MetLife

Job Location: Work from home (Merced-Modesto, CA area)  

Role Value Proposition: 

Based in Whippany, New Jersey, MetLife Investment Management (MIM) is one of the largest institutional investors and asset managers in the world, with nearly $600.8 billion in combined managed assets, and has consistently generated superior returns for both policyholders and shareholders. The enterprise has more than 1100 dedicated professionals with extensive experience and expertise in all asset classes, with a strength in public and private fixed income and private assets, including real estate. Visit us at www.metlife.com/investments to learn more.  

MIM’s Global Real Estate and Agricultural Investments maintains a portfolio invested in commercial real estate and agricultural mortgages, as well as real estate equities.  In addition to sourcing and managing these investments, the groups are responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with key industry contacts and referral sources.  The mortgage portfolio and equity portfolio units are organized according to specialty, and they actively manage MetLife’s portfolio of mortgage loans and equity investments in agricultural, office, apartment, retail, industrial, and hotel properties. The portfolio units are responsible for overall portfolio strategy, pricing, transaction approval and credit approval on new loans, as well as the active management of the overall mortgage and equity portfolios.  Real Estate Investments sources and manages commercial real estate investments through seven regional field offices (Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, DC, and Whippany, NJ) and four international offices (London, Mexico City, Tokyo and Santiago).  The platform is active across all major and emerging property types, from traditional apartments, office, retail, and industrial assets to data centers, cold storage facilities, hotels, single-family rentals, and others. Across the risk spectrum, the real estate investments team is sourcing lower risk core mortgages and equity assets, to higher yielding construction loans and ground-up real estate development projects. The investments teams are responsible for overall portfolio strategy, pricing, transaction approval and credit approval on new loans, as well as the ongoing active management of the overall mortgage and equity portfolios.  

The Analyst position within Research, Valuations & Analytics will provide an excellent introduction to the various aspects of an institutional real estate investment management platform.  The position will allow for exploration of career options in the institutional commercial real estate equity investing, lending and investment management fields, while significantly enhancing personal credentials and building relationships with professionals in the industry. Global Real Estate and Agricultural Investments maintain a portfolio invested in commercial real estate and agricultural mortgages, as well as real estate equities. Agricultural Investments group sources investments through five regional field offices in the U.S. and consulting offices in Mexico and Brazil. 

MetLife’s Agricultural Investments group is the largest non-GSE agricultural mortgage lenders in the United States. Our agricultural investments are an important part of MetLife’s asset-liability matching program. The long-term nature of these investments makes them a good match for the long-term liabilities the company writes. MetLife’s agricultural portfolio is approximately $23 Billion.

MetLife’s Agricultural Investments group is seeking an exceptional and experienced Relationship Manager.   This individual will be an intracule member of the Western Regional Office (WRO) loan origination and servicing team.  The WRO sources and manages agricultural mortgage investments in multiple locations. This individual will cover a geographic region in North Central California (Primarily, Merced & San Joaquin Counties, CA) with a diverse set of crops and Livestock operations. This individual will originate loans and service an existing loan portfolio of over $376 million. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Loan Origination:

• Originate agricultural loans and service existing loan portfolio in California.
• Ability to manage and attain aggressive business goals.
• Strong credit and analytical skills, superior knowledge of lending principles, credit procedures, collateral and credit analysis.
• Extensive agricultural lending experience.
• Ability to structure large complex financings for sophisticated clients.
• Strong agricultural marketing and business development skills.
• Advanced knowledge of digital sales techniques and database management.
• Working knowledge of agricultural finance concepts.

 Portfolio Management:

• Relationship Management position responsible for new business development of agricultural loans.
• Portfolio management to include loans in California.

Relationship Management:

• Ability to deliver exceptional customer service with the highest ethical standards to a large client base.
• Experience developing long-term relationships over a prolonged business development cycle.
• Ability to earn the trust of internal and external stakeholders, prospective customers and industry leaders.

Essential Business Experience and Technical Skills: 

Required: 

• 5 to 10+ years relevant experience with a proven track record of negotiating, underwriting, and servicing agricultural debt deals.
• Very strong credit and analytical skills, superior knowledge of lending principles, credit procedures, collateral, and credit.
• Strong background in vineyard, nut crops, and dairy a plus.
• Strong leadership skills and relationship management skills.
• Has an active network among agricultural investment and lending professionals.
• Real estate valuation knowledge and skills.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication.
• Highly professional in all circumstances as a representative of MetLife Investment Management and MetLife Agricultural on a regional platform.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or Banking as well as any other related field of expertise; MBA or master’s degree
• Experience with loan workouts, including those requiring complex solutions  

At MetLife, we’re leading the global transformation of an industry we’ve long defined. United in purpose, diverse in perspective, we’re dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our customers.