Senior Manager - Place and Environment, (8 month contract, Family leave cover)

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.

Location: Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days per week in the Leeds office. This is an 8 month fixed term contract to support family leave.

Ideal Start Date: December 2026 or January 2027.

Deadline to Apply: 26th October 2026. Early submission is encouraged, and applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Salary: £77,000

Purpose of Role:

The Senior Manager – Place and Environment will provide thought-leadership on the National Wealth Fund’s approach to investing in places to deliver on our growth and clean energy missions, and ensure delivery is integrated across the Fund’s functions. They will lead the Fund’s relationships across Government departments and local and devolved administration key partners in support of the Fund’s strategic objectives.

Key Accountabilities:

• Develop the Fund’s approach to delivering investments in places across the country, as well as our investment strategy for place-based enabling infrastructure sectors including ports, water and the built environment (commercial property, energy efficiency and heat networks). Provide valued thought leadership on these topics both internally and externally, drawing on own expert knowledge. Identify connections between complex public policy and private market developments in order to enable the Fund to deliver on our objectives.

• Develop strong, effective relationships with government departments including Number 10 North, MHCLG and Defra, and devolved governments. Together with the Fund’s Investment & Advisory team, develop and maintain strong links with mayoral strategic authorities and regional and local government. Working with the wider Policy & Strategy and Investment & Advisory teams, oversee Shareholder engagement relating to the Regional Project Accelerator. Leverage these relationships to enable policy makers to use the Fund’s operational experience in policy development, and ensure the Fund can deliver on government policy priorities.

• Lead projects and work in matrix teams with functions across the Fund, including Investment & Advisory, Strategy, Risk, Impact, and Portfolio Management, to deliver joint outputs that ensure that place-based investing is embedded into all operations.

• Deliver strategic investment opportunities in pursuit of our mission. Lead matrix teams internally with Investment & Advisory and Impact colleagues and externally with partners to proactively identify and support a strong pipeline of investments in place based investing and areas such as ports, water and the built environment. Where needed work with partners to make markets in pursuit of our strategic objectives.

• Oversee the appraisal of individual investment proposals against the Fund’s strategic objectives and supporting due diligence processes on individual transactions, contributing to Investment Committee (IC) papers as well as verbal and written briefings for Chief Policy and Strategy Officer and CEO and wider Exco members as needed.

• Provide leadership both as a line manager to policy advisors, helping to attract and retain high performing talent and develop and support secondees from government. Interact in an open, constructive and collaborative manner with senior colleagues across the Fund to share expert knowledge and experience.

• Work with NWF Stakeholder Relations to engage with civil society groups and practitioners, both nationally and regionally, to both learn from these experiences and to build the Fund’s influence and reputation.

• Act as an effective ambassador for the Fund with a wide range of organisations and senior stakeholders, including representing the Fund on public platforms.

Essential Skills:

• Extensive experience of the delivery of government public policy.

• Experience developing and implementing strategy, resolving complex issues effectively and quickly.

• Confident and capable engaging with and influencing senior partners, creating and nurturing strategic relationships.

• Significant experience of working at a senior level within an investment-focused government department, local authority, delivery partner or public finance institution.
• Relevant degree level education, or equivalent experience

• Personally enthused by the Fund’s twin growth and clean energy missions.

• Be a skilled communicator, both in writing and in person, and passionate about contributing to the positive culture of the organisation.

Desirable Skills:

Experience of one or more of the policy areas covered by the team including – Water, Circular Economy, Natural Capital, Buildings, Housing, Local Government

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.