Infrastructure Investments, Senior Principal – private equity/ Energy Transition

Location: London

About DWS: Today, markets face a whole new set of pressures – but also a whole lot of opportunity too. Opportunity to innovate differently. Opportunity to invest responsibly. And opportunity to make change. Join us at DWS, and you can be part of an industry-leading firm with a global presence. You can lead ambitious opportunities and shape the future of investing. You can support our clients, local communities, and the environment.

Team / division overview: The DWS Alternatives business is a diversified set of business activities with €114 billion in assets under management in strategies including Private Real Estate, Private Infrastructure, Liquid Real Assets (Real Estate/Infrastructure and Commodity Securities) and Sustainable Investments. The global team invests on behalf of a global client base that includes governments, corporations, individuals and institutional investors. The DWS Private Infrastructure business ("DWS Infrastructure"), acquires and manages Debt and Equity investments in businesses that provide essential Infrastructure services in the transport, energy, utilities, digital, waste management and environmental services, circular economy and healthcare sectors (amongst others). DWS Infrastructure counts a team of over 60 investment professionals and supporting functions located in Europe across London (headquarters), Milan, Madrid and Frankfurt. The business has a global footprint and is focused on managing infrastructure portfolios that can meet the needs of institutional investors and private clients worldwide. The division has assets under management of approximately €24 billion having managed since its inception in the early 2000s 6 equity and debt investment strategies. DWS Infrastructure manages two strategies targeting private equity investments in European infrastructure companies: the “Pan European Infrastructure Fund (PEIF)” series and “Sustainable Growth Infrastructure Fund (SGIF)”. PEIF invests in core plus infrastructure in the European mid-cap size market and is currently investing out of its fourth vehicle, having completed two initial investments in the retail transportation and digital infrastructure sectors.

Investing in infrastructure with DWS: As a core senior member of the DWS Infrastructure investments team you will have the opportunity to work across the PEIF and SGIF series funds, with a focus on SGIF, and your main duties will include:

• Leading the origination and appraisal of potential infrastructure investment opportunities across Europe.
• Overseeing the due diligence and acquisition processes for new investments including liaising with financial advisers, lawyers, tax specialists and other experts, both internally and externally.
• The commercial assessment and recommendation of the merits of investment opportunities based on an analysis of the risk and return fundamentals.
• Building internal and external relationships with peers and clients across the global platform.
• Asset management, including Board participation and working closely with portfolio company management teams, overseeing the monitoring and reporting of the performance of portfolio assets through the life‑cycle to realisation of the asset.
• Supporting future fund‑raising processes by shaping the strategy of future products and providing portfolio management representation to client interactions.
• Leading on the preparation and presentation of investment committee papers as well as portfolio valuation/asset management reports.
• Participate in the management and direction of the Infrastructure Equity business, including strategy, product development and leadership of junior members.
• Represent the Infrastructure Equity team to internal (e.g. risk and compliance) and external functions (e.g. investors and clients).

Origination and Execution: Primary responsibility to source and execute investment opportunities. Lead the execution process for new investment opportunities, including research and analysis, the conduct of and review of the due diligence materials and buy side process and the review of any relevant share purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, equity and debt financing documentation. Leveraging on the broader team’s execution capabilities, and together with the deal sponsoring Partner you will have the overall responsibility for the preparation, quality management, and presentation of investment proposals to Investment Committee. Lead/co‑lead, via assigned board seats at portfolio companies, the day‑to‑day responsibility for the management, monitoring and reporting of existing investments performance, ensuring best practices are implemented in a consistent and rigorous manner across the business. DWS Infrastructure operational model “retains” the deal team that has led an acquisition in the ongoing management of the asset and portfolio all the way through the realisation of such investment. In this way, the deal team members retain full ownership and responsibility for such investment whilst it can leverage on the broader team resources for execution of the value creation and asset management plan for each investment. You can therefore expect to take responsibility for:

• Driving board and strategic agenda in line with the value creation plan defined during due diligence and acquisition process.
• Oversee periodic financial and operating performance analysis including periodic asset valuations.
• Overseeing and coordinating internal and external portfolio communication, including Investment Committee papers, asset reviews, client/fund updates and investor materials.
• Ongoing review of portfolio composition and adherence to the agreed portfolio guidelines and portfolio construction strategy.
• Overseeing the implementation of financial and valuation models, incorporating the long‑term business plan and any other relevant value creation initiatives.
• Exit readiness, leading the preparatory work and the execution of the exit roadmap and process of relevant portfolio companies.

Provide leadership, mentoring and development to members of the team in the relevant discipline of transaction execution and asset management. Provide input into setting individual targets and objectives for the team including development plans for the relevant junior staff. Prepare a personal development plan and undertake the agreed activities during the plan year.

Private Equity Infrastructure market knowledge: Remain informed of key trends and opportunities facing the broader sector and the asset management industry, the M&A environment and DWS Infrastructure business and share learnings with the remainder of the team. Participate in conferences and relevant industry functions.

Business Development: Establish and manage relationships with infrastructure practitioners including sponsors, and professional service providers. Engage in fundraising and investor relations.

We are looking for:

• Previous experience in either earlier stage growth investing or Private Equity (growth strategies), Mergers and Acquisitions, Transaction Advisory with a focus on growth investments and/or Infrastructure, Sustainable Investments, Energy, Transportation, Circular Economy, Digital Infrastructure or other relevant sectors.
• A flair for leadership, having demonstrable experience in leading deal and asset management teams.
• High levels of motivation and aligned interest in the SGIF and PEIF strategies.
• An innovative, analytical approach.
• Sound knowledge of the full investment life cycle from origination and acquisition to the asset management and disposal of portfolio companies.
• Breadth and depth of private equity and the infrastructure market knowledge and other related sectors across mainland Europe.
• Very strong analytical skills including understanding of a cash flow based valuation approach and long‑term financial modelling.
• Commercially focused with demonstrable investment acumen, excellent communication and relationship building skills.
• Proficiency in another European language would be beneficial (but not essential).

What we’ll offer you:

• 30 days’ holiday + bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional days.
• A non‑contributory pension scheme, up to 10%.
• Physical and Mental Health Well‑Being benefits including (but not limited to) Private Medical Cover, a complimentary GP service and the support of Mental Health First Aiders.
• Family friendly benefits including generous parental leave packages (supporting all variations of family set‑ups), to healthcare plans and travel insurance.
• The opportunity to support our CSR strategy which is focused on combatting climate change and achieving greater social justice. You can make donations to our partner organisations or take part in corporate volunteering opportunities in your local communities by providing on hand support.

Seniority level: Director

Employment type: Full‑time

Job function: Finance Financial Services and Investment Management