Senior Associate - Workplace Strategy Lead

At Cresa, we believe our clients deserve better. A better space to work, create, build, grow. A better outcome for their people and organization. A better partner who puts their needs first, helping them navigate the landscape, tilting the playing field in their favor and giving them an insider’s edge.

Our mission is to find and foster the best environment for every business. Our purpose is to think beyond space - strengthening those we serve and enhancing quality of life for our clients and employees. We are built to champion our clients’ aspirations through real estate. When considering partnership, we strive to connect with those who share our values: Work Together, Create Value, Be Tenacious, Enhance Community, and Embrace Diversity.

We believe in being the change. We work together to find new ways of doing things that create value for our clients — and for each other. Because there is not much that feels better than collaborating to make a positive difference each day.

At Cresa, we offer an opportunity to be part of something bigger. To learn, advance, mentor and be recognized. Your voice will be heard, and you will be valued for both your individual and team contributions.

Job Summary

The Workplace Strategy Lead will expand Cresa’s Workplace Solutions presence by delivering regionally based expertise aligned with the national team. Based in Chicago, this individual will lead strategic workplace engagements while staying closely connected to national standards, tools, and collaboration. As a key member of the Workplace Solutions team, they will contribute to revenue growth by leading client engagements and identifying new opportunities through trusted advisor relationships. The role spans the full workplace planning lifecycle—from early discovery to strategic recommendations—leveraging data and insights to influence both workplace design and real estate decision-making.

Project scopes may include data collection (surveys, observations, and interviews), development of space programs and planning scenarios, creation of written and visual narratives, and support for test fits, conceptual layouts, and user experience recommendations. Responsibilities may also include facilitating workshops, executive presentations, and stakeholder alignment sessions.

The role requires close collaboration with other Cresa service lines—including brokers and project managers—as well as internal Workplace team members and external partners. The ideal candidate brings both strategic expertise and executional independence, with a deep understanding of how workplace strategy supports broader organizational and real estate outcomes.

This position reports to Principal of the Cresa Workplace Solutions Service Line.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary lead for Workplace engagements in the Chicago market, with support from national team standards, tools, and collaboration.
• Lead clients through discovery, analysis, and recommendation phases across workplace strategy, space planning, and change management scopes.
• Translate client goals and organizational dynamics into space recommendations, planning scenarios, and actionable workplace strategies.
• Guide stakeholder engagement through interviews, workshops, surveys, and focus groups.
• Synthesize data (qualitative and quantitative) into insights and recommendations that influence real estate decisions.
• Deliver polished, strategic narratives using a mix of written content, data visualization, and conceptual graphics.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships; represent Cresa’s values and integrated model in the market.
• Partner with Cresa brokers, PMs, and client advisors to identify strategic entry points within the client journey, project opportunities and to deliver integrated, cross-service outcomes.
• Collaborate with the national Workplace Solutions team on quality standards, best practices, and service evolution.
• Drive business development by partnering with Cresa brokers and transaction managers and sourcing new client opportunities to expand service offerings and generate integrated revenue.
• Travel to presentation and/or client sites across the U.S. may be required.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications:

• Degree in Planning, Design, or related field
• 7+ years in related field (i.e., Occupancy Planning, Corporate Real Estate, Facilities Planning, Architecture, Interior Design Move Coordination, Project Management, etc.)
• Clear understanding of how workplace strategy supports broader real estate and transaction decision-making
• Strong communication skills—both written and verbal—with experience presenting to executives
• Skilled in workshop facilitation, user engagement, and stakeholder alignment
• Ability to operate independently while staying connected to a distributed team
• Strong data synthesis, analysis, and storytelling capabilities
• Experience with workplace planning, hybrid strategy, and/or programming preferred
• Familiarity with AutoCAD, Revit, or space planning software a plus
• Change Management Certification a plus
• Prior experience in commercial real estate, architecture/design consulting, or management consulting is a plus

Physical Requirements:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

NOTE: The job description is an overview of the functions and requirements for this position. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list encompassing every duty and requirement of this position; supervisors may assign other duties as deemed necessary.

Cresa is committed to developing and maintaining a diverse workforce. Cresa strongly believes in equal opportunity extended to all individuals in all aspects of the employment relationship without regard to race, color, religion, belief, creed, age, sex, pregnancy or maternity (including childbirth and related conditions), family responsibility (e.g. child care, elder care), nationality, ethnic or national origin or ancestry, citizenship, marital status, civil partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, veteran’s status, genetic information, political view or status as a qualified individual with a disability, protected leave status or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable law.