Head of Investments

West Midlands Combined Authority - Investment Team Build

Head of Investments | Senior Investment Manager | Investment Manager

Cobalt Recruitment is partnering with West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) on an exciting investment team build, with three initial appointments forming the core of a brand-new team within the Investment function, with aspirations to grow rapidly over the next few years.

WMCA is entering a significant period of investment across the region. With growing powers and responsibility for driving investment, regeneration and growth, the team manage over £1bn of funds, partnering with others to deliver capacity of many £bn's. With the imminent arrival of over £500m of new capital that will drive regeneration, economic growth and long-term prosperity, this is a significant period of growth for the function, with real opportunity to help shape its future direction. Working at the intersection of public and private capital, these roles offer a unique opportunity to establish a new team, which will have access to a toolkit that includes, debt, patient equity and grants with which to structure and execute complex funding solutions and deliver a visible, long-term positive impact on the region.

We are recruiting for:

• Head of Investments
• Senior Investment Manage
• Investment Manager

The Roles:

Responsibilities will vary depending on seniority but will include:

• Delivering a prioritised pipeline of commercial, residential and mixed-use development opportunities aligned with WMCAs economic, housing and growth priorities. There is a significant pipeline of schemes already identified which will be further developed by working with local authorities, strategic partners and the wider WMCA
• Taking end-to-end ownership of transactions, from initial appraisal through to structuring, negotiation, execution, management and completion
• Leading the appraisal, underwriting and structuring of complex development finance packages
• Structuring blended funding solutions, potentially incorporating debt, mezzanine finance and equity together with grant funding and public/private-sector co-investment
• Undertaking and reviewing financial modelling, commercial analysis and investment underwriting
• Preparing recommendations and providing clear commercial advice to internal and external stakeholders
• Building and managing relationships with investors, developers, local authorities and other public and private-sector partners
• Maintaining accountability for pipeline quality and transaction delivery
• Leading and mentoring colleague, with management responsibility varying by seniority
• Maintaining stakeholder relationships with other public, quasi-public and private sector investors with potential for sell down of investments sourced and managed by the WMCA.
• Contributing to the continued development of WMCA's investment capability and approach

Who We're Looking For

We are looking for commercially minded investment and funding professionals with experience in structuring real estate finance. A track record in real estate development finance is essential.

Candidates should bring strong commercial judgment, transaction experience and the ability to operate effectively within complex stakeholder environments.

Understanding real estate development and investment risks, and how these are interlinked within a project's financial structure, will be a key success factor, as will the ability to mitigate them through appropriate structuring.

Head of Investments

The most senior appointment, this individual will bring significant investment experience alongside a track record of leading teams, contributing to strategy and overseeing complex transactions from origination through to completion.

You will be comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy and engaging with senior stakeholders across both the public and private sectors.

Senior Investment Manager

This individual will bring strong transaction experience and the ability to independently lead investments through appraisal, structuring, negotiation and execution.

You will be confident managing senior stakeholder relationships and ideally have experience mentoring or developing junior colleagues.

Investment Manager

This individual will bring good investment or transaction experience alongside strong financial and commercial skills.

You will be comfortable undertaking financial analysis and underwriting, managing transactions through the investment process and building relationships with investors and senior stakeholders. Experience supporting or mentoring junior colleagues would be advantageous.

Why Join WMCA?

This is a rare opportunity to help form a new team that will combine commercial investment experience with genuine regional impact.

You will join a growing investment function with access to an unrivalled toolkit of funding solutions, alongside significant capital to deploy and real opportunity to help shape its future, working across a diverse range of transactions to unlock investment, development and regeneration throughout the West Midlands. As the team and its mandate continue to expand, there is genuine scope for career progression.

The roles operate on a hybrid basis, with two days per week in the office, making them accessible to individuals across the wider Midlands and those able to commute into Birmingham.

We can provide full job descriptions for each role. For a confidential discussion about any of the three opportunities, please contact Cobalt Recruitment.

Please note, all third-party applications will be forwarded to our Recruitment Partner, Cobalt Recruitment.