Assistant Director - Strategic Partnership

70 National Wealth Fund Limited; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

70 National Wealth Fund Limited is seeking an Assistant Director to support the delivery of Regional Partnerships. You will coordinate advisory and lending activities, manage relationships with local authorities and MCA teams, and apply infrastructure financing expertise to complex projects across the UK.

The role is hybrid with base in Cardiff and involves leading presentations to senior stakeholders, negotiating on commercial terms, and collaborating across NWF to strengthen their strategic

Qualifications

• Proven experience in financing or delivering infrastructure projects for the public sector.
• Experience in advisory services and/or supporting lending (financial modelling, due diligence) is desirable.
• Strong understanding of government finance, public sector accounting, devolved governance or institutional investment processes.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills with ability to lead senior stakeholder presentations.
• Commercially astute with negotiation experience in complex transactions.
• Proactive relationship building and collaboration across teams and partners.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Strategic Partnership delivery across Partnerships and support pipeline and project delivery.
• Engage with local authorities, MCA teams, government departments and partners to foster collaboration.
• Support problem solving in project delivery by applying infrastructure and financing knowledge.
• Collaborate across NWF to develop tools and processes for advisory and lending.
• Assist in commercial and financial negotiations and risk escalation within project teams.
• Work with colleagues to share insights and support strategic objectives.

Skills

Financing infrastructure

Public sector finance

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation skills

Presentation skills

Team collaboration

Relationship building

Tools

Financial modelling

Due diligence

Contract review

Risk assessment

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. Work 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.

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.

The National Wealth Fund encourages a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people.

Inclusion is at the heart of what the Fund does.

Diversity in the Fund's people and their ideas will be vital to the National Wealth Fund's success.

Appointments will be made on merit, with regard to maintaining the breadth of experience and expertise required and reflecting diversity in the broadest sense, to embrace different perspectives, characteristics and experience, as well as being broadly representative of the nations and regions of the UK.

Our roles are open to full-time, part-time or job-share applicants.

Job-share applicants should supply individual CVs and a joint cover letter submitted with both applications.

As part of our standard hiring process, please be informed that a background check will be conducted for successful candidates in accordance with our company policy and industry best practices.

Please note, that successful candidates will be offered a salary that is appropriate to their relevant experience and performance during the selection process.