AVP, Acquisitions and Development

At Mather, we are reimagining what it means to live well. As a nationally recognized nonprofit organization and thought leader in wellness-focused senior living, we create extraordinary places where older adults can pursue purpose, connection, and well-being. Guided by our IRBI values of being Inclusive, Resilient, Bold, and Impactful, we continue to invest in innovative communities and strategic growth opportunities that extend our mission and shape the future of senior living.As Mather looks toward what comes next, we are seeking an accomplished acquisitions and development leader to help identify, evaluate, and advance opportunities for new communities, acquisitions, campus expansions, redevelopment initiatives, and strategic partnerships. The AVP, Acquisitions & Development will combine market intelligence and transaction management with collaboration across real estate underwriting, development planning, and capital markets execution.Partnering closely with executive leadership, operations, finance, feasibility, design and construction teams, outside advisors, lenders, and investment partners, this leader will help develop sound business cases, coordinate due diligence, evaluate risks, and move approved opportunities from initial screening through closing and implementation. The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in real estate acquisitions, development, investment, capital markets, commercial lending, or underwriting, along with advanced financial modeling skills and the ability to translate complex market, operational, and financial information into clear recommendations for senior leaders and Mather's board. 

This is a full-time, salaried, hybrid position based at Mather HQ in Evanston, Illinois. Candidates must reside within the Chicagoland area and be available for approximately 20% to 30% travel, based on transaction and project activity, in support of Mather’s strategic growth initiatives

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Builds and manages the acquisition and development pipeline, including sourcing, screening and prioritizing potential senior living communities, development sites, and strategic partnerships.
• Works with market research to conduct demographic, competitive, pricing, and comparable market analyses for prospective communities, translating findings into actionable investment recommendations.
• Participates in coordination of financial underwriting, pro forma cash flows, valuation analyses, return scenarios, sensitivities and investment recommendations for executive leadership and Board committees.
• Coordinates comprehensive due diligence across financial, operational, market, physical, environmental, legal, regulatory, entitlement, insurance and tax workstreams; identifies key risks and develops mitigation strategies.
• Coordinates development feasibility for new communities and expansions, working with operations, design, construction and outside consultants to align program, unit mix, amenity strategy, phasing, schedule and cost with market demand and operating objectives.
• Collaborates in the development and evaluation of full capital-stack strategies, including taxable and tax-exempt debt, bank financing, public debt, joint venture equity and other funding sources appropriate to each opportunity.
• Co-manage relationships with potential equity partners, lenders, investment banks, institutional partners, brokers, legal counsel and other advisors; supports negotiation of financing, purchase, development, joint venture and other transaction documents.
• Coordinates internal approvals and transaction execution from letter of intent through closing, maintaining decision logs, workplans, timelines, budgets and clear accountability across workstreams.
• Contributor in the creation of clear and concise investment memoranda, presentations and updates for executive leadership, Finance/Investment Committee, Senior Living Committee and Board of Directors especially focusing on key acquisition and site development pipeline report.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, real estate, business, accounting or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 to 15 years of progressively responsible experience in real estate acquisitions, development, investment, capital markets, commercial lending, underwriting or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex real estate underwriting, due diligence, financing and transaction execution.
• Advanced financial modeling skills, including development pro formas, valuation, debt sizing, sensitivity analysis and investment return metrics.
• Strong understanding of real estate capital markets, financing structures and transaction documentation.
• Ability to synthesize market, operational and financial information into clear recommendations for senior executives and governing boards.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, project management and relationship-management skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; ability to learn and use real estate and business-intelligence tools.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives, exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in business administration, finance or real estate.
• CFA designation or another relevant professional credential.
• Experience with senior living, Life Plan Communities, health care, hospitality or other operationally intensive real estate.
• Experience with large-scale development, campus expansion, acquisitions, joint ventures and taxable or tax-exempt financing.