Asset Manager | DEVA | London
Asset Manager | DEVA | London Country: United Kingdom IT STARTS HERE Deva-SAI is the Real Estate and Corporate Capital Solutions investment arm within Santander Alternative Investments (SAI). The platform manages €1.6bn across Real Estate Equity, Real Estate Debt, and Corporate Capital Solutions, with €1.3bn deployed (c.€1bn since 2023) across more than ten countries.
The team comprises 50+ professionals across London, Madrid, and New York with deep experience structuring, underwriting, and managing complex investments across Europe. Deva is part of Santander Alternative Investments , the Group’s €10bn alternatives platform supported by over €4.4bn in co-investment from Santander Group .
This includes private credit, real assets, infrastructure, private equity, and GP stakes. SAI forms part of Santander Asset Management (SAM) , a €255bn global asset manager operating across 10 countries and with more than 50 years of experience.
SAM combines the best of complementary worlds, technology and expertise, to provide optimal solutions for clients. We deliver a simple, innovative and transparent service with a sole objective: offer our clients a comprehensive range of products with the right balance between risk and return.
Our behaviours underpin everything we do; we think clients, embrace change, act now, move together and speak up. THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE We have an exciting new opportunity for a Real Estate Asset Manager to join us in our London Office. You'll be responsible for the active oversight of a portfolio of real estate investments across continental Europe, with a primary focus on driving performance by holding JV partners accountable for delivery of their business plans.
The role is centred on hands-on asset management — closely supervising JV partners, monitoring construction and development programmes, tracking leasing and lease-up, managing refinancing's and assessing the market to optimise exit timing. While the day-to-day execution sits with the JV partners, the successful candidate is expected to push partners hard to meet the plan, intervene where performance falls short and take ownership of asset-level outcomes.
The successful candidate will work closely with JV partners, internal stakeholders and senior leadership to drive asset performance, challenge and re-shape business plans and lead key investment decisions across the lifecycle. The position offers exposure across multiple sectors, including industrial/logistics, living and hotels, with direct responsibility for the performance of the assets within the portfolio.
We’re shaping the way we work through innovation, cutting-edge technology, collaboration and the freedom to explore new ideas. To succeed in this role, you will be responsible for: Taking ownership of asset-level performance across a portfolio of investments, holding JV partners accountable for delivery of their business plans and intervening proactively where execution falls behind.
Closely supervising JV partners as they manage construction and development programmes, monitoring progress against programme, budget and quality, and pushing partners to resolve delays, cost overruns and delivery risks. Overseeing leasing and lease-up, tracking letting progress against business plan assumptions and challenging JV partners to maintain momentum, secure tenants and protect rental values.
Leading and managing refinancing processes, working with JV partners, lenders and advisers to put appropriate debt in place, managing maturities and optimise capital structures. Continuously evaluating market conditions to inform hold/sell decisions and optimise exit timing, ensuring disposals are executed to maximise value.
Acting as a key interface with JV partners and local asset managers, setting clear expectations, holding regular performance reviews and maintaining a culture of accountability and close supervision. Leading and executing key investment decisions, including hold/sell, refinancing and recapitalisation, grounded in commercial judgement and market insight.
Supporting transaction processes (including disposals, refinancing and recapitalisations) from origination through to completion, coordinating internal teams and external advisers. Contributing to valuation processes drawing on asset performance, market conditions and exit assumptions.
Maintain disciplined tracking of KPIs, financial performance and market dynamics, ensuring timely and accurate reporting to senior stakeholders. Working closely with the real estate portfolio manager to strengthen business plan tracking, reporting frameworks and portfolio-level oversight.
Supporting the preparation of high-quality investment materials, including portfolio reviews, asset-level updates and investment committee papers. Leveraging market intelligence and external relationships to benchmark performance and inform strategy and exit timing.
Contributing to broader platform initiatives, including ESG delivery, portfolio construction and capital allocation decisions. WHAT YOU’LL BRING Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us stronger as a team and as an organisation.
