Success Story - MRI Qube Systems Lead for a Private Equity Backed Residential Block Manager
The Background
Cobalt was exclusively instructed by a private equity fund specializing in residential investments across the UK & US markets to appoint to a newly created role with them as a MRI Qube Systems Lead. The business was experiencing rapid growth through acquisitions across the UK residential market, supported by a PE fund with an active investment strategy across both UK and US residential assets.
As part of this growth, the client required a dedicated systems specialist to lead the implementation, optimisation, and long-term adoption of MRI Qube across the platform.
The Challenge
Due to quicker than planned acquisitions across their portfolio, the client’s operational and reporting requirements had become increasingly complex. While MRI Qube had been selected as the core system, the business identified a clear risk that without a dedicated owner, adoption would be inconsistent across teams and regions.
This was a newly created role designed to sit between property operations, asset management, and senior leadership. The successful individual would be responsible for embedding best practice, driving efficiencies, improving reporting quality, and leading change across the organisation.
The client required a candidate who combined deep technical expertise in MRI Qube with strong stakeholder management skills and experience operating within investment-backed environments. Cobalt went out to market looking for the following key responsibilities:
- Proven experience implementing and managing MRI Qube
- Strong background in residential property / block management
- Experience working within investor or Private Equity backed platforms
- Ability to lead change initiatives and system adoption
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- Commercial understanding of operational and reporting requirements
The Solution
Cobalt was selected due to our specialist focus on real estate systems recruitment and our established relationship with those working within the sector. The exclusive mandate allowed for us to be even more targeted with our search and consultative with both the client at various stages, and the potential candidates they were looking to attract.
We mapped the market for senior MRI Qube professionals with hands-on implementation experience, focusing on candidates operating within institutional residential platforms and investor-backed developers.
A structured process was agreed with the client and implemented:
Week 1:
- Client briefing and market mapping.
- Longlist development.
Week 2:
- In-depth candidate interviews conducted by Cobalt.
- Assessment of technical capability and cultural fit.
Week 3:
- Shortlist of four candidates presented.
- Three candidates progressed to client interviews.
- Final multi-stakeholder interview stage.
The Result
The client successfully appointed their preferred candidate within a three-week timeframe.
The successful hire came from a Hong Kong investor-backed residential developer, where they had led the implementation of MRI Qube across a complex residential portfolio. Their background included working within institutional and capital-backed environments, delivering system change, improving reporting, and driving operational efficiencies.
Since joining, the candidate has taken immediate ownership of the MRI Qube roadmap and has already begun embedding best practice across the organisation, supporting the client’s continued growth strategy.
If you’re looking to find the proptech professionals and business systems specialists that help the real estate, property, and construction sectors thrive, get in touch with Technology & IT recruitment specialist Joe Butterworth today.
