Acquisition Associate
The W Companies
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Qualifications
- 1–3 years of experience in real estate, preferably in retail development.
- Strong understanding of retail site selection criteria.
- Self-starter with project management skills.
Responsibilities
- Source and evaluate new retail development opportunities.
- Conduct trade area analysis and competitive mapping.
- Assist in preparing site feasibility analyses.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Location:Chicago, IL
Job Type:Full-Time
Reports To:Managing Director of Development and Acquisitions
Company Overview:
The W Companies is a dynamic and growing retail real estate development firm specializing in ground-up shopping centers, single-tenant net lease properties, and redevelopment of underutilized retail assets. We pride ourselves on identifying high-potential locations and delivering quality developments that meet the needs of both national and regional tenants.
Position Summary:
We are seeking a proactive and driven Acquisition Associate to support the site selection, acquisition, and pre-development processes for new retail projects. This role is ideal for someone with a strong interest in retail real estate, a sharp eye for identifying opportunities, and a desire to play a hands-on role in growing a retail portfolio.
Key Responsibilities:
- Source and evaluate new retail development opportunitiesthrough market research, broker relationships, cold calling, and site visits.
- Conducttrade area analysis, demographic studies, and competitive mapping to assess market potential.
- Assist in preparingsite feasibility analyses, including zoning assessments, preliminary layouts, and financial models.
- Work closely with brokers, landowners, and municipalities to advance potential deals.
- Help prepareletters of intent (LOIs)and support negotiation of purchase agreements.
- Coordinate and track due diligence items, including title, surveys, environmental reports, and entitlement requirements.
- Support internal investment and committee presentations with market data, visuals, and underwriting summaries.
- Maintain a pipeline report of potential sites and track lead status, activity, and outcomes.
- Collaborate with construction, legal, and leasing teams as projects move from acquisition to vertical development.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, Urban Planning, or a related field. Master’s degree a plus.
- 1–3 years of experience in real estate, preferably in retail development, brokerage, or acquisitions.
- Strong understanding of retail site selection criteria, including traffic patterns, co-tenancy, access/visibility, and trade area demographics.
- Proficiency in Excel and mapping software (e.g., ESRI, GoogleEarth, MapInfo, or similar); familiarity with CoSta is a plus.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, especially in networking and deal sourcing.
- Self-starter with the ability to manage multiple tasks and timelines independently.
- Passion for retail, market trends, and identifying high-value opportunities in evolving retail landscapes.
- OWNERSHIP in projects
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Mileage reimbursement, entertainment/meal budget and travel allowances
- Opportunity to grow with a fast-paced, entrepreneurial company
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