MIM - Relationship Manager - Ag Investments

Description and Requirements
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.
The salary range for applicants for this position is $100k - $130k base salary.
Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the 2025 "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World's 25 Best Workplaces™ for 2024, as well as the 2025 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For ®, MetLife , through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by empathy, we're inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!
MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law ("protected characteristics").
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liabilities.
$100k - $130k base salary