mHUB Real Estate &Innovation Fellow

Fellowship Overview 

mHUB is seeking a mission-driven, entrepreneurial fellow to support the early-stage planning of a major new initiative in innovation and real estate development. This role sits at the intersection of real estate strategy, infrastructure planning, and public-private collaboration and finance. 

You’ll work directly with mHUB’s leadership and ecosystem partners, including developers, utilities, city agencies, and institutional collaborators, to bring new ideas to life on the ground. The Fellow will support a highly cross-functional planning effort focused on making infrastructure for innovation more accessible, sustainable, and economically productive. 

Background 

mHUB’s October 2023 relocation provides an opportunity to catalyze public and private investment in Chicago’s near west side. mHUB, located at 1623 W Fulton Street, is situated within an Opportunity Zone and the Kinzie Industrial Corridor TIF district. The surrounding opportunity zone and planned manufacturing district is ripe for investment to create a national model for sustainable industrial settings, while driving inclusive job growth and emerging technology commercialization.  

Through this effort, we can anchor Chicago’s growing energy technology sector alongside a historical industrial district and increase access to emerging career pathways. The strategic location on the near west side provides access to jobs and career growth for residents on Chicago’s south and west sides via the convenient Pink & Green Lake/Ashland station, just steps from mHUB’s facility.  

Description of Responsibilities 

The Fellow will work in partnership with mHUB’s Chief of Staff to deliver on the goals and objectives of mHUB’s strategic place-based initiatives. 

Project plans, deliverable and timelines will be developed at fellowship outset and agreed upon by mHUB leadership and the fellow. mHUB leadership and the fellow will meet on a regular basis to review project plans and deliverables and adjust as required for successful completion of the project objectives.  

The fellow’s responsibilities are intended to be the activities required to successfully progress the projects forward and may change over the course of the fellowship. The below project summaries are intended to serve as a starting point for the fellowship scope and activities. 

Real Estate Strategy & Financial Analysis 

• Assist in structuring the financial backbone of catalytic development projects, including modeling pro formas and exploring public-private capital strategies.
• Support real estate due diligence and phased development strategies. 
• Translate complex data and analysis into compelling memos and materials for senior stakeholders and partners.
• Support team in structuring and closing financing to support development projects 

Infrastructure & Innovation District Planning 

• Contribute to infrastructure planning around energy, green space, mobility, and other critical systems.
• Research leading models in sustainable and district-scale infrastructure. 
• Collaborate with engineering, planning, and design consultants during feasibility and planning phases. 

Strategic & Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Track progress and connect the dots across workstreams, from land use to community engagement to financing.
• Help shape RFPs and engage partners aligned with the vision of equitable and sustainable growth. 
• Develop materials for funders, civic stakeholders, and innovation ecosystem partners. 

Qualifications 

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in real estate, business, urban planning, public policy, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in real estate development, economic development, infrastructure planning, or innovation strategy.
• Proficiency in Excel-based financial modeling, with preference toward experience with real estate/development projects.
• Systems thinker with strong analytical, writing, and project management skills.
• Thrive in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments and care deeply about the intersection of innovation and economic development.
• A quick learner and highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently.
• Excited to help build something from the ground up, with the flexibility, humility, and drive that early-stage work demands.
• Familiarity with public financing tools (e.g., TIF, NMTC) and/or other public-private development models is a plus.
• Understanding of real estate development processes, urban planning, and zoning is a plus.  

Work Details, Salary and Duration 

• This position is a full-time, fixed-term role. The initial term will be 12-months, with a potentially opportunity for term extension pending project and organizational needs.
• This position will be onsite/in-person at mHUB’s facility in Chicago.
• Salary range is $80,000 - $105,000, commensurate with experience.
• Competitive benefits package. 

Request for Applications

mHUB is accepting applications for fellows. To express your interest in this opportunity please submit the following materials.

Submission Materials:

• Resume/CV
• 1 page cover letter highlighting relevant experience

Please submit all materials to info@mhubchicago.com by no later than June 13th, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so please submit as soon as you become aware of and interested in the role.