Division Manager or Manager, Real Estate & Joint Development

COMTO; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 99,000 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan or 401(k)

Hybrid work environment

Transit benefits

Paid holidays

Job summary

Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) is forming a new Joint Development program and seeks a Division Manager or Manager, Real Estate & Joint Development to lead real estate development on transit agency land. The role oversees staff, negotiates long-term leases and land sales, and coordinates with municipal partners and Service Boards.

The ideal candidate has 7–10 years in real estate development or related public sector procurement, with a background in urban planning and strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Real Estate, Civil Engineering, or related field required.
• Master’s degree is a plus; professional certifications such as CPM or PMP are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the establishment and roll-out of NITA’s Joint Development program.
• Act as primary liaison with municipal representatives, Service Boards, private developers and counsel.
• Negotiate contracts and agreements with Service Boards, developers and municipalities.
• Plan, direct, evaluate developers and conduct financial feasibility analyses for new projects.
• Ensure projects stay on schedule and within approved budgets.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Collaboration

Communication

MultiTasking

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

26-REJP

The Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), formerly the Regional Transportation Authority, was created by the Illinois General Assembly and Governor JB Pritzker to make transit across northeastern Illinois work for riders as one regional transit system. NITA is seeking to fill a critical role with the newly formed Division Manager or Manager, Real Estate & Joint Development position for the Local Planning and Program Management division. Under the direction of the Division Manager, Local Planning and Program Management, the incumbent will help establish and lead NITA’s new Joint Development program, which focuses on development of transit agency-owned land. In addition to the Joint Development program design, the position will direct, manage, supervise and coordinate the activities of the Real Estate department, including the negotiation of real estate acquisition for joint development projects, negotiating long-term leases and sales of transit agency owned land, assessing private development opportunities, negotiating contracts with selected developers and securing NITA Board approval of Joint Development projects.

NITA sets regional fares, service standards, and schedules across the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace; plans and funds regional capital investment; and oversees the performance and finances of the three Service Boards serving riders across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties.

As of September 1, 2026, NITA has expanded authority under Public Act 104-0457. People who join NITA now will help build the systems, policies, and partnerships that shape regional transit for years to come.

Candidates must be able to develop and nurture stakeholder partnerships with local municipalities, the NITA Service Boards (i.e., Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace), land use developers, community groups and other regional agencies. The candidate will oversee the Real Estate Division and is responsible for staffing, supervising, training, assigning and reviewing the work of Division staff.

Accountabilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the establishment and roll-out of NITA’s Joint Development program in coordination with the transit-supportive development team and agency leadership.
• Serve as primary point of contact for questions regarding the Joint Development program, municipal partnerships and unsolicited proposals.
• Act as primary liaison between municipal representatives, Service Boards, private developers, community groups and legal counsel regarding the Joint Development program.
• Work with legal counsel to negotiate contracts and agreements with Service Boards, private developers and municipalities.
• Plan, direct, integrate and monitor the planning, predevelopment, competitive offerings and evaluation and selection of developers for negotiations and project development work.
• Develop project budgets and financing structures, including conducting financial analyses, site due diligence, market value assessments and feasibility of new projects using innovative financing sources.
• Manage project timelines for joint development initiatives. Ensure all phases from planning through execution are completed according to schedule and within approved budgets, proactively identifying and resolving delays to keep real estate projects on track.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory reporting outlined within the NITA act and required by other state/federal agencies.
• Oversee risk management plan for managing real estate properties.
• Foster a work culture that’s focused on achieving measurable objectives by coaching staff, strengthening interagency relationships, and supporting your team. Supports the Agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity policies, goals and objectives.
• Perform other duties and assist in special projects as required or assigned.

NITA offers a highly competitive benefits package:

• Pension plan or 401(k) salary match provided by NITA at no cost to you
• 401(k) and/or 457 plan options
• Hybrid work environment and flexible work schedules
• Transit benefits to support your commute
• Twelve paid holidays and one floating holiday
• Competitive personal leave package
• Parental leave
• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life/AD&D Insurance/Pet Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Tuition reimbursement
• Gym membership discount
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Employee Assistance Program

A Division Manager role typically offers salaries near $123,000 and shall consider a Manager tier for candidates who fit the manager role typically at salaries near $99,825. NITA offers competitive salaries with the possibility of a higher offer for highly qualified candidates. (The final scale of the classification for this position will be based upon the selected candidates demonstrated experience and qualifications.)

For more information about NITA, visit our website at https://nita.illinois.gov/.

An Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

**Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-NITA employment while employed at NITA, or within one year immediately after ending NITA employment, the employee may be required to notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (“OEIG”) or may be subject to a fine.**

The ideal candidate must have the following:

• The knowledge, skills, and abilities equivalent to the completion of a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Real Estate, Civil Engineering, or a related field required.
• Professional certifications or other designations are preferred, such as a Real Estate Broker license, Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Property Manager or (CPM).
• Master’s Degree is a plus.
• Division Managers must have seven (7) to ten (10) years’ experience and Managers must have four (4) to six (6) years’ experience in real estate development, urban planning, local land use regulations, transit-orientated development, or public sector procurement.
• Must have a minimum of three (3) years of demonstrated supervisory/management experience.
• Experience working with similar joint development programs at other transit agencies is highly desirable.

Skills:

• Strategic leadership: Capable of setting clear vision and direction, motivating teams, and guiding complex initiatives to achieve organizational goals.
• Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to build strong, trustbased working relationships. Skilled at aligning stakeholders with differing priorities.
• Communication: Expertise in distilling complex information into clear, actionable insights. Ability to present difficult findings tactfully while maintaining credibility and independence.
• MultiTasking: Effectively manages multiple priorities at once, staying organized, accurate, and able to shift plans as priorities shift.
• Negotiation: Can effectively reach mutually beneficial agreements, resolve differences, and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, partners, or clients.