Head of Investment and Real Estate Portfolio Strategy

Head of Investments & Real Estate Portfolio Strategy

Location: Dubai, UAEThe RoleWe are looking for a senior investment and finance professional to work closely with the principal of a growing Dubai-based commercial real estate developer and owner.The business develops and owns high-quality commercial properties primarily for leasing and is looking to build a larger, institutionally managed portfolio over time.

The successful candidate will play a central role in determining how that portfolio is financed, structured, grown and ultimately monetised.This is not primarily an operating property-management role. It is an investment, capital allocation and portfolio strategy role for someone who can look at real estate through a financial and investment lens.Key ResponsibilitiesCapital raising: Develop and execute financing strategies for new developments and acquisitions, working with banks, private credit providers, institutional investors, family offices and other sources of capital.Portfolio and capital structure: Determine the optimal mix of debt and equity across individual assets and the overall portfolio, including refinancing and capital recycling opportunities.Value creation: Evaluate how individual properties and groups of assets should be held, financed, repositioned or combined to maximise long-term value and returns on equity.REIT / capital markets strategy: Assess the potential to aggregate suitable income-producing assets into a REIT or similar investment vehicle, including portfolio construction, valuation, structuring and potential capital raising.New investments: Evaluate new development and acquisition opportunities through rigorous financial modelling, return analysis, scenario testing and assessment of risk.Portfolio management: Develop a portfolio-level view of returns, leverage, cash flows, occupancy, asset concentration and capital requirements, and recommend actions to improve portfolio performance.Strategic growth: Work closely with the principal to identify opportunities to grow the business while maintaining disciplined capital allocation and appropriate risk.Institutionalisation: Help build the financial disciplines, reporting, governance and investment processes required as the portfolio grows in scale and potentially attracts institutional capital.Candidate ProfileThe ideal candidate is likely to be in the early to mid-40s, with sufficient experience to operate independently and engage credibly with banks, investors and advisers while remaining hands-on.He/she should ideally have:An MBA from a highly regarded business school or a Chartered Accountancy qualification.Approximately 15–20 years of relevant experience in real estate investing, investment banking, private equity, structured finance, REITs, real estate funds or a sophisticated property developer/owner.Strong understanding of real estate valuation, project and acquisition finance, debt structuring, investment returns and capital markets.Experience raising and negotiating both debt and equity capital.Strong financial modelling and analytical capabilities.Exposure to REITs, institutional real estate or portfolio transactions would be particularly valuable.Experience in the UAE/GCC real estate market would be advantageous, although exceptional candidates from other markets should also be considered.What We Are Looking ForAbove all, we are looking for someone who thinks like an owner and investor rather than simply a finance executive.The right person should be able to look at a property and ask not only “How do we finance this?” but also “What is the best way to own it, structure it, improve its return on capital, combine it with other assets and ultimately realise its full value?”The role offers an unusual opportunity to work alongside an entrepreneurial developer and help transform a collection of high-quality commercial properties into a scaled, professionally managed and institutionally investible real estate portfolio.