Director - Local Authority Lending in Whitehall

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, continuing to drive forward the Government's growth ambitions.

The National Wealth Fund has a strategic mission to support net zero transition and drive local and regional economic growth. Its £28bn capital is deployed through its Investment and Advisory (I&A) team, which includes sector-focused private investment and local authority (LA) functions.

Our LA function supports local government to successfully implement technically complex, innovative and essential infrastructure financing with an ambitious aim to accelerate and improve how public infrastructure is delivered. Within the LA function, Directors work seamlessly across advisory and lending, which has £4bn of lending capacity, including close working with the private investment sector teams in the wider I&A team to deliver commercial opportunities through our Strategic Partnerships (SPs) with Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs), City Regions and other local authorities undertaking Regionally Significant Projects (RSPs). Specific sector areas of focus for local authorities are building decarbonisation and heat networks (net zero), transport and place-based infrastructure & regeneration.

Location: Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days per week in the Leeds office.

Deadline to Apply: 7th July 2026. Early submission is encouraged, and applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

The Director - Local Authority Lending role is a senior, client‑facing, leadership position, and the role holder will bring together excellent origination and business development skills, delivery knowledge and financing excellence to enable local government to enter into successful commercial and financial arrangements with delivery partners and to bridge financing gaps in sustainable ways. He or she will proactively build relationships across the sector to identify lending opportunities with portfolios of Local Authorities. The Director will take a lead role in originating new lending opportunities and taking those transactions through the NWF investment processes.

The Director for Lending will take the lead on Local Authority debt transactions. He or she will help build and shape the debt products, influencing their development within the NWF and with the sponsor department. He or she will also take the lead in managing relationships with key operational and governance functions of the NWF.

Core Responsibilities:

• Represent the Fund - Cement the Fund’s reputation as a centre of excellence in local authority infrastructure financing. Act as an ambassador for NWF by participating at industry events and conferences, using these opportunities to influence the broader infrastructure agenda, and successfully showcase NWF’s mission and purpose.
• Build relationships across Local Authority executive community. Proactively network and engage with both internal and external senior stakeholders, to include investors, developers, banks and leading industry experts to create future commercial opportunities to enhance NWF’s reputation in the market.
• Originate transactions for the NWF, through an in-depth knowledge of local government infrastructure investment priorities and pipeline.
• Support the Lead Director - Local Authority Lending in shaping the function within NWF, helping to attract and retain high performing talent and expertise within infrastructure finance and delivery, and establish the NWF as market‑leading in the provision of trusted, expert advice on network infrastructure investment and delivery.
• Take the lead for the LA function with risk and portfolio management functions to ensure that the Local Authority loan book is managed in line with the Bank’s high standards and meets our oversight and accountability to our shareholder and the public.
• Manage members of the team in accordance with the NWF’s corporate values to deliver a high-quality service with an emphasis on the growth and development of junior team members.
• Interface in an open, constructive, and collaborative manner with senior colleagues across the NWF to share expert knowledge and experience, draft sector strategies and to fulfil our strategic mission.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Substantial experience of managing formal lending processes; including negotiation, due diligence and review of contracts, assessment of risks would be an advantage.
• Significant experience in financing or delivering local infrastructure investment.
• Extensive experience of working with both government finance and institutional investors.
• Significant experience in financing, advisory or consultancy, with a particular focus on delivering large-scale public sector infrastructure.
• Extensive experience of the infrastructure financing landscape, familiarity with government finance (eg grant programmes and support mechanisms) and knowledge of commercial lending.
• Specific areas of expertise are sought in Knowledge of clean energy technologies and investment characteristics is also desirable.
• Substantial experience of leading client engagements, specifically in infrastructure advisory and able to demonstrate knowledge or experience of lending transaction processes.
• Must be commercially astute and able to fashion solutions tailored towards the specific needs of complex public sector infrastructure delivery.
• Be a skilled communicator, comfortable operating at a senior level across all stakeholder groups and passionate about contributing to the positive culture of the organisation.
• Be able to act as an advocate for NWF and the support and financing it can provide through speaking engagements and contributions at conferences and events.

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.