Director, Private Markets - Real Estate & Assets

Cresset is a firm built by clients, for clients. As an independent, award‑winning multi‑family office and private investment firm, we are reimagining the way wealth is experienced. Our purpose is to help ensure that both wealth and life are fully optimized—integrated, intentional, and aligned with each client’s vision of success.

We provide access to the caliber of talent, ideas, and investment opportunities typically available to the largest single‑family offices and institutions. Our approach is personalized, entrepreneurial, and client‑first.

Proudly owned by our clients and employees, Cresset was built to endure. We are creating a 100+ year firm—one focused on delivering an exceptional experience, not only for the families we serve but for the team that serves them. Recognized by Barron’s and Forbes among the nation’s top RIA firms, and as one of the industry’s best places to work,
* Cresset is guided by long‑term relationships, shared success, and a belief that wealth should serve a life well lived.

Cresset is seeking a highly motivated Director, Private Markets to join our dynamic private investments team, with a primary focus on private real estate and real assets due diligence. This role offers the opportunity to work across a diverse range of private investment strategies, with a primary focus on creating unique access points through funds, co‑investments and other structures that help the platform leverage the scale for the end clients’ benefit.

As part of a rapidly scaling platform, this role plays an integral role in evaluating, underwriting, executing, and monitoring investments, while gaining direct exposure to senior professionals, investment committees, and external partners. This role is well suited for a candidate with strong real estate investing and analytical experience who is eager to build a long‑term career in private real estate and real assets with meaningful professional growth and upside.

At Cresset, you will be part of a culture that values intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and entrepreneurial drive. As a Director, you will gain direct exposure to differentiated private investment opportunities, contribute meaningfully to decision‑making processes, and help develop a durable career path in private real estate and real assets investing.

We are open to hiring this role in Chicago, IL or Dallas, TX.

• Origination & Deal Flow: Support the real estate investment process by screening opportunities, evaluating pipeline, coordinating diligence requests, and advancing actionable deals.
• Diligence & Analysis: Conduct in‑depth market, sector, sponsor, fund‑ and asset‑level research, and build comprehensive financial, valuation, and transaction models.
• Underwriting & Execution: Analyze cash flows, capital structures, return sensitivities, and prepare investment committee materials to support recommendations.
• Transaction Management: Help drive diligence workflows from initial review through closing, coordinating with internal and external parties.
• Portfolio Monitoring: Assist in managing a portfolio of private real estate funds including quarterly analysis, performance reporting, and other ongoing activities.
• Cross‑Functional
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Work closely with senior team members and external stakeholders to ensure seamless execution of transactions and portfolio management activities.

• Real Estate Skill Set: Strong understanding of real estate markets, valuation methodologies, capital structures, real estate diligence materials, and synthesizing findings into actionable recommendations.
• Experience: 5+ years of transaction‑oriented experience in private real estate, real assets, or a related investment role, with preference for candidates with prior institutional real‑estate investment or brokerage experience.
• Education: Undergraduate degree with outstanding academic achievement.
• Technical
  
  Skills:
  
  Advanced financial modeling expertise in Excel, with the ability to build and interpret detailed transaction models, including property‑ and fund‑level underwriting, cash flow analysis, and scenario testing.
• Mindset: Exceptionally curious, resourceful,…