Investment Director – Education Investments

Investment Manager – Education Investments & Real Estate Assets

Role Overview

The Investment Manager is responsible for managing and developing the organisation's portfolio of education-related assets and strategic investment initiatives. This includes evaluating opportunities for new schools and education-sector projects, managing long-term leases and operator partnerships, overseeing real-estate and infrastructure assets, conducting financial and feasibility analyses, and ensuring the sustainable performance of the education investment portfolio.

The role supports the organisation's mandate to strengthen Dubai's knowledge economy by delivering high-quality education assets, enabling private-sector participation, and ensuring robust financial and operational outcomes across the education ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Investment Strategy & Planning

• Contribute to the development and periodic update of the education investment strategy in line with long-term education-sector objectives.
• Prepare annual investment and asset plans, financial projections, performance targets, and sector assessments.
• Identify priority areas for new schools, infrastructure expansion, and sector development initiatives.

Opportunity Sourcing & Market Assessment

• Source investment opportunities across the education value chain, including school development projects, expansions, operator-driven proposals, PPP models, and strategic education programs.
• Conduct market studies, demographic analysis, benchmarking, and competitive landscape assessments to evaluate demand and sector feasibility.
• Assess operator proposals, business plans, financial capacity, and long-term sustainability.

Investment Evaluation & Financial Analysis

• Lead financial modelling, feasibility analysis, project valuations, and scenario assessments for potential investments.
• Evaluate school project economics, lease structures, operator projections, and capital requirements.
• Prepare investment recommendations and materials for senior management and investment committee review.

Due Diligence & Transaction Support

• Coordinate full due diligence across commercial, financial, legal, technical, and regulatory workstreams.
• Work closely with external advisors, consultants, surveyors, and legal counsel.
• Support negotiation of lease terms, partnership frameworks, development agreements, and investment documentation.
• Ensure all transactions align with governance standards and sector regulations.

Portfolio & Asset Management

• Oversee the ongoing performance of the education real-estate portfolio and funded initiatives.
• Monitor operator compliance, lease performance, utilisation, fee structures, student demand trends, and regulatory alignment.
• Identify opportunities to enhance asset performance, improve utilisation, or redevelop/expand education facilities.
• Support value-creation activities and long-term sustainability measures across the asset base.

Governance, Risk & Reporting

• Prepare investment papers, performance dashboards, valuation inputs, and management reports.
• Maintain strong governance through accurate documentation, audit-ready standards, and policy compliance.
• Identify and monitor investment, operational, and regulatory risks across the education portfolio.

Stakeholder & Partnership Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with school operators, developers, education providers, government entities, and external advisors.
• Support PPP initiatives and private-sector engagement in the education sector.
• Coordinate with internal teams including Finance, Strategy, Legal, Compliance, and Projects.

Team & Institutional Development

• Mentor junior staff and support capability building within the investment function.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of processes, systems, and internal investment methodologies.

Candidate Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Real Estate, Education Management, Business, or a related field.
• Master's degree preferred (MBA, Finance, Economics, Public Policy).
• Professional certifications such as CFA, CAIA, FRM, MRICS, or real-estate credentials are desirable.

Experience

• 5–10 years of relevant experience in investment management, real-estate asset management, PPP advisory, project finance, education-sector investments, or infrastructure development.
• Experience with government entities, school operators, developers, or long-term asset portfolios is highly advantageous.
• Strong record in financial analysis, project evaluation, and stakeholder coordination.

Technical Competencies

• Financial modelling and valuation
• Education-sector assessment and market research
• Real-estate lease economics and operator evaluation
• Feasibility studies and project planning
• Due diligence management
• Portfolio and asset performance monitoring
• Risk analysis and governance
• Structuring and negotiation
• Relationship and stakeholder management

Behavioural Competencies

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• High attention to detail and quality
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently
• Commercial judgement and strategic mindset
• Proactive, diligent, and results-oriented
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills
• High integrity, resilience, and professionalis