Director, Asset Management

Manulife Investment Management (“MIM”) is the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. Manulife Investment Management's global real estate platform provides investment solutions globally as part of its comprehensive private markets capabilities, offering core, core-plus, and value-add strategies.

MIM’s GRE team leverages its global platform and regional market knowledge to identify opportunities and drive results for its clients.  As of December 31, 2024, its sustainably operated platform includes 90 million square feet of office, industrial, retail, and multifamily assets located across Canada, the United States, and the Asia Pacific region, with approximately $20 billion USD of real estate (500+ properties). The team is expanding its capabilities to meet evolving market opportunities, building a strong and diverse global culture as an entrepreneurial investment manager.

MIM is seeking a Director, US Asset Management, to play a key role within the growing platform.  The Director, Asset Management is generally responsible for maximizing value of a portfolio by developing and driving asset-level strategies. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering asset-level performance, with accountability for property management, leasing, capital expenditures, development, tenant relations, and oversight of other asset management team members.

Reporting to the Managing Director, Head of Real Estate Asset Management Eastern US, the Director, Asset Management’s focus will primarily be markets within the Southeast region, and assets will include a mix of multifamily, industrial, and office properties.

Responsibilities:

Develop and implement asset-level strategies.

• Maintain strong relationships within the real estate industry to ascertain market and asset trends. Source and analyze market research.

• Identify and communicate each asset’s competitive position relative to its peer set. Develop strategies that best position each asset to outperform competitors.

• Identify value-add opportunities and lead the execution of value-add initiatives including renovations, repositioning, and the oversight of select ground-up developments to maximize total return for each assigned asset. 

• Provide pre-acquisition and disposition input and assistance in due diligence process, including thorough research on select properties/markets and review of financial and operational assumptions.

• Regularly communicate market-level insights and contribute to regular asset management reports for Portfolio Managers and Senior Management.

Implement asset-level business plans and maximize NOI.

• Coordinate, produce and present annual business plans to Senior Management and Portfolio Managers. 

• Lead property management teams, leasing teams/agents, project managers, development managers and other collaborators to implement business plans. Lead negotiation of leases and third-party contracts.

• Target improvements in tenant satisfaction ratings.  Target utility cost savings and improvements in sustainable building standard scores.

• Recommend approvals for budgets, forecasts and reforecasts, new leases and renewals. As required, present the case for approval recommendations to Senior Management and Portfolio Managers.

• Review and approve Yardi quarterly financials/operating statements and variance reports. Understand cash flow requirements and distribution analysis.

Oversee asset-level financial performance and maximize total return.

• Maintain internal Argus model for each assigned asset from acquisition closing through disposition.  Review and update quarterly.

• Analyze and communicate the strategic and financial impacts of prospective tenant leases and capital improvement projects on building valuations.

• Work with internal teams to review and provide feedback on drafts of quarterly external appraisals.

• Monitor investment performance and provide feedback on and insights into quarterly MSCI performance results for each asset.

• Prepare and present asset-level information for external investors as needed. Find opportunities to improve quality and content of investor reporting                                                                                                     

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies/Education:

• Undergraduate degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or Real Estate from top academic institution required. CFA designation, completion of a real estate relat