Asset Manager

Overview

Business Area: Direct Real Estate Investment
Location: London
Job title: Asset Manager

Who we're looking for
Schroders Capital Real Estate is seeking an individual with significant commercial property experience, excellent organisational and analytical skills, and a strong work ethic to work as an Asset Manager, directly responsible for a portfolio of retail and leisure assets.

The role will be based in Schroders' London HQ and the candidate will be responsible for establishing and implementing asset management initiatives to drive performance across a portfolio of retail and leisure assets held within a range Schroders Capital managed direct real estate funds. This will involve asset level business planning and financial modelling of projected performance. The role will also require direct accountability for exploring and assisting with new acquisitions and managing disposals in accordance with fund requirements. Experience of asset repositioning, development and sustainability related considerations will greatly assist in performance of role.

About Schroders
We're a global investment manager. We help institutions, intermediaries and individuals around the world invest money to meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future.

We have around 5,000 people on six continents. And we've been around for over 200 years but keep adapting as society and technology changes. What doesn't change is our commitment to helping our clients, and society, prosper.

The base
We moved into our HQ offices in the City of London in 2018, which is where this role will be based. We're close to our clients, in the heart of the UK's financial centre.  Schroders Capital Real Estate also has an office in Manchester city centre which means we are closer to our regional portfolio and clients.  

The team
Schroders Capital Real Estate

•    Our Real Estate department is an integral part of Schroders Capital, the private market investment division of Schroders. Schroders Capital Real Estate constitutes an important focus area of the Group's strategy for expansion.
•    Schroders Capital is one of Europe's largest real estate managers with deep real estate expertise on the ground across real estate sectors with £26bn+ AUM. Investment strategies are offered in a broad range of open and closed ended funds, listed REITS, specialist funds, joint ventures, separate accounts and real estate debt.
•    The Real Estate team is highly experienced in real estate fund management, research, acquisitions, asset management, sustainability & impact, and strategy, and is comprised of over 200 people operating from offices across the UK, Continental Europe, Asia and North America.
•    Our investment philosophy is centred on consistent themes including investing in strong fundamentals, actively managing portfolios, operational excellence, and delivering positive environmental and social impact. We adopt a research-driven and market-focused investment approach. Our dedicated Real Estate Research team identifies those sectors, cities and real estate characteristics expected to outperform, ensuring portfolios can benefit from structural change.

What you'll do
•    Directly responsible for a portfolio of UK retail and leisure assets. You will be required to set the strategy, actively manage and ultimately produce and execute business plans for each asset within your portfolio. You will manage assets across a range of directly managed Schroders Capital Real Estate funds, providing exposure to funds and fund management teams with a range of different strategic objectives, returns requirement and ESG targets.
•    Reporting into a Lead Asset Manager, you will manage assets including shopping centres, , out of town retail parks, leisure schemes and mixed-use assets.
•    Asset management responsibilities will include overseeing the leasing of vacant space, progressing rent reviews and lease renewals, as well as overseeing the property management functions. The ultimate objective is to seek to enhance NOI across all buildings.
•    Take responsibility for initiating, managing, and delivering value enhancing, reconfiguration and refurbishment initiatives to maximise asset performance and improve ESG credentials of your buildings.
•    Engage with occupiers / potential occupiers, agents, and advisors to build your network within the retail and leisure sector and foster long term relationships.
•    Provide assistance on oversight of the collection of sustainability data by the property managers and input into Investment Sustainability Action Plans and long term ESG vision for the assets.
•    Explore and assist with new acquisitions and management of asset disposals in accordance with fund requirements.
•    Be confident and clear in conveying recommendations and rationale, supported by financial analysis, and able to articulate portfolio initiatives to fund management, clients and the Schroder Real Estate investment committee.
•    Be supported by both line manager, the broad asset management team and the wider real estate team including the research, finance, legal and fund management teams.
•    Support Schroder's “Real Estate with Impact” approach to sustainable investing, that seeks to promote a fair, environmentally and socially conscious low-carbon transition, that also supports social, as well as economic and physical resilience, and ultimately sustainable communities and economies.

The knowledge, experience and qualifications you need
•    Applicants should be an experienced asset manager, capable of working with autonomy and ideally with a sound knowledge and experience in the retail/leisure sector. Candidates will ideally have RICS or equivalent qualification.
•    Confident in taking ownership of a portfolio of assets, reporting to your line manager – looking to drive and track NOI across the assets.
•    Willing to assess scope for value enhancing opportunities, refurbishments and letting strategies, as well as overseeing the management functions.
•    Organised, analytical and with good attention to detail.
•    Ability to present analysis, outputs, and rationale in a clear, concise manner.
•    Confident and proactive in taking ownership of objectives and efficiently managing time to meet deadlines.
•    Strong communication skills both verbal and written.
•    Ability to work well in a team environment.
•    Ability to lead a team of external consultants assisting with the day-to-day management of your assets and to develop strong relationships with industry peers and advisors.
•    Understanding of the drivers of performance and value creation in property.

The knowledge, experience and qualifications that will help
•    Experience in dealing with senior level people in a confident manner – both clients, colleagues, and tenants.
•    Experience and a track record of dealing with development projects and asset repositioning.
•    Experience of overseeing property litigation and disputes.
•    Understanding of the sustainability requirements of commercial real estate.
•    Understanding of real estate cash flow modelling with experience in Excel, Argus, Anaplan or similar.
•    Confident and proven decision maker

What you'll be like
•    Clear and demonstratable interest in real estate and a career in real estate asset management – keen to learn and develop new skills.
•    Professional with a high standard of personal integrity.
•    Numerical, diligent, and organised.
•    Good communicator.
•    A team player, with a strong work ethic and commitment to the role, with an ability to perform under pressure.

We recognise potential, whoever you are
Our purpose is to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. Diversity of thought facilitated by an inclusive culture will allow us to make better decisions and better achieve our purpose. This is why inclusion and diversity are a strategic priority for us and why we are an equal opportunities employer: you are welcome here regardless of your age, disability, gender identity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or any other protected characteristics.