Advisor - Policy & Strategy, Defence (Fixed Term Contract - 12 months)

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.

This is an outstanding 12 month fixed term contract opportunity for an ambitious individual to work with the National Wealth Fund, an operationally independent public financial institution owned by HM Treasury. As a Policy & Strategy Advisor, you will work with government departments and NWF's Investment & Advisory team to deliver on NWF's £100bn mission to drive long-term growth and clean energy across the UK. This role focuses directly on meeting our ambition to strengthen the UK's sovereign and strategic capabilities, particularly our investments into the UK's defence industrial base. Your work will help NWF to navigate the interactions between defence and security policy while ensuring our investments are commercially and financially viable.

You will help us to deliver on the ambitions of our shareholder HM Treasury for NWF including:

• to invest in growth opportunities underpinning the UK's national security;
• to back domestic supply chains for growth and resilience;
• to work more widely across investment opportunities supporting defence outcomes including in enabling infrastructure.

You will lead a portfolio of work on the policy aspects of defence investment and national security policy, working across the Fund to support our pipeline of investments and forming part of the deal teams leading on policy due diligence for individual transactions. You will also act as a regulatory expert in relation to defence, act as the lead on trusted capital and support operational and senior policy engagement with MOD, as well as acting as a bridge to other parts of HMG, including NSSIF and Cabinet Office. The exact policy area and role will depend on business needs and the expertise of the individual and will be discussed with candidates at interview stage.

Core Accountabilities

Policy, Strategy and Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key public and private sector stakeholders with a focus on Ministry of Defence to understand and influence policy developments, to ensure NWF activity is effectively delivering government policy aims, including against the SDR, DIP and DFIS.
• Lead on developing and implementing policy aspects of the National Wealth Fund's new investment mandate as it relates to defence investment, supporting the most effective use of public funds to mobilise private investment into defence and national security including through implementation of the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy.
• Lead work on discrete cross-cutting policy issues including building out the funds interpretation of sovereign and strategic capability, producing policy papers on emerging thinking and trends to support decision making by the NWF's Executive Committee and Board.
• Spot key issues, risks and opportunities relevant to these policy areas and work with other functions across the organisation to identify and recommend ways forward.
• Support CEO engagement with covering national security and defence stakeholders internal and external to HMG and represent the Fund where required at external events.
• Support engagement of any external strategy advisors to the fund.

Defence Sector Investment

• Work collaboratively with teams across the organisation, external stakeholders and government departments to develop and deliver a programme of investments in discrete sectors in support of the Government's Industrial Strategy, clean energy and growth missions.
• Work alongside our investment and advisory team to lead on the appraisal of individual defence investment proposals against our strategic objectives and supporting due diligence processes on transactions, as required.
• This includes working in cross-function deal teams with banking, impact and risk colleagues, drafting, contributing to Investment Committee papers and supporting senior colleagues through written and verbal briefings to ensure alignment with the Bank's strategic objectives.

Essential Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• Experience working in a policy or policy delivery role in or alongside the Ministry of Defence or UKIC from HMG.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or influence policy change.
• Proven track record of delivering projects or initiatives within government or in collaboration with government (public or private sector expertise).
• Able to develop and maintain strong relationships with multiple stakeholders.
• A self-starter who is able to demonstrate strong initiative to drive progress at pace, working proactively and able to evidence an innovative approach to plans and solutions.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of senior and external colleagues, influencing effectively and providing constructive challenge.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to be able to effectively communicate policy positions across the organisation and with external stakeholders.
• Active SC clearance or the ability to secure SC clearance.
• Substantive G6/G7 or equivalent current or prior grade (if exited HMG).

Desirable Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• Working in a strategy, policy or investment-focused role may be advantage including having an understanding of the defence investment landscape and the role of private finance in supporting delivering of the DIP and DFIS.
• Defence or National Security related experience in sectors such as clean energy, transport, water, green hydrogen, carbon capture, ports, gigafactories, green steel.
• Defence or National Security related experience in industrial strategy sectors such as technology, advanced manufacturing, or defence only applications.

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.