Asset Manager, Uk & Europe

Team Overview: 
This role is for an Asset Manager in the European Living and Hospitality team, responsible for the management of sectors, including housing (student housing, retirement living, multifamily, Build-to-Rent), healthcare and hotels, across the UK and Europe. The role also involves working collaboratively with wider teams within the business. You will have the opportunity to support transactions in underwriting of new deals and partnerships, assisting capital raising and new strategies, working with research and strategy in establishing operational sectors convictions, providing guidance on re-purposing opportunities to European development team and advice as and when required to portfolio management.

Role and Accountabilities: 

The responsibilities will include:

• Student Housing and wider Residential Portfolio: help formulate and execute asset management strategies and plans for the portfolio, including marketing strategies to optimise income/occupancy and realise the highest value of the assets. Responsible for the overall positioning of assets as well as the enhancement of cash flow and asset value; maintaining good relationships with Operating Partners to ensure high retention rate, managing annual budgets and covering the financial performance of the assets.
• Hospitality: assist in value creation opportunities and management of existing operations (within HMAs).
• Asset Management Initiatives: help implement initiatives identified in the business plan, including marketing strategies, refurbishment/redevelopment projects, consideration of alternative uses and all other opportunities to create and protect value. You will also be required to recommend and justify these initiatives for approval.
• Initiatives and Reporting: design and implement the Asset Business Plans, in line with Key Performance Indicators. Research, model and carry out due diligence in the design and delivery of business plans. Innovate and execute value add opportunities across assets to maximise the performance of each asset. Support creation of the Operational Guide, processes and policies supporting in establishing market leading best practice. Assist in the fund and asset level reporting both internally and externally.
• Transactions: assist the team and Portfolio Managers on the transaction process including appointment of external advisors, decision on marketing strategy and management of lawyers and others in the legal process. This will extend to assisting the transactional underwrite.
• Strategic Agents, Managers and Operators: work with the consultants, strategic agents and operating partners to understand the Living & Hospitality markets (trends, values, key players, competition). Building and utilize the relationships with the sectors to drive performance and source new opportunities for value creation.
• ESG and NZC: ensure compliance with the policy in asset management. Enhance the sustainability of assets and achieve agreed sustainability objectives both environmental and social.
• Data and occupiers’ engagement: ead on the identification and capture of operational data to inform our understanding of investment performance and occupier demographic. Collect, analyse and review customer activities to understand occupier trends and identify ways to improve our offer to residents through asset management and service delivery.
• Innovation and technology: Maintain the in-house data on performance of the specialist properties. Utilise our digital investment and asset management platform (genie). Be curious and have an interest in the latest prop-tech that drives the operational effectiveness for the assets. Help the team in bringing new ideas and finding innovative ways to enhance sites’ values and create on-site efficiencies on operational assets.

Required Qualifications & Experience: 

• Experience and track record in residential or wider operational sectors. Whilst not necessarily coming from an asset management role, it is anticipated that the successful candidate will demonstrate a strong awareness of this function, together with a solid investment acumen and an energetic approach.
• Experience and knowledge of European markets is desirable.
• Strong interpersonal skills with good verbal and written communication skills and ability to work collaboratively.
• Excellent academic background, with a numerical aptitude, strong BA or BSc degree (as a minimum).
• Adaptable team player with the ability to operate autonomously.
• Able to manage multiple tasks effectively and prioritise, as required to meet expectations.
• Able to challenge, innovate and willing to share their views openly.
• Able to identify and implement ways to improve current approach to operational sectors investment and operation.
• Strong numeracy, financial and computer skills including MS Excel and an ability to understand key performance drivers.
• An understanding of property fundamentals (property management, leasing, and development), particularly for operational assets (such as hospitality or student or residential accommodation).
• Knowledge of the impact of sustainability on the property industry.