Director, Real Estate Asset Management & Transactions Support

Director, Real Estate Asset Management & Transactions Support

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.

As part of its expansion, Barings is looking for a versatile profile:

Working across Barings' commercial real estate portfolio in France. The role involves the creation and extraction of value, in addition to that passively derived from market movement, on behalf of clients and investors. This includes developing and implementing the Business Plan for each asset to ensure returns are maximized. The emphasis is on adding value via redevelopment and refurbishments, well-executed leasing campaigns and lease re-structuring.

Main Responsibilities:

• Managing assets within the French real estate portfolio to ensure income and capital returns are maximized.
• Implementation of asset management initiatives including lease prolongations and lease re-structuring.
• Supporting the underwriting of acquisitions and due diligence, financings/re-financings, annual Hold/Sell analysis and disposals.
• Appointing leasing co-ordinators and marketing consultants undertaking proactive leasing campaigns to minimize void rates.
• Maintaining direct relationships with local leasing brokers.
• Assembling and managing external professional teams such as Development/Project Managers/Architects on capital projects, including complex refurbishment and development schemes, ensuring delivery against programme and budget.
• Establish strong relationships with occupiers to help create asset management opportunities.
• Financial cash flow modelling, performance reporting and evaluation and assessment of proposed asset management initiatives, with assistance from Transactions and Fund Analysts and Financial Controllers/the Finance Team where applicable.
• Follow-up of regular appraisals for the funds;
• Management of downstream services such as property managers, facility managers and insurance brokers to ensure optimization of credit control policies, service charges and operation of the assets.
• Direction of appointed consultants including solicitors, fund valuers, building consultants.
• On-boarding of any new properties acquired, ensuring a smooth handover from acquisition.
• External and internal reporting and client liaison.
• Liaison with internal teams including Finance, Research, Portfolio Management.
• Preparation and implementation of annual Business Plans to improve and monitor performance in accordance with fund/client strategy.
• Preparation and delivery of Board/Fund/Client recommendations.
• Fund/client reporting and presentations to Investment Committee and current/prospective investors.
• Implementation of ESG strategies in accordance with Barings' objectives, policies and procedures.

Skills / Knowledge / Experience:

• Demonstrable track record in value add asset management
• Experience of dealing with development and refurbishment projects, with attention on design and specification criteria.
• Ensure the proper conservation and value of buildings, in their economic context (development, VEFA, forward sales, etc.)
• Good negotiation skills leading to strong deal execution.
• Leadership/influencing skills required for co-ordinating project teams.
• Good quantitative and analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of ESG initiatives and how to incorporate best practices at the asset level.
• Identify disposal opportunities and proposing arbitration.
• Wide network of market/consultant contacts.
• Considerable office and industrial/logistics experience.
• Knowledge of retail and residential markets beneficial.
• Highly motivated with a strong work ethic.
• Personable and confident.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Articulate in English in both written and oral form.
• Proactive and customer orientated approach to asset management.

Qualifications and experience:

• Excellent academic record
• Bac +5 : Master 2 in finance or real estate or Business school or engineering school + postgraduate specializing in real estate or Specialized Master's degree or Master 2 in asset management
• At least 10 years of experience in the acquisition or valuation department of a national or international real estate company (real estate, investment and asset management company, investment fund, SCPI, asset manager for third parties, Big 4, etc.)
• Fluent in English (another European language would be a plus)
• Highly numerate with excellent analytical and financial modelling skills and strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel (any other application will be a plus (Argus, Autocad, Anaplan, Finasset...)...)
• You have great interpersonal skills and know how to interact with the various players in the real estate industry. You know how to anticipate the best trade-offs on behalf of your clients. You are curious and open-minded and are always looking for investment opportunities and market development ideas.

Barings is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer; We welcome all persons to apply.