Associate - Acquisitions

Overview Hines has been active in France since 1995. The France team combines local market expertise with Hines’ global investment and development platform, and works across the real estate lifecycle, including acquisitions, development, asset management and property management. Since the early 2010s, Hines has completed more than €4 billion in acquisitions in France across all asset classes. These include office assets such as Eurosquare, Sequana, Window, 32 Blanche, Tour CBX, La Manufacture, La Distillerie, 83 Marceau and 32 Iéna; retail assets such as Marché Saint-Germain, the Apple Store on the Champs-Élysées, 28 Madeleine, 213 and 223 rue Saint-Honoré and Chasse Sud retail park; the France Métropole residential portfolio; the “aparto Paris Liberté” and Courbevoie Delage student residences; and the Optimus and Onyx portfolios in logistics. Investments are made through Hines’ open-ended or closed-ended pan-European funds (HECF, HEPP and HEREP series) or one-off investments for third-party investors. Given the diversity of our investors, we consider all investment strategies (core, core-plus, value-add, opportunistic) and all asset classes (office, logistics, residential and living sectors, and retail). Responsibilities Hines is looking to hire an Associate to join its French Investment team, contributing to investment and development activities across the French real estate market. The Associate will play a key role throughout the investment process in evaluating and executing investment opportunities across all asset classes and investment strategies, from initial screening and underwriting through due diligence, investment committee approval and transaction execution. Working closely with an Investment Director, the Associate will take ownership of key transaction workstreams, coordinate internal and external stakeholders, and play an active role in driving transactions forward. For the role, a high degree of autonomy is expected from the candidate. The role offers significant direct exposure to fund management teams and senior leadership, providing a strong opportunity for professional development within a leading global real estate investment firm.
• Lead the screening, underwriting and evaluation of investment and development opportunities across real estate sectors and risk profiles;
• Build, review and take ownership of sophisticated financial models covering acquisition, development, financing and tax, demonstrating strong technical modelling expertise and the ability to structure, calibrate and optimise complex assumptions, assess alternative scenarios and identify value-enhancing opportunities;
• Undertake comparable investment and leasing transactions and investment analysis to support investment decisions;
• Work closely with the Director and external advisers to analyse and determine the optimal transaction strategy, considering legal, tax, financial and operational aspects;
• Lead the preparation of investment committee memoranda and presentation materials for Hines funds and other capital partners, coordinating and reviewing contributions from junior team members and taking ownership of the quality and accuracy of the final deliverables;
• Coordinate transaction execution and due diligence processes with internal teams, external advisers and counterparties; identify key risks and red flags and work with advisers to assess their implications and develop appropriate mitigation strategies;
• With support from the Director, lead internal processes to present key transaction information to relevant Hines stakeholders, addressing questions and information requests from internal teams, including Fund Management, Legal and Tax, as well as Hines Investment Committee members;
• Support the Director in negotiating transaction documentation, including preliminary sale agreements, sale and purchase agreements or forward funding transaction documentation;
• Support the structuring and execution of asset-level financings, including preparing requests for proposals (RFPs), presenting financing opportunities to prospective lenders, and supporting discussions and negotiations with banks on financing terms and loan documentation;
• Use appropriate technology and AI-enabled tools to improve the efficiency, quality and accuracy of analysis, research and routine workflows. Qualifications Minimum Requirements include:
• Master’s degree from a leading French engineering or business school is required.
• 4+ years of relevant professional experience in real estate investment or development, ideally with a comparable real estate investment firm, asset manager, investment manager or real estate private equity fund.
• Strong financial modelling and analytical skills, with the ability to independently build, review and challenge complex financial models, assess investment returns and financing structures, and exercise sound judgement in evaluating investment opportunities;
• Solid understanding of real estate investment, with the ability to assess business plans, identify key risks and value creation opportunities, and formulate well-supported investment recommendations;
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, with the ability to produce high-quality financial analyses and investment materials independently, while leveraging AI and emerging technologies to enhance efficiency and productivity;
• Fluent in French and English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to articulate and defend investment recommendations to internal stakeholders, investors and external advisers;
• Strong sense of ownership, commercial acumen and attention to detail, with the ability to manage transaction workstreams autonomously, prioritize competing demands and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines;
• Strong autonomy and accountability, with the ability to independently manage transaction workstreams while maintaining regular and effective communication with the Director, providing timely updates on deal progress, key developments and potential issues, and proactively seeking guidance or support when needed;
• Proven ability to supervise, coordinate and develop junior team members, including Analysts and Interns;
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across Hines France and international teams, including senior leadership, fund management, and corporate functions, and external advisers. Closing At Hines, we believe the built world is ultimately about people. As one of the world’s largest privately held real assets firms, we bring nearly seven decades of investment, development, and management experience to work that shapes cities and communities around the world. Our people make that possible. Across 29 countries, more than 4,600 colleagues bring different perspectives and expertise to Hines, with opportunities to take on meaningful responsibility, learn from leaders across the business, and build a career with room to evolve. We support that journey through professional development, competitive rewards, comprehensive benefits, and a culture grounded in trust and high standards. Hines is proud to be named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2024. We are an equal opportunity employer and support workforce diversity. No calls or emails from third parties at this time please.