and managing special initiatives, consulting, and development projects of all sizes and participating in projects led by other staff. The Senior Project Manager takes an active role in securing new work, planning projects, defining methodology and work plans, coordinating and leading a project team, adhering to project budgets and timelines, managing client and inter-departmental relationships, presenting findings to clients and project accounting and reporting. The Senior Project Manager works on many real estate projects simultaneously, participates in departmental planning meetings for projects, is an active Project Team Leader or Project Team Member on projects, and supports the work of the Director and other RES staff as necessary.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Plans and organizes special initiatives, real estate consulting, or development projects of all sizes as a Project Team Leader, including establishing goals and timelines, and delineating clear steps that will lead to successfully completing the project.
2. Manages special initiatives and large, complex consulting projects and represents IFF on such projects. From time to time, may manage development projects and represent IFF on such projects or work with IFF's Owner's Representatives on such projects. (See #3 for specific job duties.)
3. Coordinates all aspects of project management for each project or initiative assigned as a Project Team Leader including scheduling internal and external meetings as appropriate, following project steps that have been delineated, managing Project Team Members, including training and mentoring new project associates and project managers, and ensuring that project goals and milestones are being met.
4. Assists other Project Team Leaders as a Project Team Member in a supporting capacity and carries out duties as assigned by the Project Team Leader.
5. Makes presentations to and facilitates meetings with clients, represents IFF Real Estate Services at meetings, presentations and events, when requested by the Director or Vice President of RES, and prepares written materials on projects for other IFF departments as needed.
6. Develops new client relationships through networking and marketing efforts in coordinating with the Managing Director and Vice President of Real Estate Services
7. Maintains required job knowledge and skills and core professional competencies. Attends and participates in required educational programs and staff meetings.
8. Performs other duties as assigned.
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.
Experience: At least five years experience in economic or community development, real estate analysis or project development, financial analysis, or construction management.
Special Knowledge & Skills:
Direct experience with real estate development projects.
Knowledge of affordability housing programs, charter schools and nonprofits preferred.
Direct project management experience.
Experience working with clients or constituents.
Analytical and strategic skills; ability to plan, manage and implement multiple and complex projects; and ability to understand and conceptualize project goals.
Strong financial and analytical skills.
Overall understanding of finance and lending.
Excellent communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills and ability to translate complex real estate and other concepts into relatable concepts for a broad audience.
Experience working with a team and managing a multitude of relationships and project partners.
Familiarity with the concepts of green design and construction and, ideally, experience with the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED™ Green Building Rating System (desirable, but not required).
Knowledge of construction practices and terminology and ability to read architectural drawings.
Ability to learn and use a wide variety of computer software related to project management, including word processing, database programs, spreadsheet and project management packages.
Unusual Physical Requirements: Regular travel in the assigned metro region and occasional travel throughout the Midwest is required. The Senior 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.

How to apply

Application Process: Please submit a cover letter, resume and salary requirements to jkraemer@iff.org with "Senior Project Manager" in the subject line.