Director Student Accommodation in England

Our small Canadian-born business was founded in **** and has become a global organization that now spans 120 locations across 20 countries. Our expansion has been rapid, but what matters most is the common belief that drives all 5,000 of our people to be a different type of real estate organization. We believe that the places in which we live, work and play have the power to make us happier and healthier, and we are united by a shared sense of purpose, to have a positive impact on people's lives. In short, we are a global commercial real estate advisory firm with a simple aim: for real estate to play a leading role in creating vibrant buildings, cities and places that deliver long-lasting social value and economic impact.

We believe that our industry is changing, and we want our business to be a melting pot of curious minds, passionate hearts and strategic intelligence. Your gender, religion and race are all highly respected, but are less important to us than your ability to step up and change the game. We provide you with a place where you can do just that, with like-minded people. Collaboration is embedded in the way we work – our people have the autonomy to collaborate on client relationships, engage teams across the business, lead operations, work collectively on projects, participate in strategy and are ultimately responsible for our growth.

This role carries voting rights, so our people have a very real say in the future direction and operation of our business. This means that we are able to attract, engage and retain the best talent from the industry.

We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated Director to join our Student Accommodation Investment team. The successful candidate will lead on sourcing, structuring, and executing investment transactions in the UK and European student housing sector, as well as developing and maintaining client relationships with institutional investors, operators, and developers. This is a senior leadership role requiring deep sector knowledge, proven deal-making ability, and the capacity to contribute to the continued growth of Avison Young's alternatives platform.

• Transaction Leadership: Lead the acquisition, disposal, and structuring of student accommodation investment opportunities on behalf of institutional and private clients.
• Business Development: Originate new mandates, foster client relationships, and contribute to growing Avison Young's profile in the student housing sector.
• Financial Analysis: Oversee the preparation and review of financial models, investment appraisals, and underwriting assumptions.
• Client Advisory: Provide strategic advice to investors, developers, and operators on market trends, funding structures, and portfolio strategies.
• Due Diligence: Manage full due diligence processes including financial, legal, technical, and operational reviews.
• Market Insight: Monitor and report on student accommodation trends, supply/demand dynamics, planning policy, and investor sentiment.
• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor junior team members, ensuring high-quality outputs and professional development.
• Cross-Sector Collaboration: Work closely with colleagues across Capital Markets, Valuation, Planning, and Development Consultancy to deliver integrated solutions for clients.

Personal Attributes:

• Commercially minded and entrepreneurial, with the ability to identify and convert new business opportunities.
• Highly analytical and detail-oriented, while capable of strategic and creative thinking.
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills with the confidence to engage senior stakeholders.
• Collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Motivated, resilient, and adaptable in a dynamic market environment.

At Avison Young, we've always put people at the heart of what we do. In the last few years, we've increased the diversity at our board, leadership and Principal levels. Avison Young stands out for our commitment to empowering women. In addition to increasing the number of women on our board and in our leadership ranks, our internal Women's Network of more than 500 members come together for networking and learning, and advise the business on strategies for promoting access, opportunity and inclusion in our industry.

Avison Young is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to treating all its employees and job applicants equitably. This includes implementing deliberate strategies that advance underrepresented communities in commercial real estate careers. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to removing any obstacles to inclusion.