Director – Investment

About DWTC:

The epicentre for business in the Middle East, Dubai World Trade Centre has played a pivotal role in the growth of Dubai’s business tourism and trade since its inauguration in 1979.

We connect people, products and ideas from around the globe through our year-round calendar of international trade fairs, blockbuster consumer shows and prestigious international conferences, which are complemented by our innovative free zone and award-winning real estate developments.

Dubai World Trade Centre’s portfolio of landmark developments, event venues, offices and hotels collectively drive economic expansion for the city.

The Role:

Reporting to the Vice President – Investment & Corporate Development, this role is a critical contributor to the Investment and Corporate Development Section focusing on Investment.

The focus of the Portfolio Investment function / team is to:

1. Structure and drive optimal solutions for investment, partnership, and ROI delivery - incl.

1. Investment models;
2. Partnerships structuring solutions for SPVs/JVs/M&A etc.;
3. Business cases for identified investments.

1. Engage with external and internal stakeholders and build elaborate business plans and feasibility studies for new investments.

DWTC’s portfolio includes multiple businesses including a large real estate portfolio (convention centers, hotels, offices, apartment towers, retail, etc), a leading events business and event services business.

This role is broadly responsible for enabling the Investment function by focusing on:

1. Leading the identification and prioritization of investments aligned with the overall strategy and corporate plan of the company.
2. Independently develop business cases including building financial models and undertaking primary and secondary research for the accompanying pitch decks.
3. Independently conduct analysis including benchmarking, business case development, feasibility studies.
4. Support negotiations with partners including the structuring of partnerships and investments and accompanying legal documentation.
5. Independently track and report on investments being made.
6. Support in making recommendations and provide guidance to management.

Specifically, the role involves:

1. Taking the lead in the process for identifying and building the business cases for investments that support the organization's overall strategy.
2. Ongoing investment activity – organic and inorganic.
3. Extensive internal and external engagement with stakeholders related to the investment.
4. Take ownership of key components of company-wide strategic analyses, validation of BU business cases.
5. Manage and develop direct reports.

As a core member of a multi-disciplinary team, the role is expected to engage with Functional Heads to develop and implement strategic investments.

Key Requirements:

1. Bachelors’ Degree in Business Administration; Additional Masters Degrees in Finance or Real Estate or an MBA are an advantage. Additional financial qualifications like CFA are an advantage.
2. Minimum 10 years relevant experience in investment management or C-level advisory roles or strategic management consulting including experience in investment and fostering alignment across cross-functional executive management teams/ or departments within a large organisation.
3. Advanced familiarity with development of financial business cases and corporate investment is required.
4. Since a large part of the DWTC portfolio is real estate, real estate investment experience is strongly preferred, including the preparation of real estate concepts, business cases and financial models, and negotiation of joint venture or other partnership structures.
5. International experience is preferred given we are an international team and interact with a wide range of international partners.
6. Profiles with prior work-experience in real estate investment management, REITs or in the investment function in real estate developers are preferred.