The Investment Director will play a key role in supporting the Chief Investment Officer in formulating and executing the Group's investment and growth strategy across its accommodation and real estate platforms globally.
The role will be responsible for origination, evaluation, structuring and execution of investment opportunities, including acquisitions, developments, joint ventures, strategic partnerships and other growth initiatives across key markets including Asia Pacific, the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
The successful candidate should combine strong commercial judgement and analytical capabilities with hands-on transaction execution experience, and be comfortable operating in a lean, entrepreneurial and fast-paced environment.
For the Kuala Lumpur-based position, the incumbent will additionally provide leadership and oversight to the Malaysia Investment team, ensuring alignment with the Group's investment strategy, standards and execution priorities.
Work Location (Subject to Candidate Profile):
- Singapore Position: Based at Singapore Headquarters, with overseas travel as required.
- Kuala Lumpur Position: Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a regular presence at Singapore Headquarters, typically two days per week, and overseas travel as required.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the CIO in developing and executing the Group's investment, capital deployment and growth strategies.
- Originate and evaluate opportunities across student accommodation, worker accommodation and other living or alternative real estate sectors.
- Identify new markets, asset classes, business opportunities and strategic initiatives aligned with the Group's long-term objectives.
- Source and develop acquisitions, developments, joint ventures and strategic partnerships.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with developers, operators, investors, brokers, advisers and other industry stakeholders.
2. Investment Analysis & Execution
- Lead the financial analysis, feasibility assessment, valuation and underwriting of investment opportunities.
- Develop and review financial models, investment papers and strategic recommendations for senior management and Board consideration.
- Lead and coordinate commercial, financial, legal, tax and technical due diligence workstreams.
- Lead negotiations on key commercial terms and work with internal and external advisers on transaction structuring and documentation.
- Drive transactions from origination and evaluation through approval, due diligence, negotiation and completion.
- Assess investment risks, returns, sensitivities and value creation opportunities to support disciplined investment decisions.
- Support the CIO in assessing portfolio strategy, capital allocation and capital recycling opportunities.
- Evaluate acquisitions, developments, divestments and other strategic initiatives from both an asset and portfolio perspective.
- Monitor market, economic, demographic and competitive trends to identify investment opportunities and emerging risks.
- Work with the broader business to ensure that investment assumptions and business plans remain commercially relevant and achievable.
- Work closely with other functional teams to facilitate effective investment execution.
- Present investment recommendations and strategic proposals to senior management and the Board/Board Committees, as required.
- Represent the Group in negotiations, meetings and engagements with counterparties, partners, advisers and other stakeholders.
- Mentor and develop junior investment team members and contribute towards strengthening the Group's investment capabilities.
- For the Kuala Lumpur-based role: provide leadership, guidance and oversight to the Malaysia Investment team.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Real Estate, Business, Economics or a related discipline.
- Approximately 12-18 years of relevant experience in real estate investments, private equity, corporate development, investment banking or related fields.
- Strong track record in originating, evaluating, structuring and executing real estate transactions.
- Strong financial modelling, valuation, analytical and investment underwriting capabilities.
- Demonstrated ability to assess investments from both commercial and strategic perspectives, rather than purely financial analysis.
- Experience managing transaction processes and coordinating multidisciplinary internal and external teams.
- Strong commercial judgement, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong written, verbal and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate investment recommendations clearly to senior management.
- Hands‑on, adaptable and comfortable operating within a lean organizational structure.
- Self-driven with the ability to manage multiple transactions and priorities concurrently.
- High level of professionalism, integrity and accountability.
Preferred Experience
- Experience in student accommodation, worker accommodation, co‑living, Build‑to‑Rent, hospitality or other living/operational real estate sectors.
- Experience in cross‑border acquisitions, developments, joint ventures and strategic partnerships.
- Exposure to Asia Pacific, the UK, Europe and/or Middle East real estate markets will be an advantage.
- Experience working within a listed real estate company, REIT, private real estate fund, institutional investor, developer or owner-operator.