Location: This position can be located in the Chicago, IL or Washington, DC office only

Position Summary:

The Director of Emerging Technology covering software will be responsible for conducting research on emerging technology in the hardware arena that is or may have an impact on the real estate market, buyers/sellers/real estate professionals or the process of buying/selling property. Areas of focus will include but not be limited to blockchain, cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, data privacy, virtual reality / augmented realty, big data/predictive analytics, and social platforms. He or she will report to the Vice President of Strategy and Innovation in the Strategic Business, Innovation & Technology (SBIT) group. The Director will need to be able to identify technology that is emerging from research to become viable in the marketplace, study that technology, work to understand the potential impact on the industry based upon conversations with a wide variety of constituents and present findings to a variety of constituents from REALTORS® to the CEO. It is critical that the Director will be able to determine how to present his or her findings in the format that best allows for the digestion of the content produced, which will vary based upon the audience and intended outcome. He or she will need to be able to explain this technology via white papers, videos, online webinars and in-person presentations to groups ranging from a few to hundreds as well as be able to effectively utilize social media to share this content. To be successful in this role, you must have a passion for technology, an exceptional communicator, you will be a creative thinker, a self-starter, detail-oriented, scrappy, and excited about the opportunity to drive innovation in one of the largest industries in the country. Finally, you must be results-oriented and have a proven track record of exceeding expectations throughout your career.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct in-depth research on new technologies and determine its impact in the real estate/housing market
• Develop practical, consumable content for members to help them understand, embrace, assess risk and leverage emerging technologies
• Identify new technologies and determine its potential impact in the real estate/housing market
• Identify and monitor research and work by key players working in emerging technologies
• Vet the direction, viability, and scalability of new applications that can or are being used in the real estate market while continuing to stay on top of existing ones
• Remain current on existing technology relevant to the real estate/housing market and monitor its evolution
• Act as a primary face of NAR when it comes to showcasing NAR’s leadership in technology within the real estate industry and with adjacent industries
• Act as a primary face of NAR at state and local association meetings, industry conferences and in the press when it comes to technology and trends driving the real estate/housing market
• Act as resource for Second Century Ventures and REach assessing technology viability and scalability of portfolio companies and REach candidates
• Other duties, as assigned

Qualifications:

• 7-10 years of experience in a fast-paced environment with related experience conducting research, developing well-thought out opinions and publishing findings in various formats depending upon the content
• Exceptional writing, communication, interpersonal, and analytical skills
• Ability to present concepts clearly and persuasively in a manner that can be understood by those not possessing deep knowledge on a particular topic
• A passion for learning about emerging technology in software including but not limited to the areas of blockchain, cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, data privacy, virtual reality / augmented realty, big data/predictive analytics, and social platforms
• Highly organized and possessing effective project management capabilities
• Existing relationships with technology and business leaders across the real estate industry is a plus
• Comfortable speaking in front of a large group or leading a small group
• Comfortable with a variety of responsibilities and ability to effectively multi-task
• Ability to work efficiently and demonstrate a bias for action in a fast-paced, sometimes ambiguous environment
• Comfortable with minimal direction but high expectations
• Proven attention to detail that can be demonstrated through prior work experience.
• Ability to travel up to 10-15%

Organizational Overview:

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) is a team of professionals dedicated to providing world-class service to over 1.5 million REALTORS® working in the United States and around the world. The real estate industry is fast-paced and fast-changing--each year, our members participate in the sale, lease, and management of billions of dollars in real estate. As in every industry, our members’ value proposition is constantly being challenged by innovation.

It is our mission to empower REALTORS® as they preserve, protect and advance the right to real property for all. We cannot do that without the ideas, passion, and commitment from our talented employees. As our greatest assets, employees are offered their pick of competitive benefits/perks and flexible work options. Our most successful employees are committed to our Core Values, which are: