Head of Project Management

National Equity Fund; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

National Equity Fund, Inc. is a leading non-profit LIHTC syndicator seeking a strategic Head of Project Management in Chicago.

You will oversee the closing investment lifecycle across LIHTC, Structured Finance, and Predevelopment, directing underwriting quality, transaction execution, and organizational development. The role emphasizes leadership of senior talent, cross-functional collaboration, and continuous improvement to scale with increasing deal complexity and volume.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Real Estate or related field; Master's preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of real estate underwriting experience, including at least 5 years in the LIHTC industry.
• Deep knowledge of LIHTC investments, underwriting, compliance, and transaction structuring.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the underwriting and closing organization through Managing Directors and staff.
• Align staffing and resources to support objectives and transaction volume.
• Oversee underwriting and closing activities across LIHTC, Structured Finance, and Predevelopment lines.
• Establish QA standards, procedures, and internal controls to minimize risk.
• Drive process improvements, standardize workflows, and enhance operational efficiency.
• Serve as liaison between Project Management and other departments to ensure seamless execution.

Skills

Executive leadership

Underwriting

Staff development

Stakeholder management

Financial analysis

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance/Real Estate

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Proprietary systems

Job description

NATIONAL EQUITY FUND, INC. is a leading non-profit syndicator of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) with a mission to create and deliver innovative, collaborative financial solutions to expand the creation and preservation of affordable housing.The Head of Project Management provides strategic leadership for NEF's Project Management department, overseeing the closing investment lifecycle across NEF's LIHTC, Structured Finance, and Predevelopment business lines. This executive is accountable for underwriting quality, transaction execution, operational excellence, and the leadership and development of the underwriting and closing organization while driving continuous improvement and cross-functional collaboration.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:Lead and develop the underwriting and closing organization through Managing Directors, establishing accountability, performance expectations, and talent development across all levels.Align staffing, resources, and organizational structure to support business objectives, transaction volume, and evolving market conditions.Assign transactions strategically based on capacity, expertise, investor requirements, and deal complexity.Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and operational excellence.Oversee underwriting and closing activities to ensure timely, accurate, and consistent execution across all business lines.Establish and maintain quality assurance standards, operating procedures, and internal controls that minimize risk and support investment objectives.Ensure accurate project data, reporting, and visibility into transaction status, key risks, and closing timelines.Lead process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, scalability, technology utilization, transparency, and execution quality.Develop and implement best practices, standardized workflows, and performance metrics across the department.Drive continuous improvement to support increasing transaction volume and product complexity.Serve as the primary operational liaison between Project Management and Originations, Credit, Legal, Investor Relations, Asset Management, and other business partners.Ensure effective communication, coordinated decision-making, and seamless transaction execution throughout the investment lifecycle.Oversee successful transition of closed transactions to Asset Management while maintaining an exceptional internal and external client experience.MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Real Estate, or related field; Master's preferred.Minimum 10 years of real estate underwriting experience, including at least 5 years in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit industry.Deep knowledge of LIHTC investments, underwriting, compliance, and transaction structuring.Demonstrated success leading large professional teams and developing senior talent.Strong executive communication, analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and manage multiple complex transactions.Advanced Excel proficiency and ability to learn proprietary systems.Willingness to travel as needed.We offer a competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefits package.NEF IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER