Job Description

About Us

The Cleveland Foundation, established in 1914, is the world's first and one of the largest community foundations, with assets exceeding $3 billion. Our mission is to enhance the lives of all residents of Greater Cleveland, now and for generations to come, by working together with our donors to build community endowment, address needs through grantmaking, and provide leadership on key community issues.

As we continue to grow and evolve, we are dedicated to building strong relationships and trust across our community, working collaboratively to create innovative, impactful, and internationally recognized contributions to the field of philanthropy.

About You

You are a detail-oriented and analytical professional who thrives in dynamic environments where real estate, finance, and community development intersect. You bring a collaborative spirit and a passion for driving projects forward, leveraging your expertise in financial modeling, project feasibility analysis, and stakeholder engagement to ensure initiatives are executed efficiently and align with the organization’s mission. Your strong communication skills and ability to coordinate with internal teams, external partners, and regulatory agencies make you a trusted resource for strategic decision-making and operational excellence.

You are motivated by opportunities to make a tangible impact on both organizational growth and community outcomes. You excel at managing multiple priorities, interpreting complex financial data, and proactively identifying solutions to challenges in real estate and construction projects. Your commitment to stewardship, equity, and innovation is evident in your approach to problem-solving and your dedication to supporting long-term organizational and community goals.

Job Summary

The Real Estate and Construction Project Analyst role supports the Foundation’s real estate initiatives by managing financial, development, and operational aspects of property projects, ensuring efficiency and alignment with the organization’s mission. This position contributes to organizational goals by enabling informed decision-making, maintaining budget discipline, and supporting community development and placemaking efforts. The Analyst collaborates with internal teams and external partners to provide data-driven insights and strategic support for long-term growth. The role reports directly to the VP Real Estate.

• Support the Real Estate Department staff in developing and analyzing project and land assembly pro formas to assess feasibility, forecasting models, funding strategies, and maintenance requirements.
• Support VP Real Estate in drafting, reviewing, and coordinating lease agreements and amendments.
• Collaborate with and support the Property Management Accountant on all real estate budgets, comparing results to projections and reporting findings.
• Support the VP Real Estate in RFP & RFQ development and master planning efforts.
• Prepare 2D/3D renderings for projects or donor recognition opportunities.
• Support the VP of Real Estate in preparing data, graphics, and presentations for the Midtown Real Estate Committee (MREC), TCFMCCP, NMTC, Finance & Administration, and other committee meetings.
• Utilize GIS software and site visits to maintain oversight of the Foundation’s land and property portfolio.
• Reconcile property tax status and works with VP Finance to coordinate insurance renewals.
• Prepare tax exemption applications and ensure timely tax payments and exemption requests.
• Provides basic grant tracking and funding research.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Owner’s Representative on all construction projects and initiatives.
• Manage contractor coordination, responses, schedules, and compliance for active construction, development, and environmental branding projects.
• Monitor construction financials, including construction progress budgets, pay applications and change orders, and update budgets accordingly. Ensures owners contingencies are adequate for the project and helps identify items to be negotiated with construction contractor and architect.
• Reviews and prepares reports for VP of Real Estate and CFO to review long-term portfolio performance.
• Maintain real estate documentation per retention policies.

General Competencies

• Judgment
• Communication
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Adaptability
• Problem-Solving

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate development, architecture, urban planning, construction management, or a related field.
• 1-2 years of experience in real estate development, property management, finance, or construction administration.
• Experience with budget modeling and tracking, variance analysis, and financial feasibility modeling for real estate projects.
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to protect the assets of the organization during times of design and change orders on construction projects.
• Proficiency in developing and analyzing project pro-formas to support funding strategies and long-term planning.
• Knowledge of property tax processes, tax-exempt applications, and compliance reporting.
• Familiarity with construction budgets, pay applications, and change order tracking.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel (financial modeling, reporting), Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Adobe Suite including Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, Zoom, MS Teams, and Procore. Experience with, or ability to be trained on AutoCAD Revit, ArcGIS or other geospatial software is preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of PDF tools such as Bluebeam or Adobe Acrobat Pro is a plus.
• Highly detail-oriented and organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Analytical mindset, capable of interpreting financial data and making strategic recommendations.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to coordinate with internal teams, external partners, and regulatory agencies.

Work Environment

• Primarily office-based, with frequent local site visits to construction projects and property holdings.
• Occasional travel may be required for off-site meetings, regulatory agency visits, or industry events.
• Must be able to navigate construction sites, which may involve walking on uneven terrain, climbing stairs, or wearing appropriate safety gear.
• Standard business hours (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM), with some evening or weekend hours during key project phases or community events.

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