Company Overview
Berkshire Residential Investments is a people-first real estate investment company who values not only the impact we make as a company, but the time we spend together in our high-performing teams. We value individual skills and perspectives to allow us to best serve our employees, investors, residents, and other stakeholders.
If you’re interested in a workplace where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work each day, come join our talented and growing team at Berkshire Residential Investments. Our environment of entrepreneurial spirit, culture of expertise and our people-first approach will allow you to thrive while continuing to grow in your career.
Position Summary
The SVP, Head of Underwriting is responsible for managing the underwriting function, maintaining credit quality, and providing leadership to the Berkshire Residential and MF1 Underwriting teams.
Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To - Oversee Screening and Underwriting of Berkshire Debt Investments. For direct investment loans, work with Senior Underwriters and Deal Teams to ensure investments are underwritten to Berkshire and MF1 standards
- Manage a team of Underwriters
- Lead regular Underwriting Pipeline meetings to ensure ongoing communication, early identification of issues
- Monitor underwriting and due diligence, assist with risk identification and mitigation in timely fashion
- Seek to provide workable solutions to identified risks and raise critical discussions with senior leadership, when needed
- Perform site inspections, as necessary
- Meet Sponsors, as necessary
- Review presentation materials for accuracy, content, and deal/loan support
- Ensure due diligence documentation is complete, comprehensive, and saved electronically
- Support Capital Markets and Deal Teams to prepare materials for securitization or other exit strategies
- For other debt investments in the bridge funds, work with Portfolio Management to ensure prudent underwriting and analysis is completed and oversee process
- Monitor underwriting and due diligence, assist with risk identification and mitigation.
- Perform site inspections as necessary
- Review presentation materials for accuracy and content
- Be resource for proactively identifying, mitigating, and working to resolve issues with internal and external stakeholders
- Be critical Investments contact for Deal teams and Senior Underwriters to assist in providing solutions in timely fashion throughout the underwriting process and support loans pre- and post-closing (including reporting, valuation, as needed).
- Provide oversight, guidance for any transfers of ownership and control. Ensure all requisite criteria and analysis are completed, issues identified, discussed and mitigated
- Provide training, guidance and knowledge to production and underwriting teams to enhance the MF1 approach to underwriting
- Support capital raising efforts on behalf of the BRI Debt Platform, directly facing clients; participating in client meetings; providing capital raise due diligence efforts
- Support Portfolio Management, Debt Strategies, Investments, and Capital markets with investor reporting, follow-up and meetings as necessary
- Participate in national and regional trade associations that further Berkshire’s business, including ULI, National Multi-Housing Council, and other appropriate organizations
- Consistently demonstrate use of tact and discretion.
Knowledge/Experience
- Minimum 15 years’ experience in commercial real estate in the multi-family sector in multiple geographies
- Experience in both debt and equity transactions preferred
- Savvy and experienced underwriting and structuring of multifamily debt and equity transactions, including in the distressed arena
- Knowledge of full capital structures and how best to structure transactions for maximum return
- Effective negotiations skills, including, but not limited to, knowing what’s important, creating win/win opportunities, knowing when to be flexible, when to be firm and knowing when to ask for investment committee guidance
- Demonstrated successful experience in structuring debt, mezzanine and preferred equity deals
- Demonstrated management skills with track record of building teams and identifying, mentoring, and growing talent in-person and virtually
- Aptitude for organizing, prioritizing, and managing multiple priorities, using critical thinking and problem solving
- Demonstrated multi-modal communication style that reaches every stakeholder, specifically excellent verbal, and written communications
- Collaborative working style with inclusive work and thinking behaviors, commitment to excellence in teams and work product, with a strong work ethic
- Proficiency and willingness to adopt new systems and processes.
- Demonstrate emotional intelligence in high pressure and sensitive situations
- Ability to see, analyze and understand business dealings in terms of the overall business plan
- Tenacity, patience, and perseverance to work with business deals from beginning to end of process
- Represent the Berkshire employment brand well to candidates by seeking to understand the capabilities and insights of people with unique backgrounds, cultures, styles, and abilities
- Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information and communications of information
- Develop productive working relationships with all team members including internal clients and external third parties
- Demonstrated high level of ethics and integrity with a straightforward and honest approach
Technical/Educational Requirements
- Undergraduate degree is required. MBA, CFA or equivalent experience and training preferred
- Demonstrated advanced financial modeling and Excel skills required
- Demonstrated ability to use and learn new technology (e.g., computers/hardware, mobile, software, cloud-based programs)
- Proficiency with computers, keyboards, monitors and telephone headsets.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Suite of Products (e.g., Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams, Power Point) and Document Management Systems
Berkshire Residential offers an excellent benefits package, focusing on our employees’ total health and wellness. We offer programs and incentives that promote physical, mental, financial, and behavioral wellbeing both within and beyond our workplace. Please visit our Careers page for full details – and to learn more about how we value our employees.
Berkshire Residential values diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Berkshire is committed to providing equal opportunity in all practices, including employees and applicants for employment. We ensure that decisions affecting employees are made without regard to their race, color, creed, national origin, age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other protected status.
