Investment Manager (Real Estate Focus) - Cortes Capital

Cortes Capital is the Oklahoma City-based private investment office for the Love family. Après Vous Capital, LLC is the management company for Cortes Capital and employs the investment and operating staff that conduct the investment activities.

Our vision is to deliver exceptional long-term returns for the Love family while defining the standard for growth focused family offices. You will be part of the team that sources, evaluates, and selects investment opportunities, in addition to monitoring existing investments.

We are unique from many family offices as we focus exclusively on private investing, including private equity, growth equity, venture capital, and private real assets. Our investment approach is the result of bringing together some of the best practices that we have learned over years in institutional investing. We source broadly, engage in dynamic discussions with general partners and management teams, provide candid feedback, and set realistic expectations. We invest in funds, co-investments, and direct investments, focusing on thematic areas such as infrastructure services, industrials, life sciences, software and more.

We seek the most intellectually curious individuals with a passion for investing. Investment Managers that are successful at Cortes can source independently, develop a thesis, know where to dig into diligence, and provide guidance and direction to analysts. An ability to work independently AND as part of a collaborative team is a must.

Primary Responsibilities:

Investment Managers provide primary support for deal teams AND lead deal teams. This role will work on every real estate development deal but also be involved in other opportunities outside of real estate.

Investment Managers are a blend between a highly experienced analyst and a junior director. On the analyst side, they assist in theme development and research, sourcing and evaluation of investment opportunities, and portfolio construction and monitoring. They conduct research like an investigative journalist on potential themes (e.g., industries, strategies, investment types) and investment opportunities (e.g., funds, co-investments, and direct investments) that includes a wide range of desktop and on-the ground research and analysis. On the junior director side, they possess the judgment to assess whether opportunities need to continue to progress and they provide ongoing feedback and input to analysts doing initial reviews of opportunities. Investment Managers also lead selected deal teams and participate in discussions amongst the senior team regarding prioritizing thematic areas and opportunities. This role will lead deal teams under the supervision and direction of the Chief Investment Officer.

The specific responsibilities of the Investment Manager (Real Estate Focus) role include:

Under direction of the Chief Investment Officer, assist directly in the sourcing, evaluation, and selection of private real estate opportunities, especially around high-end luxury developments and other selected pockets of the real estate ecosystem.

Outside of real estate, lead selected deal teams, especially in emerging thematic areas of the portfolio. This includes managing the overall sourcing and evaluation process of investment opportunities and providing direction to analysts and senior analysts assigned to the deal team.

Work collaboratively with other investment professionals to provide primary support for deal teams. This includes working with internal deal teams but also coordinating with private equity general partners and deal leads, third party marketing agents, attorneys, and other service providers.

Develop an informed hypothesis based on monitoring fundamental market and economic news and test that hypothesis through research and analysis. Present results of the analysis to the senior team.

Identify compelling investment themes and put together theme decks for discussion with the CIO.

Conduct market mapping and build a landscape of potential investment opportunities within each thematic area of focus. Source from networks, databases, and other desktop research.

Gather materials from potential investments and conduct initial reviews of those materials. Use pattern recognition to assess those that may be compelling. Determine whether to progress diligence.

Lead and take notes from calls and meetings with potential investment opportunities that may include private equity funds, independent sponsors, and management teams. Produce summaries from those calls and meetings that reflect experienced opinions on whether the investment is compelling.

Conduct data room reviews to evaluate the people, process, returns, historical value creation, risks, and other criteria. Compile findings into a finalized report and present your findings to the senior team.

Lead reference calls related to assessment of the investment.

Review the work of analysts, and provide feedback and guidance regarding the attractiveness of investment opportunities.

Meet in person and tour offices and facilities of potential investments and for ongoing monitoring of existing investments.

Engage in ongoing debates with the deal team and the broader investment team. Provide opinions regarding investment opportunities that are well formulated and supported by diligence.

Draft investment memos for review by the CIO.

Conduct preliminary reviews of the LPA and other relevant legal documents related to the investment. Present findings to the deal team lead.

Monitor ongoing developments of investments currently in diligence and after they have made, including reviewing quarterly reports, financial statements, and participating in ongoing update calls with the private equity sponsor and/or management teams.

Participate in ad hoc research projects related to market and economic developments; calculate performance and conduct benchmarking analysis for existing investments.

Travel is required, primarily for meeting with prospective investments but also for attending selective conferences and networking events.

Supervise, train, and mentor analysts and senior analysts.

Other tasks as assigned by deal leads and the senior investment team.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree with a focus or significant coursework in finance, accounting, real estate, or economics is required .

Must have excellent academic credentials.

Minimum of at least four years of experience in an allocator-related role (family office, endowment, foundation, consultant).

Ideally between five and ten years of experience investing in real estate , including both funds and direct deals.

Must be an active, good-standing charter holder of either the CFA or CAIA OR have a graduate degree in business, real estate, finance, or investments.

Real estate investing credentials such as the CCIM, CAIA Real Estate Microcredential, or NAR REI Certification are a plus.

Our Culture:

Fueling customers' journeys since 1964, innovation leads the way for this family-owned and operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City. With nearly 40,000 team members, travel stops are the core business along with products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, traveling public, RVers, alternative energy and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities and an inclusive workplace are hallmarks of the award-winning culture.

Love's is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Veterans encouraged to apply.