Working for Equity Residential (EQR), an industry-leading multi-family REIT headquartered in downtown Chicago, means being part of a community that strives to provide the best in apartment living, speaks boldly about innovation, and inspires creativity in how we work together. Our portfolio of high-quality properties in growth markets – New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Austin, Dallas, and Atlanta, 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 IT Strategy Intern will support Equity Residential’s Information Technology team by contributing to strategic initiatives that align technology capabilities with business goals, with a strong focus on analytics, financial validation, and project coordination related to EQR’s Bulk Internet Program. This role offers hands-on experience in technology planning, contract and financial analysis, and basic IT project management within a large-scale, enterprise environment.
The intern will gain exposure to how a Fortune 500 REIT leverages technology and data to drive operational excellence, support large-scale rollouts, enhance resident experiences, and deliver business value through innovation and disciplined execution.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Support the IT Strategy team in developing and managing strategic plans, technology roadmaps, and key performance indicators that align with enterprise priorities.
- Perform financial and operational analysis for EQR’s Bulk Internet Program, including validating that revenues and expenses are accurate, properly allocated, and reflected at the correct properties and timing.
- Help with the creation of telecom services launch marketing materials delivered to property teams and residents
- Analyze bulk internet contracts and vendor agreements to support compliance, cost control, and informed decision-making.
- Assist with basic IT project management activities in partnership with IT leadership, including helping coordinate the rollout of bulk internet services across approximately 80–100 properties.
- Help track project milestones, dependencies, risks, and action items, and support documentation and status reporting.
- Participate in research and analysis of emerging technologies, digital trends, and best practices to inform recommendations for EQR’s IT initiatives.
- Assist with the preparation of presentations, reports, and communication materials for leadership related to technology initiatives, financial performance, and business alignment.
- Partner with cross-functional teams—including Centralized Operations, Finance, Data Analytics, and IT Infrastructure—to support projects that improve efficiency, automation, and user experience.
- Analyze data and compile insights to help evaluate the success and impact of IT initiatives and large-scale technology deployments.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of IT governance processes, tools, and documentation.
WHO YOU ARE
- Analytical and Strategic. You think critically, interpret financial and operational data effectively, and connect technology initiatives to business outcomes.
- Collaborative and Communicative. You enjoy working in team environments and can clearly convey ideas across both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Curious and Adaptable. You’re eager to learn about technology strategy, IT operations, and how large programs are executed at scale.
- Organized and Detail-Oriented. You manage multiple priorities, pay close attention to accuracy, and follow through on commitments with precision.
REQUIREMENTS
- Prefer rising Junior or Senior students pursuing a degree in Information Systems, Business, Data Analytics, Computer Science, or a related field.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
- Comfortable working independently and collaboratively in a hybrid, fast-paced environment.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI or Tableau) preferred.
- Exposure to project management or business analysis concepts is a plus.
- Must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States (we do not offer this program under OPT or CPT or sponsor work visas).
LOCATION & PAY
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.
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