Managing Director, Head Of Acquisitions, Real Estate Equity Investments

Position: Managing Director, Head of Acquisitions, Real Estate Equity Investments

Job Location: Whippany, NJ or MetLife Regional Offices

Department: Real Estate Equity

MetLife Investment Management:

Based in Whippany, New Jersey, MetLife Investment Management (MIM) is a global asset manager with $666.7 billion of total assets under management as of June 30, 2021. The enterprise has more than 900 dedicated professionals and manages money in a number of asset classes for MetLife’s general account, insurance company subsidiaries, and third parties separate accounts and private funds. MIM provides public fixed income, private capital, and real estate investment solutions to institutional investors worldwide. Visit us at www.metlife.com/investments to learn more.

Real Estate Equity:

We offer investors strategies that seek to achieve income growth and capital appreciation by investing in competitively positioned properties in markets with favorable demand drivers, including those with a concentration of knowledge workers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics occupations. In addition to purchasing stabilized assets, we actively invest in development where we feel risks can be effectively controlled and where return opportunities are compelling. In sourcing real estate equity investments, our professionals leverage their extensive industry relationships and investment experience.

The Role:

In this role, as an established strategic senior market leader, you will grow and elevate MIM’s acquisition efforts – leading the group to significantly increase acquisition capacity, while continuing to deliver better than market returns. Efficiently deploying acquisitions resources across the platform, you will smooth choke points, ensuring consistency of process and policy and developing talent with focus on career development pathways.

Additionally you will be responsible for leading and developing a team of real estate professionals to source and acquire commercial real estate investments to fulfill the investment needs of MIM’s clients, including MetLife’s general account and third party clients.

You will be working with Portfolio Managers to develop investment strategies, communicate portfolio mandates to acquisition teams, and structure unique opportunities to benefit our clients. Support Portfolio Management teams in winning new mandates and providing MIM’s third party investors capital markets updates.

Key Relationships:

• Reports to: Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Equity
• Reports: 2 direct, 15 indirect
• Key Stakeholders: Head of REI/AG, ICG, Regional Offices, Legal, Finance, Portfolio Managers both separate accounts, AIC and the funds.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the acquisition team in the origination and closing of new commercial real estate equity investments.
• Develop, expand and maintain external relationships with key market participants, such as investment sales professionals, developers and investors. Oversee national strategic relationships and source new relationships.
• Significant time should be devoted to increasing MIM’s profile within the investment community, including conference participation and teaming with Institutional Client Group to support capital raising.
• Oversee and develop strategy as well as support Acquisition leaders on meaningful deals to expand platform
• Solicit investment opportunities from market participants and communicate MIM’s equity investment parameters.
• Evaluate new equity investment opportunities for fit with MIM equity investment criteria. Oversee capital markets team as they evaluate the use of leverage, tying financial strategy to asset strategies.
• Develop structures to allow MIM to pursue larger investment deals or investments in REOCs to enhance returns for our clients.
• Underwrite potential new equity investments, including evaluating the physical improvements, tenancy, local market conditions and transaction structure. Identify potential risks and propose appropriate structure to mitigate risks.
• Work with senior leadership team and Research to develop, refine, and execute on MIM’s investment strategy, working to stay ahead of industry themes, market dynamics, and competitor news. Further develop MIM’s competitive advantages across key real estate equity market segments.
• Serve as a voting Investment Committee member in evaluating all new investments and manage capital allocation process.
• Oversee the administration and processes and procedures for acquisitions. Develop and enhance policies and procedures to streamline timeframes and workload.
• As a senior member of the ESG team, Head of Acquisition is a critical part of the strategic goal development and execution of tactical plans to meet those goals, both short and long term. Develop long term goals for Acquisition team.
• Manage the closing process for new acquisitions including negotiating purchase and sale agreements, structuring joint venture agreements, completing all necessary due diligence, and coordinating a closing team that includes the Asset Management team, attorneys, architects, engineers, and other third-party service providers.
• Lead and coach U.S. acquisitions functional teams in execution of investment strategies and partner with regional Managing Directors on associate development. The executive will be comfortable creating and promoting diversity of talent within the team and across the platform. Foster environment of cooperation and teamwork without detracting from personal accountability of staff for achieving results. Support talent development goals of acquisition team.
• Maintain a close relationship with Portfolio Management and Regional teams.

Essential Business Experience and Technical Skills:

• Results-driven professional with 15+ years of national acquisitions experience. Proven investment strategy development and implementation experience
• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable business-related field; MBA preferred.
• Thought leader that is able to represent MIM in the marketplace
• Thinks Strategically – Sets direction aligned to the company’s strategy, applying external and global perspective to meet local and global needs
• Creates Partnerships – Authentically builds trusted relationships and collaborates across global, diverse and multi-functional teams to successfully drive business objectives
• Grows Talent – Developed leadership and interpersonal skills, including the ability to inspire the team to meet or exceed high standards. High emotional intelligence and tactfulness to lead a diverse team of professionals
• Models our Values – Creates a culture that promotes the company’s values and standards through role modeling, accountability and ownership of decisions
• Focuses on Customers – Promotes customer centricity and ensures focus on creating great customer experiences to achieve competitive advantage
• Drives Results – Perceptive, insightful and mature; a professional who knows how to get results. This includes an ability to clearly articulate MIM’s value proposition, with an eye toward the market environment and competitive landscape
• Demonstrated ability to develop, source, and introduce profitable investment strategies and executing same through dynamic leadership, strategic planning and collaboration with experienced professionals inside and outside the organization
• Strong interpersonal, excellent oral and written communication skills. Experience leading a matrixed organization is preferred.
• Demonstrated computer skills including proficiency with Argus, VTS, Dealpath, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and the ability to quickly master proprietary internal systems. Affinity for technology and understanding how systems can streamline operations.
• Extensive relationships across the real estate industry including developers, Real Estate Operating Companies, investment sales professionals and other intermediaries.

Strong team-building and organizational skills, established success in leading diverse teams of both direct and matrixed reports in a complex environment.

MetLife Success Principles

• Experiment with Confidence – Courageously learn and test new ideas without fear of failure
• Act with Urgency – Demonstrate speed to action with agility and determination
• Seek Diverse Perspectives – Source ideas and feedback to expand thinking and make informed decisions
• Seize Opportunity – Drive responsible growth and identify areas for continuous improvement
• Champion Inclusion – Foster an environment where everyone is valued, heard, and can speak up
• Create Alignment – Partner with others across the organization with candor and transparency
• Take Responsibility – Be accountable and act in pursuit of the right outcomes
• Enable Solutions – Anticipate and address obstacles while managing risk
• Deliver What Matters – Execute meaningful priorities and follow through on commitments

MetLife:

MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

We are one of the largest institutional investors in the US with MetLife Investment Management having $666.7 billion of total assets under management as of June 30, 2021. We are ranked #46 on the Fortune 500 list for 2021. In 2020, we were named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the fifth year in a row. DJSI is a global index to track the leading sustainability-driven companies. We are proud to have been named to Fortune magazine’s 2021 list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies.”

MetLife is committed to building a purpose-driven and inclusive culture that energizes our people. Our employees work every day to help build a more confident future for people around the world. Visit us at www.metlife.com to learn more about our brand, history, and values.

We want to make it simple for all interested and qualified candidates to apply for employment opportunities with MetLife. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to accommodations@metlife.com or call our Employee Relations Department at 1-877-843-3711.

MetLife is a proud Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer dedicated to attracting, retaining, and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at MetLife without regards to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status, uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.

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