Policy Advisor - National Wealth Fund

As a Policy Manager, you will play a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction of the NWF as it continues to develop and evolve. Your work will be pivotal in helping us navigate our transition from UK Infrastructure Bank to the National Wealth Fund and deliver on the ambitions of our shareholder HM Treasury for NWF including:
• More capital: £27.8bn, including at least £5.8bn for green hydrogen, carbon capture, ports, gigafactories and green steel
• Renewed focus: beyond infrastructure to support of Government’s industrial strategy as well as clean energy mission and growth mission.
• More catalytic: trialling new blended finance solutions with government departments
You will lead a portfolio of work on discrete policy or strategy issues for the new National Wealth Fund as it builds a broader investment mandate to support the delivery of the government’s Industrial Strategy, clean energy transition and drive economic growth around the country. You will own relationships with government departments and key stakeholders to understand government policy in particular sectors, influence the NWF’s overall strategic direction and shape its activity, supporting our pipeline of investment, developing blended finance solutions to more effectively use public capital to crowd in private investment. You will form part of the deal teams leading on policy due diligence on individual transactions.
The exact policy area and role will depend on business needs and the expertise of the individual and will be discussed with candidates at interview stage.
Core Accountabilities
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key public sector stakeholders (including government departments and devolved administrations), to understand and influence policy developments, to ensure NWF activity is effectively delivering government policy aims, and to support the most effective use of public funds to mobilise private investment.
• Lead on developing and implementing aspects of the National Wealth Fund’s new investment mandate and new approach to mobilising private finance, such as by trialling new finance solutions with government departments.
• Work collaboratively with teams across the organisation, external stakeholders and government departments to develop and deliver a programme of investments in discrete sectors in support of the Government’s Industrial Strategy, clean energy and growth missions.
• Lead work on discrete cross-cutting policy issues as required, producing policy papers on emerging thinking and trends to support decision making by the NWF’s Executive Committee and Board. Spot key issues, risks and opportunities relevant to these policy areas and work with other functions across the organisation to identify and recommend ways forward.
• Leading on elements of the NWF’s overall strategy development and implementation, including elements of the next strategic plan, annual business planning, working closely with functions across the organisation, the Executive Committee and Board to ensure an appropriate and stretching plan for the upcoming year.
• Lead on the appraisal of individual investment proposals against our strategic objectives and supporting due diligence processes on transactions, as required. This includes working in cross-function deal teams with banking, impact and risk colleagues, drafting and contributing to Investment Committee papers and supporting senior colleagues through written and verbal briefings to ensure alignment with the Bank’s strategic objectives.
• Support wider work to establish an effective policy and strategy function which is well integrated and influential across the NWF., The National Wealth Fund (NWF) is headquartered in Leeds. Most of our employees are Leeds based. You will be expected to travel to Leeds 3 days a week. For those applying for secondment positions, you will be required in the Leeds office 2 days a week, with travel and accommodation expenses covered by the NWF.
Flexible working arrangements:
The NWF views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us.
The NWF is an institution designed to serve the whole of the UK and we will aim to reflect that in our own hiring. The diversity of the team as a whole will be a consideration when making appointments from this process.
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

• Experience working in a policy role, preferably within government departments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or influence policy change.
• Proven track record of delivering projects or initiatives within government or in collaboration with government (public or private sector expertise).
• Able to develop and maintain strong relationships with multiple stakeholders.
• A self-starter who is able to demonstrate strong initiative to drive progress at pace, working proactively and able to evidence an innovative approach to plans and solutions.
• An effective decision-maker, comfortable working with incomplete information or in an emerging area.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of senior and external colleagues, influencing effectively and providing constructive challenge.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to be able to effectively communicate policy positions across the organisation and with external stakeholders.
Desirable Experience, Knowledge and Skills:
• Working in a strategy or investment-focused role may be an advantage but is not essential.
• Experience in infrastructure sectors such as clean energy, transport, digital, water, waste, green hydrogen, carbon capture, ports, gigafactories, and green steel.
• Experience in industrial strategy sectors such as advanced manufacturing, creative industries, defence, digital technologies, financial services, life sciences, and professional services.
Note: We will prioritise applications that are able to demonstrate the essential experience listed above in their application., • nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

The UK Infrastructure Bank has become the National Wealth Fund, with a broader remit, more capital and a greater capacity for risk. The new NWF will expand UKIB’s remit beyond infrastructure in support of the Government’s industrial strategy, building on its success over the last three years. With additional financial capacity and an enhanced risk budget, the NWF will be capitalised with £27.8bn to catalyse private investment in the market.
The NWF will continue to provide commercial and financial advisory services and market leading lending to local authorities, further strengthening its partnerships with Mayors to support the Government’s growth ambitions.
The new organisation will also take on a more sophisticated partnership role with Government departments, bringing investment expertise and policymaking closer together, to accelerate policy development which supports and grows the market.
The NWF will continue to make private sector investments against a clear set of principles, with a focus on crowding in private finance to sectors and technologies which are critical to the UK’s clean energy and growth ambitions. The government will set out further details of the NWF’s role in delivering the Industrial Strategy in a statement of strategic priorities, as well as reviewing the organisation’s success metrics, before the next financial year.
The NWF is headquartered in Leeds, and will operate UK-wide, supporting projects in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; it operates within a mandate set by government and has a high degree of operational independence. Through its leadership role, the NWF will provide markets with the long-term certainty to build and support investor confidence.
We are excited to announce multiple opportunities for passionate and driven self-starters to join our team as Policy Advisors. Whether you are looking for a permanent position or are a civil servant interested in a secondment to National Wealth Fund, we have roles that will suit your career aspirations and professional growth.

We are recruiting for several roles which will either be permanent positions or secondments.
Interested candidates currently on secondment or who would like a secondment opportunity at NWF should ensure their line managers are aligned prior to applying. Early applications are encouraged.
Interview Dates:
This will be a 2-stage interview process:
First stage interviews will take place from Friday 13th December 2024
Final stage interviews will take place from Wednesday 18th December 2024
Additional Information: This is the first round of interviews. We plan to conduct two additional recruitment rounds in January 2025:
Week Commencing Monday, 20th January 2025
Week Commencing Monday, 10th February 2025
Please note that the final stage will include a presentation
Please submit a CV and 1 page covering letter outlining your experience and motivations for joining the National Wealth Fund to the link below. Please indicate in your covering letter whether you would prefer a permanent role or secondment
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.