Investment Director

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.

Qualifications

• You will bring around 10-15+ years’ experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Private equity
  • Investment banking
  • M&A advisory
  • Corporate development
  • Infrastructure investing
  • Big 4 corporate finance or deals advisory
  • Principal investing
• Demonstrated experience leading complex transactions.
• Strong transaction execution capability.
• Advanced financial modelling and valuation skills.
• Experience presenting to Investment Committees and Boards.
• Strong commercial judgement and negotiation capability.

#LI-GA1

Requisite Skills

Additional Skills

Barings is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer; Minority/Female/Age/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Individual with Disability/Protected Veteran. We welcome all persons to apply.