Reporting to:

Chief Investment Officer

Role overview:

The Associate will support real estate acquisitions, development, and capital markets initiatives by leading core analytical workstreams, contributing to investment strategy, and preparing high-quality investment materials.

Key responsibilities:

Financial modeling and underwriting

• Take ownership of financial modeling for real estate acquisitions and development projects

• Create and manage underwriting models and support analysts in developing independent proformas

Investment strategy:

• Lead defined components and analytical contributions to Merit’s investment strategy under the direction of the CIO

Investment and capital markets materials:

• Prepare high-quality investment committee and investor presentations with minimal supervision

• Provide guidance to analysts in assembling investment-related books, binders, and supporting materials

• Compile and manage investment-related documentation, including underwriting, capitalization, and diligence files

Due diligence:

• Independently contribute to quantitative and qualitative due diligence for prospective investments

• Support the CIO and Capital Markets team in leading diligence processes, including organizing and managing diligence data rooms and documentation

Market research:

• Maintain a strong understanding of real estate market dynamics

• Apply market insights to evaluate investment opportunities

Sourcing and business development:

Contribute to sourcing business development meetings

Maintain or oversee documentation related to lender and investor outreach

Pipeline management:

• Manage and update the investment pipeline database

• Provide regular pipeline updates to senior leadership

Administrative support:

• Take meeting notes and assist with ad hoc projects as needed

Experience requirements:

• 4 to 6 years of direct experience in real estate acquisitions, development, or investments

• Proven experience conducting quantitative (NOI, cash flow, ROI, IRR, equity multiple) and qualitative due diligence

• Direct experience with real estate investment waterfall structures across multiple property types

Skills and professional requirements:

• Strong oral and written communication skills with ability to provide guidance to junior team members

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively

• High level of discretion and confidentiality with sensitive projects

• Collaborative mindset with ability to work independently and within a team environment

• Highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented

• Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and strategic-thinking capabilities