Investment Director, Real Estate Private Equity

At Barings, we are as invested in our associates as we are in our clients. We recognize those who work diligently for us and reward them for personal and professional integrity, communication skills, distinct competencies and expertise in specific strategies, ability to collaborate as a team member and true dedication to the interests of our clients.

We thank you for your interest in joining the Barings team, and invite you to explore our current employment opportunities.

Barings is a global alternative asset manager with US$502B in assets under management that partners with institutional, insurance, and wealth clients to deliver excess returns by leveraging its global scale and capabilities across credit, real assets, capital solutions and emerging markets.

This opportunity sits in the Private Equity Real Estate team and within the Barings Real Estate Australia business. The team is focused on value-add platform strategies and currently invests across airports, self-storage, seniors living, marinas and other specialist real estate sectors.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Investment Director to support the origination, structuring, execution and management of complex private equity real estate investments across Australia.

Unlike a traditional real estate acquisitions role, this position is focused on platform investing, corporate transactions and value creation at the operating level of alternative real estate platforms. The successful candidate will have a strong background in real estate private equity, real estate investment banking, investment management, or principal investing and will be capable of evaluating and working with both operating businesses and underlying real estate assets.

A key component of the role will be the ability to establish, manage, scale and optimise investment platforms through the creation of OpCo/PropCo structures, including governance frameworks, leading growth initiatives (bolt-on assets, development and M&A activities) and institutional capital partnerships. Equally important will be building relationships with the operating platform management teams to drive value whilst maintaining trusted relationships.

This role requires a highly commercial individual capable of leading investment opportunities from initial origination through to exit.

Investment Origination

• Originate and evaluate investment opportunities across Australia, including platforms, corporates, operating companies and real estate.
• Develop and maintain relationships with operators, corporates, sponsors, developers, advisors, investment banks and institutional investors.
• Build a proprietary investment pipeline and develop targeted thematic strategies for new business opportunities.

Investment Evaluation & Underwriting

• Lead the evaluation and underwriting of acquisitions, recapitalisations, platform investments and structured opportunities.
• Review financial models, valuations, investment committee papers and sensitivities. Effectively communicate these outputs to key stakeholders.
• Assess opportunities from real estate, corporate finance, commercial, operational and strategic perspectives.

Transaction Execution

• Lead acquisitions, joint ventures, platform investments, strategic partnerships and capital raisings from initial assessment through completion.
• Coordinate legal, tax, debt, financial, technical and other diligence workstreams across internal and external stakeholders.
• Negotiate commercial terms and transaction documents and lead approvals through Investment Committee and investor processes.

Platform Creation & Structuring

• Design and implement HoldCo, OpCo and PropCo structures, including appropriate ownership, governance, capital and funding arrangements.
• Lead platform establishment, including institutional joint ventures and integration into the Barings network.
• Assess the tax, debt and regulatory implications of proposed structures and work with equity and debt providers to fund transactions.
• Develop and negotiate operating agreements, management agreements and shareholder agreements.
• Create value through the strategic establishment and alignment of operating businesses and the underlying real estate.

Portfolio Management & Value Creation

• Partner with management teams, investors and other stakeholders to implement business plans, operational improvements and growth initiatives.
• Monitor and report on portfolio performance, risk exposure and outcomes against underwriting assumptions.
• Recommend capital allocation strategies and support refinancing, recapitalisation and exit processes.

Investment Governance & Investor Engagement

• Prepare and present investment recommendations, transaction structures and risk assessments to Investment Committees, senior executives, boards and institutional investors.
• Support institutional capital raising, investor presentations and investor relations.

Leadership

• Lead cross-functional transaction teams and mentor and develop investment professionals.
• Promote best practice investment processes and act as a senior external representative of the firm.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in finance, real estate, business engineering, mathematics or related field.
• You will bring around 10+ years’ experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Private equity real estate
  • Investment banking
  • M&A advisory
  • Corporate development
  • Infrastructure investing
  • Principal investing
• Demonstrated experience leading and executing complex transactions, presenting to investment committees, boards and investors.
• Strong financial modelling skillset, analytical background and strong attention to detail.
• Intellectually curious, with keen business acumen and a self-starter with the ability to work independently and in a cross-collaborative team environment.
• Must possess sound judgement, superior communications, interpersonal and presentation skills, and a consultative approach to problem solving.
• Advanced in MS Excel and other MS Office Suite products.

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Requisite Skills

Additional Skills

Barings is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer; Minority/Female/Age/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Individual with Disability/Protected Veteran. We welcome all persons to apply.