Title: Country Head Germany – European Equity Real Estate

Corporate Title: Managing Director

Location: Frankfurt

Job description

The Country Head Germany will be the senior representative of Barings Real Estate , based in Frankfurt. The candidate’s primary responsibility will be to source, acquire and sell real estate equity transactions with risk profile spectrum from core to value add / opportunistic as well as overseeing on a daily basis all asset management, project management and letting activities of properties that Barings has acquired or will acquire.

German responsibilities include:

• The Country Head Germany will perform the function of the office leader in Frankfurt, in line with how the function of the office leader in Munich is performed; the office leader Munich reports into the Country Head.
• Closely oversee all transaction activities, be it acquisitions and sales including the analysis/approval of all transaction underwriting.
• Closely oversee all asset management activities (including letting) with detailed oversight of all asset managers and their work on the respective assets so that business plans are performed according to underwriting on time, within budget and to the standards that our capital sources expect.
• Be responsible for running all fund/investor calls/communication relating to the German portfolio to assure the successful achievement of funds’ and clients’ investment objectives through appropriate portfolio, asset and project management strategies.
• Working with the Head of Finance Germany in running the German business including German directors’ meetings, all employee matters, top down overseeing together with the Head of Finance Germany all management matters of third party service providers.
• Successfully manage the Barings German Real Estate personnel including yearly employee evaluations and target setting– currently a team of twelve, split between the locations Frankfurt and Munich.

European responsibilities include:

Together with the Head of Barings Real Estate Equity Europe, to provide leadership and direction, including profiling our German business and facilitating in the setting and implementation of strategies for our German Real Estate operations.

• Work with the Head of European Transactions, Head of Asset Management and ESG and designated members of staff, engaged in strategy and research, contributing to the creation of strategic overviews for monitoring investment plans and tracking execution.
• Participate in European allocation meetings and European Investment Committee meetings. It is envisaged that the appointee will become a voting member of the European Investment Committee
• Support the development of the Real Estate Debt business in Germany, including participation on the Debt Investment Committee when local deals are being recommended.
• Participate in bi-annual European Equity meetings representing Germany.

• Help develop the firm’s business through the creation and marketing of investment services and products as well as supporting in any capital raising initiatives.
• Generally, the candidate will be expected to contribute to Barings investment process and position in the market, in line with Barings forward thinking attitude and quality of service provided to our investors.
• Travel regularly to the Munich office and to London and other parts of the globe where necessary, as and when required.

Required skills / experience:

• strong inter-personal skills to support, mentor and motivate staff in Germany such that the business is well positioned to expand and grow in line with new revenue creation;
• an established track record and experience in acquisitions and disposals in both core and value add risk profiles of properties across all sectors in Germany. Ideally a strong track record in the sectors office, logistics and residential (BTR/BTS/PBSA);
• a thorough understanding of property debt finance;
• a long standing and established network of principals, brokers and other market participants that will ensure good deal flow and potentially “off market” transactions;
• an understanding of institutional investors and the ability to think creatively in determining new business opportunities for our German operations;
• a good understanding of asset management / letting / development and the key drivers in value creation.
• ability to identify risk in transactions and effectively develop and implement mitigation strategies;
• fluency in written and spoken English and German language skills;
• strong communication skills, both verbally and in writing;

Qualities

The applicant should also be:

• a good communicator;
• personable, responsive and flexible;
• numerate and inquisitive;
• well organised;
• capable of leadership, mentoring and supporting employees;
• willing to appreciate and understand other cultures and working practices;
• enthusiastic and diligent.