Director / Head of Real Estate Asset Repositioning, Construction & Project Management
New European Hospitality Platform
Location: London Start Date: Early 2027 Stage: Early-stage / entrepreneurial launch
Engagement Type: Permanent or Advisory — for the right person, this role could evolve into a co-founder position.
About the Opportunity
Our client is launching a new, innovative European hospitality platform and is looking for a Director / Head of Real Estate Asset Repositioning, Construction & Project Delivery to lead the repositioning and project delivery of acquired assets. For the right person, the role could evolve into a founding-team position.
The team behind the platform brings a strong track record across institutional real estate investment, asset repositioning and hotel operations, and is currently evaluating a live pipeline of opportunities across major European gateway cities in prime locations. The strongest pipeline to date is in London, where the platform's first project will be launched.
The strategy is centred on acquiring and repositioning underutilised assets — including offices, retail, residential and existing hotels — into hospitality product, operated through an integrated investment and operating platform designed to create long‑term value. This is a repositioning and refurbishment‑led strategy rather than ground‑up development: the focus is on transforming existing buildings through conversion, refurbishment and operational upgrade.
This is a genuinely entrepreneurial role: you will be joining at the ground floor of a new venture, shaping the platform's approach to asset repositioning and delivery rather than stepping into an established process. It suits someone who is energised by building something new, comfortable with ambiguity, and able to move fluidly between strategic thinking and hands‑on project management.
Key Responsibilities
- Take asset repositioning projects from A to Z — from initial acquisition and feasibility through design, refurbishment/conversion works and operational handover.
- Contribute directly to deal sourcing and investment decisions, bringing a repositioning and project management lens to underwriting across target European gateway cities.
- Originate creative repositioning and value‑creation concepts for underutilised assets — offices, retail, residential and existing hotels — working with the founding team on product and design direction.
- Lead feasibility studies, technical due diligence and business case development for prospective acquisitions.
- Structure and manage delivery strategies across a range of deal types (direct acquisition, conditional/subject-to-planning, JV structures with local partners).
- Coordinate design teams, consultants and advisors across all project stages, ensuring alignment between design ambition, brand/operational requirements and investment returns.
- Own project budgets and programmes, managing contractors, consultants and the delivery supply chain through to practical completion of refurbishment and conversion works.
- Build relationships with local partners, contractors, consultants and operators across target European markets.
- Act as a key voice in shaping the platform's repositioning strategy, standards and ways of working as the business scales.
Candidate Profile
- 10+ years of experience on the investor or advisory side of real estate, with exposure to hospitality, mixed-use or hotel assets.
- Demonstrated ability to run asset repositioning and refurbishment projects end-to-end — comfortable owning a project from acquisition through to reopening.
- Genuinely creative and idea‑driven — someone who enjoys spotting an angle on an asset or a market, not just executing a defined brief.
- Entrepreneurial mindset: thrives in a small, fast‑moving team and is motivated by building a platform rather than managing within an established one.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to connect repositioning decisions to investment returns.
- Confident operating across cultures and jurisdictions in a pan‑European context.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, able to work directly with founders, investors and external partners.
- Degree in a real estate, business, engineering or related discipline; relevant professional qualification (RICS, MRICS or equivalent) an advantage but not essential.
What They Offer
- A permanent or advisory engagement, with a potential path to a co‑founder role for the right person.
- A founding‑team level of influence over a new European hospitality platform's strategy and direction.
- Direct exposure to a live acquisition pipeline in major European gateway cities from day one, starting with a first project in London.
- Compensation to be defined directly with management based on experience and the nature of the engagement (permanent, advisory, or co‑founder track).
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Director / Head of Real Estate Asset Repositioning, Construction & Project Management in London employer: Aviary Consulting
Aviary Consulting is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London where innovation and collaboration thrive. Employees benefit from a strong focus on professional development, with ample opportunities for growth within the logistics investment sector, while being part of a supportive team that values strategic thinking and disciplined execution. Join us to be at the forefront of shaping the future of logistics investments across the UK and Ireland.
