DescriptionWorking for Equity Residential (EQR), an industry leading multi-family REIT headquartered in downtown Chicago, means being part of a community and striving to provide the best in apartment living, speaking boldly about new ideas for innovation, and inspiring creativity in the ways we work together. Our portfolio of high-quality properties in growth markets – New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Denver, to name a few – provides homes where people most want to live. We've got the best people in the business, and our experience shows in our dedication to residents and in how much we value each other as colleagues. That’s why our employees say they are proud to work at Equity, a company that knows how to Live Remarkably.
The purpose of Equity's Corporate Internship Program is to attract emerging diverse talent and promote learning about Equity and the real estate industry. Participants will have the opportunity to accelerate their professional growth and diversify their work experience by engaging with different business partners throughout the program.
WHO YOU ARE:
- Organized, Flexible, and Adaptable. You have a keen eye for detail and pride yourself on delivering quality work. You multitask well, re-prioritize accordingly, and meet deadlines consistently. You keep your cool during stressful situations, remain resilient, and quickly find solutions in order to meet the changing needs and priorities of the business.
- A Collaborator and Trusted Team Player. You enjoy partnering with others —whether internal or external— and build constructive working relationships that foster cooperation in order to get work done and deliver great results. You are united with teammates and follow through on commitments.
- A Strong Communicator. Your writing and speaking skills are clear, articulate, and effective, demonstrating your ability to interact with all levels and helping you connect well with others.
- Creative. You like thinking outside the box to come up with smart solutions to new challenges, and you embrace the opportunity to live in the gray.
- A Solution-Oriented Team Player. You are united with teammates and follow through on commitments.
- Passionate. Motivated. Eager to Learn. You ask smart questions, challenge the status quo, and regularly seek to understand. You invest extra energy to reach your goals.
OVERVIEW OF THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:
- A first-hand experience of day-to-day life at a REIT and resources to learn the programs/tools and processes used in the industry.
- Perform research and prepare reports on assigned topics and/or projects.
- May create or update systems or databases for specific department needs.
- Present project results to department personnel or management.
- Work collaboratively across EQR departments and functions to establish and update a strategic plan that maximizes value and enhances returns for every asset within the portfolio.
- Represent Equity Residential in a professional manner at all times. Consistently maintains a professional courteous attitude when dealing with residents, coworkers and the general public.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
Equity Residential integrates energy efficiency and sustainability into every aspect of our business, aiming to minimize environmental impact, manage climate and environmental risks, and position the Company as an attractive investment. As an Energy and Sustainability Intern, you’ll gain hands-on experience with one of the leading teams tackling these important issues. Specifically, you can expect to gain experience from:
- Cross-functional projects leveraging existing and further developing your analytical and communication skills.
- You will frequently work with senior executives in our Chicago corporate office and our regional U.S. offices to understand the problem/situation, vet and ideate potential ideas and solutions, solicit feedback, and communicate key learnings and findings (including preparing and giving presentations).
- You will conduct primary and/or secondary research.
- You will be working with qualitative and quantitative data (internal and external) to provide analytically-driven insights and solutions.
- You will utilize a variety of software tools including statistical software, data visualization, PowerPoint, and internal databases to mine, organize and analyze data and present your findings.
- You will develop and utilize project management skills to ensure resources are appropriately leveraged, findings are socialized and deadlines are met.
- Utility Bill Benchmarking: Analyze historical utility data (electricity, gas, water) using tools like Energy Star Portfolio Manager to establish performance baselines.
- Incentive Management: Research and apply for utility rebates and government tax incentives that help offset the cost of energy upgrades.
- Trend Analysis: Review data from Building Automation Systems (BAS) to identify anomalies, such as simultaneous heating and cooling.
- Measurement & Verification (M&V): Assist in tracking and verifying the actual savings achieved after an energy project has been implemented.
- Equipment Inventory: Document and catalog mechanical systems, including HVAC units, boilers, air handling units, rooftop units, motors, and lighting fixtures.
- Project Coordination: Liaise with vendors and contractors to obtain quotes for new equipment or specialized services.
- Savings Estimates: Calculate potential energy, demand, and cost savings for Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) like LED retrofits or VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) installations.
- Financial Analysis: Determine the economic viability of projects by calculating Simple Payback, Net Present Value (NPV), and Return on Investment (ROI).
- Carbon Accounting: Convert energy savings into greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction metrics to support corporate sustainability goals.
- Market research on leading sustainable REITs and companies.
- Network and engage with key stakeholders across the organization to establish and accomplish key deliverables
REQUIREMENTS:
- Candidates who are pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Architecture or Construction Management.
- Familiarity and previous experience with Python, R or other statistical programs (e.g., SAS, SPSS, Minitab, JMP), data visualization (e.g., Tableau, PowerBI), SQL, Microsoft Excel, and/or Google Applications (Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets) preferred.
- Interest in real estate is preferred.
- Ability to effectively and objectively communicate and work with internal and external customers, as well as strong analytical skills and a keen eye for detail.
- Must be comfortable working autonomously and multi-tasking in a fast paced environment with changing deadlines.
- Unrestricted authorization to work in the United States (currently, we are not offering this program under OPT or CPT or sponsoring work visas for these roles).
LOCATION:
This is a hybrid internship with four days per week of required on-site participation (Monday to Thursday) at our downtown Chicago office. Equity Residential’s corporate summer intern program is a full-time, 10-week paid internship.
HOURLY PAY RATE:
$20.50/hour
Relocation is not provided for this internship.
