Job Description

Director, Reichard Real Estate Academy

Department of Finance

Gies College of Business

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Department of Finance at the Gies College of Business seeks an accomplished and highly connected commercial real estate professional to build a scalable, nationally visible program as Director of the Reichard Real Estate Academy . The Reichard Real Estate Academy is a selective, student-focused program designed to prepare high-achieving undergraduate students for successful careers in the real estate industry, with a particular emphasis on commercial real estate.

The Director provides vision, strategic leadership, hands-on engagement that connects students to promising career pathways while also serving as the public face and chief ambassador of the Academy within the national commercial real estate industry, among University of Illinois alumni, and across campus. The Academy emphasizes high academic standards, soft skill and professional development, mentoring, and engagement with industry projects and leaders to help students secure strong entry-level positions and thrive in their early careers.

The Director will elevate the Academy’s profile through participation in conferences, professional associations, and industry forums. While the position includes some teaching responsibilities on the Urbana campus, the Director may be based in the Chicago-land area, where much of the Academy’s engagement with alumni and industry will occur.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Strategy

• 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.

Student Development and Mentorship

• 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.

Industry, Alumni, and External Engagement

• 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.

Teaching and Instruction

• 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.

Program Operations and Administration

• 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.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree or above in finance, real estate, business, or a related field.
• Substantial professional experience in commercial real estate.
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with students, industry professionals, alumni, and academic colleagues.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive professional network nationally, preferably with extensive ties to University of Illinois alumni within the commercial real estate industry.
• Strong affinity for the University of Illinois.
• Experience in talent development, mentoring, recruiting, and workforce preparation.
• Prior teaching or training experience in a university or professional setting.
• Able to operate effectively in a role that combines academic responsibilities with high-level external engagement.
• Prepared to make a multi-year commitment to the program to ensure continuity.

Appointment Information

The wage for this position is $110,000. This position is a full-time, 100% nine-month specialized faculty appointment (9-month service basis paid over 12 months). Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. Based on credentials and operational needs, the successful candidate may also be eligible for up to 2 additional months in compensation for administrative service during the summer months.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on February 16, 2026. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Hanna Richmond (hrichmnd@illinois.edu). For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

Founded in 1867 as Illinois’s flagship public university, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign empowers a global community of students, scholars, and alumni to change the world through bold, innovative research and transformative education. With a land-grant heritage rooted in progress, Illinois faculty drive paradigm-shifting discoveries, mentor future leaders, and collaborate across 15 colleges and instructional units and more than 20 research institutes. The university’s legacy of excellence includes 24 Nobel Prizes and 29 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to its faculty and alumni, $755 million in sponsored research funding, and 94 academic programs ranked in the top 20 nationally. Illinois offers the resources, recognition, and reach to accelerate your career — along with a highly competitive benefits portfolio. Discover how the Illinois Value Proposition fosters professional longevity, personal fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose in every role.

Faculty Recruitment
Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID : 1034650

Job Category : Faculty

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