Director - Real Estate Strategy & Operations in London

We are looking for an experienced Real Estate Strategy and Operations Director to support the continued development of a leading institutional real estate investment platform at a leading Investment Management business.

This is a broad role spanning business strategy, operating-model development, transformation and execution.

Working closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation, the successful individual will help ensure that the platform, governance and ways of working remain aligned with the business’s commercial priorities and future growth.

The role will involve working closely with colleagues across investment, product, distribution, operations, technology, finance, legal, risk and compliance.

It therefore requires someone who can move comfortably between strategic conversations and detailed delivery, bringing stakeholders together and building support for change.

Key responsibilities

• Shape and continually evolve the operating model for the Real Estate business, ensuring it remains aligned with commercial strategy and growth priorities.
• Assess existing capabilities and identify opportunities to improve processes, organisational structures and workflows.
• Act as a senior business sponsor for strategic change initiatives, helping to establish priorities and maintain focus on measurable business outcomes.
• Ensure the operating platform can support new products, investment vehicles, client mandates and wider growth initiatives.
• Establish effective governance, accountability and decision-making frameworks across the business.

Strengthen operational controls and support high-quality board, regulatory, client and other business reporting.

• Work with technology and operations teams to improve data ownership, data flows, systems and wider platform capabilities.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability and cost effectiveness.
• Develop appropriate performance measures and KPIs aligned with the objectives of the business.

About you

You will bring a strong understanding of institutional real estate investment management, including the activities, operating requirements and vehicle structures that support the full investment lifecycle.

You are also likely to demonstrate

• Significant experience in operating model design, business transformation, strategic change or a COO/CAO-style role.
• A track record of leading complex, cross-functional change initiatives within an investment management, real assets or private markets environment.
• An understanding of how investment, product, operations, technology, data and control functions work together to support a real estate platform.
• Strong strategic and commercial judgement, combined with the ability to translate objectives into practical delivery.
• Good knowledge of governance, risk, regulatory and operational control requirements.
• The ability to influence senior stakeholders and bring together groups with different priorities and perspectives.
• A collaborative, pragmatic and outcomes-focused approach.
• Comfort operating in an environment where priorities are evolving and not every answer is immediately clear.

This is an opportunity to take on a highly influential role at the centre of a well-established real estate investment business.

It should appeal to someone who enjoys shaping the direction of a platform, solving complex organisational challenges and ensuring that strategic ambition is supported by effective execution.

Due to the increased number of applications for this role, we may only respond to candidates whose experience most closely matches the criteria.

At our company, we prioritise equity throughout the recruitment process.

We are committed to ensuring fairness and equal opportunities for all applicants.

If there is anything we can do to make the process more accessible to you, please let us know.