Director of Acquisitions (Chicago)

A growing real estate investment firm is seeking a Director of Acquisitions to lead the sourcing, underwriting, and execution of student housing investments nationwide. This is a high-impact role for a driven dealmaker with deep market knowledge and a track record of sourcing, evaluating, and closing student housing opportunities.As the firm expands its portfolio, the Director will play a key role in shaping investment strategy, building broker relationships, and identifying value in on- and off-market transactions. This is a unique opportunity to step into a leadership seat within a fast-scaling investment platform. Key Responsibilities:Source and evaluate student housing acquisition opportunities across target university marketsUnderwrite assets using Excel and Argus; analyze rents, expenses, capex, and return metricsPrepare investment memoranda and present to Investment CommitteeLead due diligence, contract negotiations, and transaction executionBuild and maintain broker, owner, and lender relationships to support deal flowTrack market trends, university growth data, and enrollment forecastsCollaborate with asset management, capital markets, and development teams on business plans and capitalization strategies Qualifications:510 years of real estate acquisitions experience, with at least 3+ years in student housingProven track record of sourcing and closing deals Strong modeling, valuation, and analytical skillsEntrepreneurial mindset with ability to build systems and pipeline from scratchExperience presenting to investment committee or institutional capital partnersBachelors degree in Real Estate, Finance, or related field (MBA a plus)

Created: 2025-09-22