Strategic Partnership Director - Local Authority - Leeds
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.
Location: Leeds, hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office
Job Purpose
As part of the Fund's mission to support net zero transition and drive local and regional economic growth, the Local Authority (LA) function plays a key role in enabling technically complex and innovative infrastructure investments. Following HMT's January 2025 announcement, NWF is establishing Strategic Partnerships with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, West Midlands Combined Authority, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Glasgow City Region. Local authorities have high ambitions and broad remits to manage and regenerate local infrastructure. The LA 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.
Core Responsibilities
- Represent the Fund – Cement the Fund's reputation as a centre of excellence in local authority project financing, act as the Director coordinating the Strategic Partnership portfolio of support, and serve as an ambassador for NWF by participating at industry events and conferences, influencing the broader infrastructure agenda, and successfully showcasing NWF's mission and purpose.
- Build relationships within a Strategic Partnership and regional MCAs executive communities, proactively network and engage with senior stakeholders, to include investors, developers, banks and leading industry experts to create future commercial opportunities that enhance NWF's reputation regionally.
- Strategically solve complex problems, drawing on own expertise and identifying efficient solutions, ensuring authorities receive expert advice that enables them to identify and facilitate the most commercially sustainable and appropriate outcomes aligned with the Fund's principles.
- Manage engagement for the Strategic Partnership team, working alongside and bringing in resources and support from other LA team members (e.g., with financing or sector knowledge) and other parts of the Fund (e.g., Banking & Investments, Impact or Policy).
- Support in shaping the Fund's LA regional role, helping to attract and retain high‑performing talent and expertise within project and infrastructure finance and delivery, and establish NWF as a market leader in the provision of trusted advice to authorities on project investment and delivery.
- Utilise industry experience to advise the Strategic Partnership and partner with other MCAs/City Regions through commercial and financial negotiations, ensuring all affiliated risks are clearly identified and communicated to the appropriate levels within the local authority.
- Interface in an open, constructive, and collaborative manner with senior colleagues across NWF to share expert knowledge and experience, draft sector strategies, and fulfil the strategic mission of the Fund.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Significant experience in financing or delivering infrastructure projects and investments, with a focus on public sector infrastructure.
- Extensive experience working with government finance, public sector accounting, devolved governance and institutional investors.
- Commercially astute with demonstrable evidence of excellent negotiation skills from involvement in complex transactions.
- Substantial experience of partnership working and managing advisory engagements, ideally with formal lending processes, including negotiation, due diligence, review of contracts, and assessment of programme/project risks.
- Skilled communicator ensuring positive representation of NWF within public sector forums.
- Collaborative team player committed to NWF's mission and contributing to a positive organisational culture.
Benefits
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, and inclusion is at the heart of what we do. We offer competitive benefits and unique learning opportunities that combine 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.
