Requirements
Candidates should have proven experience in financing or delivering infrastructure projects, particularly within the public sector. Strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills, and the ability to engage effectively with senior stakeholders are essential for this role.
Job Description
Shape the Future with the National Wealth Fund
At the National Wealth Fund, our mission is to swiftly and effectively mobilise trusted sector insights and investment expertise to unlock billions in private finance for projects across the United Kingdom. Providing £27.8bn of capital and an expanded mandate, we are ready to help the market invest with confidence, continue to drive forward the Government's growth ambitions.
We are looking for skilled and results oriented individuals who are motivated to help us build the National Wealth Fund into an industry-leading institution.
As part of the Fund’s mission to support clean energy transition and drive local and regional economic growth, the Regional Project Accelerator (RPA) function plays a key role in enabling technically complex and innovative infrastructure investments.
Following HMT’s January 2025 announcement, NWF has established Strategic Partnerships with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, West Midlands Combined Authority, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and Glasgow City Region, with planned expansion to other MCAs and city regions.
Local authorities have high ambitions and broad remits to manage and regenerate local infrastructure. The RPA function helps to unlock potential and increase shared learning across authorities in the UK and is working increasingly in partnership with Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs), city regions and local leaders to support the development of their local growth plans and investment pipelines.
The Assistant Director - Strategic Partnership is a client-facing role that provides central capacity across NWF’s full Strategic Partnership Portfolio. Working across all regions, the Assistant Director will help develop and strengthen senior stakeholder relationships and provide delivery and financing expertise to support Strategic Partnership activity where required. They will also support engagement with Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) and City Regions as NWF’s Strategic Partnership portfolio evolves, helping to develop relationships and provide capacity to progress future partnership opportunities.
The role will work across our advisory and lending services, supporting the deployment of NWF’s capital and collaborating with sector and investment teams, both within NWF and within the Strategic Partnerships and MCAs. RPA sector areas of focus include transport, place-based regeneration, corporate real estate and clean energy, with scope to expand as NWF’s remit evolves.
This role will be based at NWF’s headquarters in Leeds, and will operate across the full Strategic Partnership portfolio, flexing across regions in response to delivery priorities, capacity needs and emerging opportunities. The role will also support relationship-building with MCAs and city regions beyond the current Strategic Partnerships, helping to shape NWF’s future partnership pipeline.
Location: Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days per week in the Leeds office
Deadline to Apply: 2nd December 2026. Early submission is encouraged, and applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Core Responsibilities
- Represent the Fund - Support the Strategic Partnership Director in cementing the Fund's reputation as a centre of excellence in local authority project financing. Act as a representative across the Strategic Partnership portfolio and an ambassador for NWF by participating in industry events and conferences, using these opportunities to showcase NWF's mission and purpose.
- Build relationships across the Strategic Partnership portfolio and wider MCA / city region ecosystem. Develop and strengthen effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including local authority officers and MCA teams, supporting the development of future commercial opportunities.
- Strategically solve complex problems, drawing on expertise and experience to identify solutions efficiently. Support authorities by providing expert advice to help identify and facilitate the most commercially sustainable and appropriate outcomes that align with the Fund's principles.
- Support delivery across the Strategic Partnership portfolio, working with the Strategic Partnership Director, regionally aligned Directors and colleagues from across the RPA function and wider NWF team to help progress Strategic Partnership activity and draw on financing and sector expertise where required.
- Provide project and infrastructure finance and delivery expertise to help shape the Fund's LA regional role, supporting the establishment of NWF as a market leader in the provision of trusted advice to authorities on project investment and delivery.
- Provide commercial and financial support across current and prospective Strategic Partnerships, drawing on industry experience to support negotiations, identify risks and opportunities, and help MCAs and city regions progress investable propositions.
- Internal Collaboration - Work constructively with colleagues across NWF to contribute to sector strategies, share insights, and support the delivery of the Fund’s strategic objectives.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in financing or delivering infrastructure projects, with a focus on public sector infrastructure. Experience of gained from advisory services and /or supporting lending (e.g. financial modelling, due diligence, contract review, risk assessment) is desirable.
- A strong understanding of government finance, public sector accounting and devolved governance is desirable and/or institutional investment processes.
- Excellent presentation and communication skills, with the ability to take ownership of and lead presentations to senior stakeholders.
- Commercially astute with evidence of negotiation skills from involvement in complex transactions.
- Experience of proactively building and maintaining relationships, and demonstrable experience of partnership working.
- Collaborative team player with a commitment to NWF’s mission and values
A career with us offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact and work on cutting-edge technologies that will drive the UK’s future. We value diversity in our people and inclusion is at the heart of what we do.
We offer competitive benefits and unique learning opportunities from combining both private and public sector skills and experience. Please note, referencing and background checks are carried out for all roles here at the National Wealth Fund.