Associate Field Research Photographer CoStar - Cologne (M/W/D)

Job Title

RESEARCH PHOTOGRAPHER, COLOGNE (M/W/D)

Overview

CoStar Group (NASDAQ: CSGP) is a leading global provider of commercial and residential real estate information, analytics, and online marketplaces. Included in the S&P 500 Index and the NASDAQ 100, CoStar Group is on a mission to digitise the world’s real estate, empowering all people to discover properties, insights and connections that improve their businesses and lives.

Role Description

We are looking for Research Photographers who will support us as we build out an in‑depth understanding of the commercial real estate of Cologne and surrounding areas. The Research Photographer is responsible for ensuring that the CoStar products are representing the most current and accurate information and photographs on commercial properties and listings through on‑site inspections within the assigned geography.

Equipped with state‑of‑the‑art equipment (Canon R6, tilt‑shift lens, 17‑35mm lens, drone where applicable, iPad, laptop, smartphone, mobile Wi‑Fi) and traveling via foot, public transport or hybrid research vehicle, our Research Photographers canvass the market to identify and capture commercial listings, properties, building attributes, tenants and photographs not represented in the CoStar database. Research Photographers are remotely managed by a Photography Manager.

***Please ensure that your application includes either a link to your portfolio of real estate/architectural photography, or an upload of your real estate/architectural photography portfolio.***

This role will be offered on a 2‑year fixed‑term contract basis.

Responsibilities

• Drive or walk assigned submarkets within core territories to collect the required imagery, information and updates – including identifying new availabilities, missing inventory, updating construction status, and adding up‑to‑date high‑resolution images where required.
• Cross‑reference new leads with current information on the CoStar database by researching sales and lease comparable data. Once satisfied that the information is new, collect building data and contact information on the property and send to the in‑house Research team.
• Photograph and collect building attribute data and contact information on all commercial properties with for‑lease and for‑sale signs working in the entire assigned territory.
• When on the front of the target property, collect all visible data fields about the property including, but not limited to, the address, building type, number of stories, gross building area, building height, industrial loading information, and retail specific details.
• Use Adobe software suite to post‑process digital images.
• Create footprint and rooftop geocode for each building using polygon tool in field mapping software.
• Associate any assigned tenant locations to a property and photograph tenant space.
• Follow daily Research procedures including quality communication with your Photography Manager to ensure assignments are efficiently carried and completed within a predefined time frame, and accurately logging working time and providing production updates.
• Upload data and images collected on the day the properties are canvassed.
• Photograph and collect data on multiple properties per day predefined by your manager.
• Visually scan commercial properties in the assigned submarket while driving or walking, resulting in the target number of potential listings (leasing and/or sale signs) per day when working on a lead project.
• Make use of a provided drone to capture high‑quality aerial imagery of the properties we research, enhancing accuracy and visual insight.
• Professionally communicate with property managers and customers via phone, e‑mail, and in person.
• Abide by CoStar safety standards.
• Maintain company vehicle and equipment.
• Represent CoStar in a professional manner at all times.
• Participate in monthly conference calls with sales and research teams.
• Represent Research at occasional trade functions.

Physical Requirements

• Repetitive and frequent standing, seeing, sitting and walking up to 8 hours per day.
• Holding 2 kg in one hand for 5 minutes and carrying your camera gear for up to 8 hours per day.
• Repetitive hand and arm movements needed to type and write.
• Exposed to various weather conditions each day.
• Exposed to both vehicle noise and possible car exhaust fumes.

Qualifications

• A full local driving licence (clean record preferred) is essential.
• Reading/writing proficiency in English and German.
• Technical proficiency in digital photography and post‑processing via the use of the Adobe suite – Lightroom, Photoshop, Premiere Pro.
• Educated to degree level, with a significant component related to photography.
• Willingness to travel for work across the country on special field‑related projects.
• Knowledge of Mac OS, Microsoft Office and Internet applications.
• Existing portfolio of property exterior and interior imagery.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and organizational skills.
• Flexible, with the ability to positively adopt new processes.
• Hands‑on drone experience and holding a valid European A2 drone licence.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply new concepts such as commercial real‑estate terminology and mapping software.
• Ability to work on own initiative and follow CoStar protocols remotely without supervision.
• Comfortable working alone with daily support via phone and email.
• CoStar Group is a US‑headquartered business. Our corporate language is English, so you may be asked to provide a version of your CV/resume in English and conduct part of your interview in English.

Benefits

Working at CoStar Group means you will enjoy a culture of collaboration and innovation, with a fantastic pathway to professional development. Other perks include 29 days annual leave, pension, life assurance, and competitive remuneration packages.

CoStar Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer; we maintain a drug‑free workplace and perform pre‑employment substance‑abuse testing.