Strategic Investment (Logistics real estate) in Slough

The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, intelligent, and capable real estate investment professional with robust financial modeling and analytical skills, preferably with some experience in logistics real estate and/or experience in UK and other European markets. In addition to strong technical skills, the ideal candidate should be a self-starter and entrepreneurial, can effectively multitask and propose new investment ideas. It will be added quality if the candidate also brings some asset management, capital market, fundraising, or development experience, though it is not required.

The ideal candidate shall possess the following professional qualifications:

• BA or BS degree from an accredited institution, with preferred degrees in real estate, finance, business, accounting, economics, or related areas.
• 8 or more years of direct real estate investment experience, either within an investment management/private equity fund or real estate company, with a strong track record underwriting and executing deals (preferable logistics) in target markets.
• Successful investment experience in more than one country in UK and other European markets would be a strong plus.
• Robust financial modeling skills for complex real estate projects, including development, value-add, and core-plus projects with multiple shareholders/JV partnership structures and complex capital stacks.
• Solid understanding of macroeconomic trends, capital market conditions, and real estate fundamentals, and able to translate that knowledge into practical underwriting assumptions and analysis of potential and existing projects.
• Effective communication skills and cross-culture sensitivity with internal and external stakeholders of varied seniorities.
• Keen interest in private and public market real estate investments, cross-border commerce, and a global perspective of economic interactions.
• English language proficiency is a must; professional working level Chinese language skill is desirable but not required.
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite.

A successful candidate would also possess the following characteristics:

• High level of integrity and dependability are absolutely required.
• Entrepreneurial and proactive in driving preliminary acquisition work.
• Sound judgment and independent thinking, balancing proactive problem solving and seeking collaborative input to produce results/deliverables effectively.
• A respectful, professional, thoughtful, balanced work style that fits effectively across cultures and geographies.
• Well-organized and self-directed individual who is disciplined in oversight of details yet possesses a “big picture” perspective.
• Effective in engaging stakeholders, both internally as well as partners, third party firms, and industry leaders.
• A team player who motivates peers and builds cohesive teams.

This outstanding acquisition and investment position is part of the team responsible for the growth strategies in Europe by building and managing a logistics real estate portfolio thoughtfully and strategically that aligns with the company’s long-term objectives of globalizing its business. This position will also work closely with the management team at the corporate headquarters and across different JDP regional teams, as well as with other business units within the JD.com group.

The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Interact effectively with brokers, sellers, and developers to source new deals.
• Develop financial models to evaluate potential deals, analyse the key risks and potential mitigants.
• Propose ways to optimize returns through better operations, different tax and capital structures, exit strategies, and other business plans.
• Research and prepare market and competitor intelligence to help with internal strategic directions.
• Provide research data to update underwriting assumptions, such as absorption, market rents, growth rates, vacancies, free rent and other concessions, TI packages, operating expenses, capital values, yields/cap rates, tax, financing, etc.
• Assist in due diligence and transaction of new deals, including managing internal and external stakeholders and synthesising large amounts of data into a clear concise understanding of critical investment risks/drivers.
• Assist in closing progress with attention to details while working within tight timelines.
• Prepare investment memos for Investment Committee for new deals and major CapEx of existing projects, as well as presentations for potential investors.
• Maintain effective working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, including brokers, appraisers, bankers/lenders, financial and tax consultants, legal counsels, technical advisors, and joint venture partners.
• Support asset management function and actively monitor and analyse project performance after closing.
• Update financial models for ongoing investments such as hold/sell analysis, sensitivity analyses to provide reliable, accurate actual/forecast investment returns.
• Proactively identify any upcoming material deviation from underwriting and propose solutions to senior management.
• Provide analysis for disposition proposals and work with external stakeholders to prepare for the disposition process.
• Perform distribution analysis, and facilitate distribution process after disposition.

By sector: mainly on logistics real estate

By region: outside of UK (UK experience is a plus, but not a requirement)

Investment exp.: direct logistics investment background in Europe

Location: UK, Germany, Netherlands

For the role, it would be very important that the person has been actively involved in the European market on the investment side. They will need to have a network and should know the markets and source new investment opportunities.

About JD Property: JD Property (JDP) is a subsidiary of the global e-commerce conglomerate JD.com (listed on NASDAQ and ranked 52nd among Global Fortune 100 companies with ~US$156 billion in revenue). JDP specializes in logistics real estate investment, development, operations, and management. JDP currently has active assets in UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore outside of its home market of mainland China, and it has plans to enter other overseas markets.