Job Description

Job Title:  Director of Research & Market Intelligence

Location:  Milwaukee

Reports To:  Executive Leadership Team | Marketing & Research Lead

Partners Closely With:  Marketing Manager, Brokerage Leadership, Cushman & Wakefield Research Network

 

Job Summary

The Director of Research & Market Intelligence is a strategic leader who transforms market data into clear insights, stories, and tools that elevate our brand, strengthen pitches, and guide clients with confidence. This role builds and manages a research platform that supports brokers, informs clients, and drives thought leadership across Wisconsin’s Commercial Real Estate (“CRE”) market.

The ideal candidate blends analytics, storytelling, and strategic partnership – able to interpret complex trends and deliver accurate, relevant insights that influence outcomes.

 

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Market Intelligence & Insight Leadership

• Own and manage all Wisconsin CRE market data across industrial, office, multi-family, retail, and emerging verticals.
• Produce timely and accurate quarterly market reports, forecasts, and sector analyses.
• Identify macro/micro trends and translate them into actionable insights for clients, brokers, and leadership.
• Maintain proactive intelligence gathering from economic indicators, development pipelines, capital markets, and policy changes.
• Deliver targeted insights and quarterly briefings for priority Owner/Investor relationships (Top 50 Program) to deepen engagement and support business development.

Storytelling, Content, and Pitch Support

• Translate market data into clear, compelling stories for Owners/Investors, Tenants, and corporate users.
• Partner with Marketing to produce recurring thought leadership content and major “anchor assets.”
• Provide custom market insights, visuals, and narratives for competitive pitches and client advisory work.
• Shape the research message in pitch prep and ensure every listing is supported by best-in-class data.

Internal Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with Marketing to align messaging, cadence, and brand standards.
• Support brokerage teams by understanding client needs, challenges, and market feedback.
• Leverage the national C&W Research platform to enhance local tools, models, and datasets.
• Champion adoption of the firm’s messaging and research framework across teams.

Systems, Tools, & Data Quality

• Manage research technology, data collection systems, and analytic tools.
• Maintain accuracy, consistency, and high-quality outputs across all platforms.
• Recommend and implement improvements to dashboards, data sources, automation, and workflow.
• Use AI strategically to enhance narrative clarity, speed, and insight generation (no programming required – just strong operational understanding).

 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Real Estate, Economics, Accounting, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in commercial real estate research, analytics, strategy, or a related field (brokerage, economic development, capital markets, site selection, consulting).
• Deep understanding of CRE fundamentals: supply/demand, vacancy, absorption, rents, cap rates, construction pipeline, industrial & office dynamics.
• Strong storytelling and communication skills – can simplify complexity and articulate “why it matters.”
• Advanced proficiency with market data tools (CoStar, LoopNet, Crexi, ESRI, economic datasets, C&W systems).
• Ability to build presentations, dashboards, and compelling visual data narratives.
• Experience supporting pitch production or working closely with brokerage professionals.
• High EQ collaborator who can work across teams, manage expectations, and influence outcomes.

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a top-tier financial research department
• Background in economics, analytics, finance, real estate, or data journalism.
• Experience producing top-of-funnel insights for marketing: reports, newsletters, social content.
• Strong project management skills – ability to run multiple cycles and deadlines simultaneously.
• Comfort engaging directly with major clients, Owners/Investors, and executives.

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About Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke

Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke is a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm deeply rooted in Wisconsin. Since 1921, we have been providing commercial real estate users, owners, and developers with strategic solutions for their business and operational space needs. Our alliance with Cushman & Wakefield allows us to serve the local business community and commercial real estate market by offering national and global reach.

Job Tags

Work at office, Local area,

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