Head of Credit - Institutional Commercial Real Estate Debt Platform

Location:

- Sydney

The Opportunity:

- Our client is a leading institutional investment platform with a dedicated commercial real estate debt strategy focused on originating, structuring and managing mid-market lending opportunities across Australia. Backed by long-term institutional capital, the business partners with experienced sponsors and borrowers to provide tailored financing solutions across a diverse range of commercial real estate sectors.
- Due to continued growth, an exceptional opportunity exists for an experienced Head of Credit to lead the credit function and provide strategic oversight across the full lending lifecycle. This is a critical leadership role responsible for establishing and maintaining best-practice credit frameworks, policies and governance standards, while managing risk and supporting the continued growth of the platform.
- The role combines technical credit leadership, portfolio oversight, transaction execution, stakeholder engagement and people management. Operating at the intersection of credit, investment and relationship management, you will work closely with investors, sponsors and executive stakeholders while leading a high-performing credit team.
- This position is ideally suited to a senior commercial real estate credit professional with deep institutional lending experience, exceptional credit judgement and a proven ability to balance risk management with commercial outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

Credit Strategy & Governance

- Lead the development, implementation and ongoing enhancement of the platform's credit framework, policies and governance standards.
- Establish robust credit assessment methodologies aligned with investment objectives and risk appetite.
- Oversee credit committee processes and provide independent, commercially balanced credit recommendations.
- Ensure lending decisions are supported by rigorous underwriting standards, appropriate risk controls and best-practice governance.




- Drive continuous improvement across credit policies, reporting frameworks and portfolio monitoring processes.

Transaction Assessment & Portfolio Management

- Lead the credit assessment and approval of mid-market commercial real estate debt transactions across a range of asset classes.
- Evaluate sponsorship strength, asset quality, financial performance, capital structures, security arrangements and downside risk protections.
- Work closely with origination and investment teams to structure transactions that deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns.
- Maintain oversight of portfolio performance and proactively identify emerging risks and opportunities.
- Manage complex credit events, amendments, restructures and workout situations where required.
- Provide strategic input into portfolio construction, concentration management and capital deployment decisions.

Investor & Sponsor Engagement

- Act as a senior representative of the platform with institutional investors, investment committees and capital partners.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with sponsors, borrowers and key external stakeholders.
- Present credit recommendations, portfolio insights and risk assessments to executive leadership and investment committees.
- Support fundraising and investor engagement activities by articulating the platform's credit philosophy, risk management approach and portfolio performance.

Leadership

- Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing credit team.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, critical thinking and technical excellence.
- Drive capability development and succession planning across the function.




- Partner with senior leadership to support strategic growth initiatives and business objectives.

About You

- Extensive experience in commercial real estate credit, structured finance or institutional property lending.
- Proven experience leading credit teams within institutional investors, debt funds, non-bank lenders or major banking organisations.
- Deep understanding of commercial real estate debt markets and the risk characteristics of sponsor-backed mid-market transactions.
- Demonstrated success developing and implementing credit frameworks, lending policies and governance standards.
- Significant experience underwriting and approving complex commercial real estate transactions.
- Strong commercial acumen and the ability to balance disciplined risk management with business growth objectives.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage confidently with investors, sponsors, executives and investment committees.
- Experience chairing or participating in credit committees and senior approval forums.
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in Finance, Commerce, Economics or a related discipline. Postgraduate qualifications are highly regarded.

Why This Opportunity?

- This is a rare chance to shape and lead the credit function of a growing institutional investment platform deploying capital into Australia's mid-market commercial real estate sector. You will have the ability to influence investment outcomes, establish market-leading credit practices and play a pivotal role in the continued growth and success of the platform.
- Lead credit strategy. Shape risk frameworks. Partner with investors and sponsors. Build and lead a high-performing team.

We are committed to providing a supportive culture and positively contributing towards creating diverse and inclusive workplaces for our candidates & clients. We invite candidates of all ages, genders, sexual orientation, cultural backgrounds, people with disability, neurodiverse individuals, and Indigenous Australians to apply.

📌 Head of Credit (Sydney)
🏢 Profusion
📍 Sydney