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Head of Policy & Strategy

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.

Job Purpose

Location: In this permanent role, we support hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days per week in the Leeds office.

Deadline to Apply: 29th July 2025. Early submission is encouraged, and applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Salary: £110,000 - £135,000

Interview Timings: First stage interviews to take place w/c 25th August 2025. Final stage interviews to take place w/c 8th Sept 2025.

About Us: At the National Wealth Fund, our mission is to increase investment across the UK and accelerate delivery of the government’s growth and clean energy missions, whilst achieving a fair balance of risk and reward between the public and private sector. We are the UK government’s principal investor charged with deploying capital at scale in the projects and companies that support two strategic objectives: regional and local economic growth and tackling climate change.

Headquartered in Leeds, we are capitalised with £27.8 billion and have a team of investment professionals with expertise to invest across the capital structure, enabling projects to get off the ground and support frontier industries to reach commercial scale. We are looking for skilled and results oriented individuals who are motivated to help us build the National Wealth Fund to deliver on this unique mandate.

Role Purpose: Provide strategic and operational direction and accountability for ensuring the National Wealth Fund’s investments deliver on the Government’s growth mission and Industrial Strategy priorities. Represent the Fund by facilitating creative and impactful public and private sector partnerships that will originate new deal opportunities.

Key Accountabilities:

• Provide effective, inspiring and empowering leadership of the National Wealth Fund Policy team, working closely with Co-Head of Policy (climate change) to ensure policy teams are cohesive and mutually supportive.
• Champion the NWF’s delivery of the growth mission, including thorough investment in growth-driving sectors of the Industrial Strategy, in support of the infrastructure strategy, and through local growth plan priorities.
• Manage delivery of the policy team’s inputs into the Fund’s pipeline of transactions for the priority sectors of advanced manufacturing, digital & technologies and transport, ensuring the Fund can operate smoothly and swiftly in pursuit of investment opportunities and deals progress with appropriate scrutiny through internal governance gates.
• Provide creative, thoughtful and confident leadership of the industry and places & environment policy teams, to ensure the Fund maximises the policy impact of its financial capacity in support of its missions.
• Develop strong, effective relationships with government and public sector organisations, in particular central government policy teams, to find ways for the Fund’s balance sheet to help problem-solve for the investment challenges of delivering on the growth mission and lead to new investment opportunities for the NWF.
• Lead the teams in the Fund that provides expert policy thinking on advanced manufacturing, digital & technologies and transport investment opportunities, including proactive work to understand Government ambition (including in the devolved administrations, where appropriate), identify investment barriers and ensure the Fund’s capital is deployed to maximum effect in these important investment sectors.
• Work with government to broker opportunities for the Fund to co-design financing solutions and utilise government Financial Transactions, together with the co-head of policy (climate change) and the NWF blended finance unit.
• Ensure the NWF is championing place-based work, working collaboratively with devolved administration public finance institutions and with the NWF Local Authority team to support the NWF to invest in city regions, high potential clusters and Mayoral Strategic Authorities’ Local Growth Plan priorities.
• Build and leverage a wide range of relationships with civil society groups and think tanks operating in this policy area to build the Fund’s influence and ensure the Fund’s role is understood.
• Lead the Fund’s departmental relationships with DBT, DSIT, DCMS, MHCLG, Defra and the devolved administrations.
• Act as an effective ambassador for the Fund with a wide range of public sector organisations and senior stakeholders, including representing the Fund on public platforms.
• Work closely with the wider policy, strategy and comms teams to develop a compelling vision for the Fund and influential engagement activities to build the Fund’s profile and reputation for its problem-solving capabilities against its mission.
• Deputise for the Chief Strategy & Policy Officer where required both at internal and external forums to represent the Fund.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Extensive and demonstrable experience of managing and developing a high performing team
• Extensive experience and understanding of the delivery of government public policy and experience of working within government departments
• Experience developing and implementing strategy, resolving complex issues quickly and effectively
• Confident and capable engaging with and influencing senior partners, creating and nurturing strategic relationships
• Significant experience of working at a senior level within an investment-focused government department, local authority, delivery partner or public finance institution
• Relevant degree level education, or equivalent experience
• Personally enthused by the Fund’s twin growth and clean energy missions.
• Be a skilled communicator, both in writing and in person, and passionate about contributing to the positive culture of the organisation.

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.

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