Overview

The Associate position will work with senior staff providing project management, research, financial, and analytic support for a wide range of clients and assignments. The Associate will be assigned to a group of projects to provide analysis and support, which may include demand modeling; graphics development; organizational assessments and interviews;  project management support of facilities and master planning projects including management of consultants, budgets, and contracts; and research support for a wide variety of client engagements. The Associate will have significant client contact and, depending on ability, may take lead responsibility for specific projects or clients. In addition, the Associate will participate in preparing proposals and other marketing efforts on behalf of the firm.

Responsibilities include:

  • Analyze market, real estate, demographic, and institutional data; research best practices for urban real estate and economic development and current market trends or environments;
  • Serve as a project coordinator, managing the internal day to day activities of client projects.
  • Conduct research on best practices, current market trends, and real estate comparables;
  • Assist in the development of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) on behalf of clients; analysis and reporting of responses; participation in developer or consultant selection process;
  • Conduct interviews for organizational assessments; facilite stakeholder meetings; synthesize data into visual storytelling;
  • Prepare PowerPoint presentations, reports, memos and other materials for current clients;
  • Assist in business development including drafting proposals, development of responses to RFPs for consulting services, and preparation of marketing materials for prospective clients;
  • Coordinate and schedule project team meetings, prepare agendas and meeting minutes, and follow up on assignments;
  • Prepare project work plans, budgets, and schedules;
  • Coordinate and provide support to project team members, including design and construction professionals, attorneys, financial advisors, and planning consultants.

Job Requirements

  • 5+ years of work experience in community and economic development, real estate finance, planning, consulting, or related fields.
  • A graduate degree in real estate, urban planning, business administration, finance, or a related field is preferred but not required. Previous work experience and/or coursework should demonstrate strong analytical and research skills.
  • Engaged listener with a talent for synthesizing qualitative and quantitative information.
  • Excellent organizational skills and follow through.
  • Experience in graphic design (full Adobe Creative Suite) and creating infographics.
  • Strong writing composition and storytelling ability.
  • Ability to track multiple pieces of information over time, consolidate, and then present effectively.
  • Self-motivated; ability to execute tasks independently with minimal instruction. High proficiency in organization and time management.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and professional demeanor, especially when communicating with clients; an ability to actively listen to clients and teammates.
  • Fluency in Microsoft PowerPoint and Word.
  • Experience in working with Tableau, GIS, especially ArcGIS, ArcPro or ArcGIS Online, is a plus but not required.
  • A passion for cities, neighborhoods, active streets, and strong communities.
  • Ability to contribute to and mesh with collegial company culture, to work with grace under pressure, and to thrive in a fast-paced dynamic environment.

Salary & Benefits

U3 offers a competitive compensation package, including salary, the opportunity to earn a bonus, and a generous employee benefits package. Salary and bonus reviews are conducted annually. The starting salary for this position will be commensurate with experience.

U3 provides the following benefits:

  • Medical and Insurance: 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision care insurance, life insurance, and long-term disability; up to ten paid days of sick/medical leave per calendar year
  • Vacation: four weeks of paid time off (PTO) per calendar year; 10 paid federal holidays; 8 paid ‘Summer Fridays’ off.
  • Retirement: optional self-funded 401(k) plan with employer match up to 4% of salary, eligible after one year of employment
  • Technology: iPhone, phone plan, and macbook provided
  • Travel: annual in-person company-wide staff retreat, fall and spring staff meetings, and opportunity to travel to clients
  • Work Environment: flexible and hybrid work environment
Apply for job

About U3 Advisors

Summary

U3 Advisors (U3) works at the intersection of campus and city. We advance institutional missions through transformative economic, real estate, and programmatic strategies that positively impact communities. Our team is composed of creative, nimble, and strategic multi-disciplinary practitioners with backgrounds in urban planning, real estate development, GIS, data analytics, higher education administration, finance, architecture, and non-profit leadership. We care deeply about cities and are passionate about making communities more vibrant, equitable, and sustainable.

U3 has offices in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.  We are proud to serve as development managers, advisors, and strategists to a wide and diverse range of higher education and mission-driven clients. Our projects are both local and in places such as Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans, Fort Worth, San Diego, as well as abroad. For more information about our firm and clients, visit www.u3advisors.com.

Our Work 

At any given time, U3 has 25 – 40 ongoing projects, affording team members the opportunity to participate in various areas of real estate and economic development consulting and take on multiple client-facing roles. These may include helping clients to monetize real estate assets and select development partners; assisting with public/private partnerships and public approval processes; developing long-term strategic real estate plans for property portfolios; serving as virtual staff to universities seeking to develop new campuses, facilities, and innovation districts; creating new entities to lead neighborhood economic development and engagement strategies; and providing strategic advice around institutional growth and organizational dynamics.

Diversity

U3’s human capital is the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and company’s achievement as well. We celebrate the diversity that makes U3 unique.While we continue to improve in established metrics for success in diversity, we are proud of where we are today. U3’s inclusive hiring process ensures that we create opportunity and a level playing field for all. Currently, U3 has 25 advisors comprised of a range of characteristics including gender (50% women), religion, race (30% minority), age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and education. This diversity fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and unique perspectives which translates into our client work.

Since U3’s inception 18 years ago, our work has been primarily based in urban settings that are both socioeconomically challenged and racially diverse. As stewards of development in several of the continent’s largest majority-minority cities, we live by the principle of doing the right thing for better reasons. Our focus on bridging the gap between communities and anchor institutions in cities like Detroit, the South Side of Chicago, Memphis, College Park (MD), Newark (NJ), New Orleans, and Buffalo speaks to the core of who U3 is and our deliberate impact.