Assistant Director - Strategic Partnership

National Wealth Fund; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

National Wealth Fund is seeking an Assistant Director to help coordinate partnership delivery and project work across regional authorities. You will work with advisory and lending teams to support capital deployment and the development of Local Growth Plans.

The role involves building relationships with local authorities, MCA teams, and other partners, delivering complex infrastructure projects and advising on commercial and financial aspects. Cardiff-based, hybrid with office presence.

Qualifications

• Experience financing or delivering infrastructure projects in the public sector.
• Knowledge of government finance, public sector accounting, devolved governance.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills for senior stakeholders.
• Commercially astute with negotiation experience in complex transactions.
• Experience building relationships and cross-team collaboration.
• Collaborative team player aligned with NWF’s mission.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate support across Strategic Partnerships and assist pipeline delivery.
• Engage with local authority officers, MCA teams, and government bodies.
• Support resolution of project delivery challenges using infrastructure finance knowledge.
• Collaborate within LA function and across NWF teams.
• Assist in commercial and financial negotiations with partners.
• Support risk identification and escalation within project teams.

Skills

Public sector financing

Infrastructure finance

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation

Project delivery

Job description

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.

As part of the Fund’s mission to support net zero transition and drive local and regional economic growth, the Regional Project Accelerator (RPA) function plays a key role in enabling technically complex and innovative infrastructure investments.

NWF has established establishing Strategic Partnerships with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, West Midlands Combined Authority, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and Glasgow City Region. New strategic partnerships with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, North East Mayoral Strategic Authority and Cardiff Capital Region, are underway marking the next phase of our work with local and regional leaders to accelerate major growth across the UK.

This Assistant Director role supports the delivery of these Strategic Partnerships. Working under the leadership of the Strategic Partnership Directors, the Assistant Directors will help coordinate NWF’s support within a specific Partnership and will play a critical role on the coordination and delivery of projects, contributing to the Strategic Partners Local Growth Plans and investment pipelines.

The role will work across our advisory and lending services, supporting the deployment of NWF’s capital and collaborating with sector and investment teams, both within NWF and within their allocated Strategic Partnership. RPA sector areas of focus include retrofit, heat networks, transport, and place-based regeneration, with scope to expand as NWF’s remit evolves.

The Assistant Director will work and be based in Cardiff and will provide support to our Strategic Partnerships and support broader MCAs and local authorities, with relationship development, project delivery, and commercial and financial advisory engagements

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

Deadline to Apply: 18th November 2026. Early submission is encouraged, and applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Core Responsibilities

• Support Strategic Partnership Delivery. Assist in coordinating NWF’s support across Strategic Partnerships, contributing to pipeline and project delivery including our LA advisory and lending services. Represent the Fund at relevant regional meetings and forums, supporting the visibility of NWF’s mission and purpose.

• Stakeholder Engagement. Build and maintain effective working relationships within a Strategic Partnership with local authority officers, MCA teams, government departments and arms-length bodies, relevant consultants and internal colleagues. Support engagement with external stakeholders including developers, investors, and delivery partners to support enhanced collaboration.

• Project Support and Problem Solving. Contribute to the resolution of project and pipeline delivery challenges by applying infrastructure and financing knowledge. Support authorities in identifying commercially viable and sustainable solutions aligned with NWF’s principles.

• Team Collaboration and Development. Work collaboratively within the LA function and across NWF teams to share knowledge and contribute to a high-performing, inclusive culture. Support the development of tools, resources, and processes that enhance NWF’s advisory and lending offer.

• Commercial and Financial Support. Assist in commercial and financial negotiations with the Strategic Partnership, project delivery partners and other local authorities/MSAs. Support risk identification and ensure appropriate escalation and communication within project teams.

• Internal Collaboration. Wo rk constructively with colleagues across NWF to contribute to sector strategies, share insights, and support the delivery of the Fund’s strategic objectives.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in financing or delivering infrastructure projects, with a focus on public sector infrastructure. Experience of gained from advisory services and /or supporting lending (e.g. financial modelling, due diligence, contract review, risk assessment) is desirable.
• A strong understanding of government finance, public sector accounting and devolved governance is desirable and/or institutional investment processes.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with the ability to take ownership of and lead presentations to senior stakeholders.
• Commercially astute with evidence of negotiation skills from involvement in complex transactions.
• Experience of proactively building and maintaining relationships, and demonstrable experience of partnership working.
• Collaborative team player with a commitment to NWF’s mission and values.

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.