Director - Reichard Real Estate Academy

Job Description

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the Reichard Real Estate Academy to ensure long-term growth in alignment with the mission of the Department of Finance and Gies College of Business.
• Work collaboratively with faculty and department leaders to ensure the Academy’s programming is academically rigorous and adaptable to the evolving needs in the commercial real estate industry.

• Oversee selective, multi-semester Academy experience focused on preparing students for internship, full-time roles, and long-term success in real estate.
• Recruit, select, develop, mentor and support students through career advising and professional development. Facilitate alumni and industry interaction with students.
• Coordinate seminars, workshops, and experiential learning opportunities that emphasize a mix of soft skills, analytical capabilities, and professional best practices. May involve off-campus travel to national real estate competitions, site visits, commercial real estate professional conferences, and other events.

• Build enduring relationships with real estate investment firms, developers, lenders, and operators, especially although not exclusively in the Chicago real estate community, with a focus on creating strategic partnerships and establishing the Reichard Academy as a key part of the real estate industry’s talent pipeline.
• Leverage and expand a robust professional network to create internships, full-time job placements, mentorship opportunities, and guest speaker participation.
• Build and deepen relationships with University of Illinois alumni in real estate to strengthen student outcomes and long-term support for the Academy.
• Serve as conduit between industry leaders and faculty to ensure the Academy remains both academically rigorous and closely aligned with employer needs.

• Teach undergraduate courses on the Urbana campus, with specific assignments determined by departmental needs and the Director’s expertise.
• Integrate real-world applications, case studies, and industry perspectives.

• Oversee administrative aspects of the Academy, including coordination with staff, alumni, and corporate partners.
• Support marketing and outreach efforts to promote the Academy to prospective students, alumni, and industry partners.
• Define and track key performance metrics (e.g., placement results, employer engagement, alumni involvement, and program reputation) and lead continuous improvement efforts to ensure high-quality outcomes.