Job Details
Job Location: IL Chicago Corp Office CCLLC - Chicago, IL Position Type: Full Time Salary Range: Undisclosed Job Category: OtherDescription
Who We Are
Core Spaces (Core) is more than a real estate company, it’s a people company. Where building relationships is just as important as building properties. From researchers and architects to designers and operators, Core is made up of risk takers and dreamers who are on a mission to invent the future of living. Our six cultural values guide us every day and we strive to live them in everything we do: PUSH (Invent Better Places to Live), GRIT (We Got This), LIFT (Help Each Other Win), SHINE (Bring Your Full Self), UPHOLD (Never Break Trust), GROW (Always Get Better). Everything Core does stems from this culture of collaboration and innovation, and the drive to constantly improve the resident experience. This unique approach has led to creating spaces and services that are redefining the way people live.
What We Do
Founded in 2010, Core is a vertically integrated company focused on acquiring, developing, managing, and lending across the student housing and build-to-rent (“BTR”) sectors. Its residential communities feature world-class amenities, progressive design, and hospitality-driven client service. In its award-winning student portfolio, Core currently owns and/or manages over 45,600 beds* – and has a pipeline of over 45,000 beds* in various stages of development. Core's BTR division currently has over 3,000 homes under development and in its pipeline in high-growth metros across the country. For more information, visit www.corespaces.com.
*Portfolio and pipeline numbers as of November 2024
Benefits That Matter
- A culture that provides you with a sense of belonging
- Hybrid or remote work options may vary by role to support work-life balance
- Competitive pay that values your contributions
- Incentives designed to reward your achievements
- Paid unlimited PTO to disconnect or celebrate life milestones
- Paid 15 holidays, including your birthday, to disconnect and celebrate
- Paid Parental Leave that begins after 90 days
- Paid volunteer time off to give back to your community
- Monthly workshop weeks; fewer meetings & more collaboration
- Robust health plan options that begin within at least 30 days of your employment
- Monthly phone reimbursement
- Wellness allowance and perks, including a yearly subscription to a meditation app
- An environment that provides you a voice to share your perspectives
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for access to confidential support services
- Company retirement options including 401(k) + matching & Roth account option
Position Overview
The Associate, Sustainability will support the development and delivery of environmental and sustainability initiatives across all construction and development projects at Core Spaces. This includes both new development and existing building upgrades, sustainability-focused programs, and custom toolkit/playbook development. This role contributes to the implementation of strategies that improve energy efficiency, water conservation, and overall sustainability performance across Core's portfolio.
What You Will Do
Support Core’s Sustainability Programs
New Developments
- Collaborate with internal teams during the entitlement and pre-construction phases to engage sustainability consultants and professionals
- Participate in energy modeling and sustainability strategy discussions to help align design with operational efficiency, long-term cost savings, and sustainability goals
- Review construction and design documents to ensure alignment with project sustainability goals
- Assist in prioritizing sustainability recommendations, support decision-making on efficiency measures, and track government and utility incentives
- Help maintain and update Core’s Outline Specifications related to sustainability best practices
Acquisitions
- Support review of property condition reports to identify opportunities for environmental performance improvements
- Coordinate with asset managers and facilities teams on implementing energy and water-saving initiatives
Data Management
- Collaborate with the analytics team to gather and report on utility data (e.g., electricity, gas, water, waste) using third-party tools such as Conservice
- Monitor building performance metrics at the asset and portfolio level and benchmark against industry standards (e.g., Energy Star)
- Identify anomalies in data and flag potential issues or opportunities for improvement
- Assist in managing reporting frameworks such as GRESB and CRREM
- Support the development of standards and guidelines for environmentally responsible practices across the portfolio
Certifications
- Assist in managing sustainability certifications such as LEED, NGBS, Green Globes, and Fitwel
- Coordinate documentation and reporting processes with third-party consultants
- Help gather supplementary materials for certification efforts, including photos, measurements, and documentation
- Track certification progress and maintain records of certification outcomes
Other
- Occasional travel may be required
- Perform other duties as assigned
- Must be able to complete all physical requirements of the role with or without reasonable accommodation
Ideally, you'll have
- 3+ years of relevant experience related to commercial real estate, sustainability, consulting, or a similar field
- Knowledge of sustainability practices in design, construction, and operations of new buildings, retrofits, and tenant spaces
- Familiarity with how various building systems impact energy, water, and waste performance and electrical systems that support the broad array of project types and how they interrelate with each other
- Working knowledge of global/industry ESG trends and their application in commercial/residential real estate
You'll crush it if you have experience with
- Working on or supporting LEED AP, Fitwel, or other certification projects
- 3+ years’ experience in Real Estate Sustainability, Corporate Environmental Management, or energy efficiency
- Highly organized with strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills
- Collaborating cross-functionally and communicating sustainability priorities effectively across teams
Organizational Structure
Reports to: Chief Sustainability Officer
Direct Reports: N/A
Disclaimer: Please note that job responsibilities, reporting lines, and duties outlined in this job description are subject to change to meet the evolving needs of the organization.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Core Spaces celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, which creates a sense of belonging for all employees. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are and the community they represent.
Base Salary: $90,000–$110,000 annually. Final salary within this range will depend on experience, skills, qualifications, and location.Additional Compensation: Employees may be eligible for discretionary bonuses, typically ranging between 5-10% of base salary annually, depending on individual and organizational performance.
