Associate

At Align Capital Solutions, we bring private-sector financial expertise to solve one of the most critical challenges in the U.S. real estate market: the “missing middle.”  As a dedicated real estate advisory firm, we work as financial consultants to institutional, public, and non-profit owners and developers committed to building attainable multifamily rental housing. Through original research and technical expertise, we specialize in exploring, identifying, and executing innovative financial structures that deliver superior outcomes.

By connecting our clients with key debt and equity providers, and leveraging legal and tax insights, we enable the creation of impactful housing assets designed specifically for the essential workforce—the teachers, nurses, firefighters, and civil servants who sustain our communities but are increasingly priced out of them. Our expertise bridges the gap between project vision and financial reality, ensuring better outcomes for both our clients and the neighborhoods they support.

As an Associate, you will gain firsthand knowledge of how capital markets influence financial decision-making across investments in workforce housing. With a rapidly growing national emphasis on delivering "missing middle" housing, Align is poised for considerable growth and will be a real estate advisory leader in this specialized marketplace. As a startup, Align affords you the unique opportunity to scale a business with unlimited reach, working every day to finance and deliver the housing assets that are integral to keeping our communities thriving.

Responsibilities:

• Market Analysis & Strategic Underwriting: Lead the due diligence for apartment and mixed-use investments by conducting local market feasibility research. Evaluate mixed-income assets through the lens of Area Median Income (AMI) restrictions, real estate market fundamentals, and state/local tax abatements (e.g., PILOT agreements).
• Financial Modeling: Develop and maintain complex, multi-tiered financial models for ground development deals. Models will simulate the blended cost of capital, waterfall distributions, and the impact of long-term affordability covenants on project exit values.
• Capital Stack Optimization: Consult with clients on project and portfolio-level capital needs, with a primary focus on structuring capital stacks that integrating a wide variety of sources, including: private equity, taxable debt, tax-exempt debt, subordinate "soft" debt, and grant programs. Experience with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) is not required, but strongly encouraged. 
• Investment Memoranda & Presentation Strategy: Author comprehensive investment memos that synthesize macroeconomic trends with the specific drivers of multifamily, mixed-income, housing. Regularly present technical modeling outputs and feasibility analyses to investment committees, non-profit boards, and government agencies.
• Capital Markets Liaison: Coordinate with third-party partners to secure optimal financing, including tax-exempt bond issuers, conduit issuers, underwriters, HUD/FHA lenders, commercial banks, CDFIs.
• Transaction Execution: Assist in the review and management of all relevant Project contracts and documents related to finance requirements. Review project level contracts with a specific eye toward regulatory agreements that ensure long-term financing viability.
• Proposal Development: Lead the creation of responses to RFPs/RFQs for solicited and unsolicited mixed-income development opportunities, showcasing the firm’s ability to solve "funding gaps."

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, finance, economics, or business required
• 4+ years of relevant work experience in multifamily development or finance, including a demonstrated track record of closing (or assisting with the closing) of transactions.
• Strong understanding of real estate fundamentals including the ability to navigate operating pro formas, to analyze market dynamics, and to build financial models.
• Working knowledge of various capital structures and sources used to finance real estate projects, such as construction debt, private equity, tax-exempt financing, LIHTC, Fannie/Freddie programs, among others.
• Experience in a highly collaborative, team-based setting
• Demonstrated ability to work independently; taking initiative and meeting deadlines
• Excel skills including financial and real estate cash flow modeling, including knowledge of key financial and real estate concepts and metrics
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

The work environment and requirements described below are representative of those necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. 

The Physical Side of the Role: Given that a good portion of your day will be spent at a desk, you should be comfortable with prolonged periods of focused work, whether it's collaborating with colleagues, analyzing data, or developing strategies. The role demands effective communication and sharp visual acuity for reviewing complex documents and performing detailed computer work. While there are times for quiet concentration, you'll also be expected to move actively throughout the office and travel occasionally to various locations, including dynamic construction sites, utilizing different modes of transportation. The ability to lift and move objects up to 10 pounds regularly, and up to 25 pounds on occasion (think a box of files or small office equipment), is also required.

Your Work Environment: Your primary workspace will be in our professional office, which has a typical, quiet-to-moderate noise and light levels. As part of your work, you may also be required to visit active construction sites. These environments are naturally more dynamic and can include exposure to outdoor weather conditions, louder noise, and moving equipment. Your safety is our top priority, and you'll be expected to follow Clark Construction's safety policies and procedures, and all applicable laws, at all locations.

Our High-Performing Culture: This is a demanding, high-performance environment. We are looking for candidates who are energized by challenge, thrive under pressure, and are prepared to do what it takes to achieve exceptional results. Success in this role requires significant commitment, including flexibility to work extended hours, especially during critical project phases or client deadlines. Beyond regular working hours, there will be occasions where business needs require your attention, particularly for time-sensitive matters or emergencies. You are expected to monitor and respond to communications (phone calls, emails, text messages) as required to address these situations effectively. Your ability to manage these expectations and be responsive when critical issues arise is key to your success in this role and our collective success as a team.

A Drug Free Workplace: Clark promotes a drug free workplace. A pre-employment drug “fitness for duty” screening is required, and the company conducts random quarterly drug “fitness for duty” tests. 

Align offers a total compensation package that includes base salary, bonus potential, and a comprehensive benefits package including: health/dental/vision benefits, paid time off, retirement/401k, and Company Contribution plan. Additional benefits include life insurance, commuter benefit, short & long term disability, fitness reimbursement, FSA, tuition reimbursement, back-up daycare, tutoring & family support benefits, EAP/Work-Life assistance, and a holiday contribution program. For this role the base salary range is $110,000 - $125,000. Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. Base pay is one part of the Total Compensation Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work.https://www.clarkconstruction.com/careers/clark-experience