Investment Director

barings; Sydney; On-site; AUD 350,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

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

This role focuses on platform investing, governance frameworks and institutional capital partnerships, requiring a highly commercial mindset and strong relationships with operators and lenders. You will lead opportunities from inception through exit and coach analysts along the way.

Responsibilities

• Originate and evaluate investment opportunities across Australia.
• Develop and maintain relationships with operators, corporates and investors.
• Lead the evaluation and underwriting of acquisitions and platform investments.
• Coordinate diligence workstreams across internal and external stakeholders.
• Design HoldCo, OpCo and PropCo structures, including governance frameworks.
• Lead cross‑functional transaction teams and mentor junior professionals.
• Prepare investment recommendations for Investment Committees and boards.

Job description

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 leading global financial services firm dedicated to meeting the evolving investment and capital needs of our clients and customers. Through active asset management and direct origination, we provide innovative solutions and access to differentiated opportunities across public and private capital markets. A subsidiary of MassMutual, Barings maintains a strong global presence with business and investment professionals located across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

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 alternate real estate. The successful candidate will have a strong background in private equity, investment banking, corporate finance, consulting or principal investments 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, management incentive plans 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, advisers, investment banks and institutional investors.

Build a proprietary investment pipeline and develop thematic strategies within targeted sectors.

Investment Evaluation & Underwriting

Lead the evaluation and underwriting of acquisitions, recapitalisations, platform investments and structured opportunities.

Build and review financial models, valuations, investment theses and downside risk analyses.

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, accounting, 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 & OpCo/PropCo Structuring

Design and implement HoldCo, OpCo and PropCo structures, including appropriate ownership, governance, capital and funding arrangements.

Lead corporate carve-outs, platform establishments and institutional joint ventures, including post‑acquisition integration.

Assess the tax, debt and regulatory implications of proposed structures and work with equity and debt providers to fund transactions.

Develop and negotiate management equity arrangements, long‑term incentive plans, operating agreements, management agreements and shareholder agreements.

Create value through the strategic establishment and alignment of operating businesses and their 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 fundraising and investor relations while promoting robust governance and disciplined investment decision‑making.

Leadership

Lead cross‑functional transaction teams and mentor and develop junior investment professionals.

Promote best‑practice investment processes and act as a senior external representative of the firm.