Associate/Senior Associate, Investments - Real Estate

About This Role: StepStone Group, a global private markets specialist delivering tailored investment solutions and advisory services to institutional investors, is seeking an Associate or Senior Associate to join its Real Estate Investment Team in Chicago. The role centers on identifying, evaluating, underwriting, and executing real estate investments across geographies and asset classes, including residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use properties. The Associate/Sr. Associate will source and diligence new acquisition opportunities, negotiate acquisition terms, manage existing assets, and support asset dispositions, working closely with the broader investment team. The candidate will build financial models, conduct market research and site visits, draft investment memoranda, and present recommendations to StepStone's Real Estate Investment Committee. Additional responsibilities include supporting the fundraising process, coordinating fund- and asset-level performance analysis, and maintaining relationships with brokers, developers, institutional investors, and financial partners. StepStone is looking for candidates with 4+ years of experience in real estate private equity/credit, investment banking, or a related real estate finance field, a bachelor's degree in business, finance, economics, accounting, or real estate, and a proven track record of identifying and closing investment opportunities. Strong quantitative and modeling skills, high proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, and developing investment judgment are required; ARGUS experience is preferred but optional. The role is based in Chicago with availability to travel primarily domestically, and offers direct exposure to all levels of the firm, from Partners to fellow Associates.