We are seeking a commercially minded, strategic, and high-performing leader to join our Unsecured Lending Leadership Team as Head of Strategic Channels. This role is responsible for leading the performance and development of our strategic distribution channels, including key partnerships and aggregators, to deliver sustainable growth, strong customer outcomes, and seamless journeys across both digital and non-digital channels. You will play a pivotal role in shaping channel strategy, leading a high-performing team, and working collaboratively across the wider business to support Nationwide’s growth ambitions.
As Head of Strategic Channels, you will oversee growth and performance across Nationwide’s strategic unsecured lending distribution channels. This includes accountability for key strategic partnerships, as well as shaping and delivering the aggregator strategy to drive strong commercial outcomes and seamless customer experiences.
Working as part of the Unsecured Lending Leadership Team, you will play a critical role in delivering Nationwide’s growth ambitions. You will lead a high-performing team, drive productivity and engagement, and collaborate closely across the wider function and the Society. You will balance commercial performance with excellent customer outcomes, ensuring our channels remain effective, competitive, and aligned with strategic priorities.
We are happy to consider flexible working approaches to help you perform at your best.
At Nationwide, we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK-wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.
For this job, you'll be assigned to our nearest regional hub. There will be a need to regularly connect with colleagues for collaboration events in one of our office sites. This is anticipated to be at least monthly in Chester/Manchester/London/Glasgow/Swindon or Gosforth. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works.
If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.
Responsibilities
What you’ll be doing
You will lead the growth and performance of the credit card portfolio across key partner and distribution channels, driving strong commercial results while delivering excellent customer outcomes. Working closely with internal teams and external partners, you will shape channel strategy, enhance customer journeys, and identify opportunities to grow the portfolio.
You will also build and manage key commercial relationships, influence senior stakeholders, and ensure plans are executed effectively in a fast-paced environment. In addition, you will lead a high-performing team and help define the strategic direction for future growth.
About you
You will have:
Significant senior leadership experience within financial services, with a strong track record of delivering commercial growth and performance outcomes.
Proven experience in leading third-party partnerships and distribution channels, including aggregators and other high-volume acquisition routes.
Demonstrated success in delivering ambitious sales, revenue, or portfolio growth targets within a complex, matrix-managed organisation.
Strong track record of building effective relationships and influencing senior stakeholders, both internally and externally, to achieve business objectives.
Proven ability to develop and execute channel, distribution, or partnership strategies that enhance customer acquisition and commercial performance.
Extensive experience in leading, developing, and motivating high-performing teams within a senior leadership role.
Strong knowledge of the UK unsecured lending market, including the regulatory environment relevant to customer acquisition and distribution.
Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:
Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind
Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand
Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development
Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes
You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.
Qualifications
The extras you’ll get
There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:
30 days holiday, pro rata
Access to private medical insurance
A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement
Access to an annual performance-related bonus
Training and development to help you progress your career
A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death
Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year
Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society
We forge our own path at Nationwide.
As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.
If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.
At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.
We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.
What to do next
If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us.
We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application.
Contact Details:
Nationwide Building Society Recruitment Team
