Commercial And Development Investment Manager

Job Description Role summary

We are looking for an ambitious, commercially minded Investment Manager to originate, structure and execute commercial and development debt opportunities across the UK. This is a senior, front-line role with direct accountability for generating new business, converting opportunities and delivering agreed lending targets.

The successful candidate will bring a strong network of brokers, borrowers, advisers and market contacts, together with a credible track record in UK real estate finance. They will be expected to independently assess opportunities, identify the key risks, structure appropriate lending solutions and take viable transactions from initial enquiry through Credit Committee and completion.

The role is highly client-facing and relationship driven, but requires a strong level of transaction ownership. Alongside individual origination. The Investment Manager will contribute to market strategy, support the development of junior colleagues and help ensure the investment team maintains a high-quality, well-converting pipeline.

• A senior front-line investment role with autonomy, established funding lines and direct responsibility for originating and executing transactions.
• The opportunity to help grow a commercial and development debt strategy within an established real estate debt platform.
• Direct exposure to borrowers, brokers, advisers, Credit Committee and senior decision makers.
• Competitive base salary with performance-related bonus linked to individual origination and wider team results.
• Access to the wider Octopus benefits package, including pension, flexible working, wellness support, family leave policies, private medical insurance and other employee benefits.

• Achieve and exceed agreed lending, origination and deployment targets across commercial and development debt.
• Independently source and originate new lending opportunities through an established network of brokers, borrowers, advisers and other market contacts.
• Act as a senior focal point for key relationships within the target market, building trusted long-term relationships and generating repeat business.
• Develop and maintain a high-quality introducer panel, with a disciplined rhythm of meetings, follow-ups and pipeline reviews.
• Spend significant time in the market meeting brokers, borrowers and professionals, and represent Octopus at relevant industry events, conferences and market meetings.
• Take ownership of progressing new enquiries and converting viable opportunities into completed transactions.

• Source new lending opportunities across commercial real estate, development finance and living sectors, including residential-for-sale, PBSA, co-living, build-to-rent, retirement living, care and other operational residential sectors where appropriate.
• Monitor competitor activity, pricing, market liquidity, borrower requirements and broker feedback to identify areas where Octopus can win attractive, risk-adjusted business.
• Share market intelligence internally and contribute to the development of origination strategy, product positioning and credit appetite.
• Maintain clear and accurate pipeline information, with ownership of expected timings, conversion risk, borrower feedback and forecast completions.
• Work closely with the Head of Investment and wider team to prioritise opportunities and allocate resource to the strongest prospects.

• Take the lead in assessing new opportunities, including borrower quality, asset type, location, business plan, exit strategy, leverage, planning status, pricing and overall fit with lending appetite.
• Structure transactions and negotiate commercial terms with borrowers and advisers, including term sheets and key transaction parameters.
• Own transactions from initial enquiry through due diligence, Credit Committee approval, documentation and completion.
• Prepare and present high-quality investment papers, deal summaries and recommendations for Credit Committee.
• Work closely with Credit, Legal, Operations, Asset Management and other internal stakeholders to resolve issues and deliver transactions efficiently.
• Challenge assumptions and information constructively, identify downside risks early and propose appropriate mitigants or alternative structures.
• Remain close to transactions after completion, maintaining borrower relationships and identifying refinancing, follow-on lending and repeat-borrower opportunities.

• Mentor and support junior members of the investment team, providing guidance on opportunity assessment, transaction execution and market engagement.
• Support the Head of Investment in improving origination processes, pipeline discipline, team efficiency and conversion.
• Contribute positively to a collaborative, high-performance culture across the wider real estate debt platform.