Director, Investment, Student Housing, United Kingdom

The Role

You will spearhead our growth by leading a high-performing investment team to originate, evaluate and execute strategic acquisitions and divestments across our 18,000-bed student housing platform in the UK and across Europe. Working closely with development, asset management and leadership, you’ll shape and deliver on ambitious growth targets, ensuring market-leading returns and long-term value creation.

Job Responsibilities

• Key Responsibilities

   

  1. Strategy & Sourcing
  • Develop and refine our investment thesis for student housing across multiple regions.
  • Identify and cultivate relationships with brokers, developers, operators, lenders and joint-venture partners.
  2. Deal Execution
  • Lead end-to-end transactions: origination, market research, financial modelling, due diligence, structuring and negotiation.
  • Manage internal Investment Committees and coordinate approvals, ensuring rigorous risk-return analysis.
  3. Portfolio Optimization
  • Collaborate with asset management to underwrite value-add opportunities, reposition assets and plan seamless exits.
  • Monitor performance metrics, implement best practices and enhance cash flow and IRRs.
  4. Team Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Mentor and develop a multi-disciplinary investment team, fostering a culture of ownership and excellence.
  • Report directly to the CEO, Student Housing, and engage regularly with senior leadership in Asia and Europe.

Job Requirements

• Degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business or a related field.
• 15+ years’ experience in real estate private equity or institutional investment, with a focus on student housing or comparable sectors.
• Demonstrated success sourcing, underwriting and closing complex deals across the UK and international markets.
• Familiarity with key concepts in UK Student Housing development and regulatory landscape such as planning and the Building Safety Act.
• Strong financial modelling skills and deep understanding of capital markets, debt financing and return metrics.
• Exceptional leadership capability, able to inspire teams, build consensus and drive decisions under tight timelines.
• Highly proactive, intellectually curious and comfortable navigating fast-paced, multi-cultural environments.
• Outstanding communicator, adept at presenting to Investment Committees, boards and external partners.
• Willingness to travel regularly across regions and to work flexibly with teams in different time zones.