We’re enabling teams to go beyond by valuing who they are and empowering what they bring. The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Strong experience in real estate investing, asset management, or private equity real estate, with a clear emphasis on hands-on asset management, business plan delivery and value creation. Strong financial and commercial capabilities, with the ability to interrogate asset-level performance, challenge assumptions and drive corrective action.
Demonstrated experience managing and holding JV partners, operating partners or third-party asset managers accountable for delivery, with a focus on driving performance, governance and strategic alignment. Experience managing investments across continental Europe, with a solid understanding of local market dynamics and how these impact asset performance and business plan delivery.
Sector familiarity across industrial/logistics, living (residential / PBSA / BTR) and hotels, with the ability to drive performance and benchmark assets across markets. Strong understanding of asset-level business plans, including leasing, operational performance and capex programmes, with the ability to oversee, challenge and drive delivery of these on the ground through JV partners.
Direct experience overseeing development and construction programmes through JV or operating partners, monitoring delivery against programme, budget and quality. Hands-on experience of leasing and lease-up, and of leading refinancing processes with lenders and advisers.
Experience leading and executing key investment decisions (e.g. hold/sell, refinancing, recapitalisation) through to completion. Familiarity with valuation methodologies and the ability to assess valuation drivers, sensitivities and exit assumptions.
Working knowledge of financing structures and lender dynamics, with the ability to manage debt and lead refinancing processes. Strong commercial judgement, with a hands-on, ownership mindset, with the ability to operate effectively in a lean, high-performance environment.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present clearly and credibly to JV partners and senior stakeholders, hold partners to account and influence delivery and decision-making. Highly organised with strong attention to detail. 8+ years experience would be beneficial Desirable but not essential: Degree in Finance, Real Estate, Economics or a related discipline and/or relevant professional qualifications (e.g.
CFA, ACA, MRICS) WE VALUE YOUR IMPACT At Deva-SAI, your contribution matters. We recognise the difference you make every day, and we make sure you feel valued, supported and rewarded in return. Here, recognition goes beyond pay. It’s about the pride you feel in your work, the impact you make for our clients, and the opportunities you have to grow and thrive — personally and professionally.
How we’ll reward you. As well as a competitive salary, we offer a wide range of benefits that you can choose from and tailor to your needs. Eligible for a competitive discretionary performance-related annual bonus Hybrid ways of working providing flexibility to work from home 1 day per week (on average) We put 8% of salary into your pension even if you don’t contribute yourself, and up to 12.5% if you do 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays Company funded private medical insurance Free access to a range of digital health services, including GP.
Protection for you and your family, with company-funded death-in-service benefit and income protection insurance, and the option to take advantage of discounted rates for additional life assurance and critical illness cover. 24/7 access to an online employee discount platform including retailers, entertainment, eating out, travel and more.
Voluntary healthcare benefits for you and your family at discounted rates including dental insurance. Wellbeing that goes beyond work — we work with a range of wellbeing partners across our 4 pillars of wellbeing (physical, mental, social and financial) to give you access to a suite of apps, discounted gym and fitness access, weekly online classes, flexible healthcare and mental health support.
Global growth opportunities to shape your career, learn new skills and explore what’s possible across our international network. Ready to be recognised? It starts with you. OUR COMMITMENT At Deva-SAI, we’re proud to be an inclusive organisation that provides equal opportunities for everyone — regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion or sexual orientation.
We’re committed to creating a recruitment experience that’s accessible, fair and welcoming for all candidates. We want our people to thrive — at work and at home — while delivering the best outcomes for our customers and supporting each other to grow.
To make this possible, our roles are hybrid, with flexibility to work from home one day a week, on average. When applying, please consider the commute to Marylebone. Right to work in the UK Every individual must have the right to work in the UK to commence employment with Deva either by way of nationality, visa or work permit.
If you do require a working visa / permit this will not influence our decision on whether to progress your application. However, if you do not have a right to work, or an application for a working visa / permit is unsuccessful, Deva will not proceed with your application and will withdraw any conditional offer previously made.
WHAT TO DO NEXT If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply. If there’s anything we can do in the recruitment process to help you achieve your best, get in touch. Whether it’s a copy of our application form in another format or additional assistance, we’re available through email.
You can contact us at resourcing@santander.co.uk .