Sourced directly from Nationwide's own careers page
Senior Director - Manufacturing & Defence Sector, Strategic Finance
Nationwide
United Kingdom
Thinking of applying? Check your CV against this job first.
See your match score, your strongest skills for this role, and what's missing — before you spend time on an application.
Your real match score
Free CareerPilot account · Takes about 2 minutes
We are expanding our Strategic Finance platform as part of an ambitious growth
plan to significantly scale our presence in the mid-market and sponsor-backed
segment across the UK. This role represents a key hire to support our national
Manufacturing, Industrials & Defence sector strategy, a core growth priority for
the business.
As a Senior Director, you will lead the origination, structuring and execution
of complex senior debt transactions, with a primary focus on Manufacturing,
Industrials & Defence clients across the UK. The role is sector-led rather than
geography-bound, supporting both regional and national opportunities, aligned to
your location and network.
You will take ownership of the full deal lifecycle — from origination through to
execution — supporting the growth of a high-quality portfolio of mid-market,
corporate and sponsor-backed clients within the Manufacturing, Industrials &
Defence ecosystem.
A critical aspect of the role is developing deep, sustainable relationships with
private equity sponsors, corporate clients, organisations and professional
advisers operating in the sector. You will position yourself as a trusted sector
specialist, enhancing Nationwide’s visibility and credibility in Manufacturing,
Industrials & Defence sectors, and driving consistent origination of
high-quality opportunities.
You will play a key role in delivering income growth and attractive
risk-adjusted returns, while maintaining strong portfolio quality aligned to our
strategic objectives.
We are looking for high-performing, entrepreneurial individuals who want to
shape a growing franchise. This is a genuinely high-impact role, offering
significant visibility across the business and the opportunity to influence our
national strategy. You will be supported to originate and deliver transactions,
develop your internal profile, and progress your career within a growing and
ambitious platform.
At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding
relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues
together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to
home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and
to feel connected.
For this role, you will be part of our growing Business Banking team, meeting
with and supporting customers across your assigned region. As such, you can be
based anywhere in England, provided you are able to travel regularly to meet
clients within your region. Additionally, there will be a need to regularly
connect with colleagues through collaboration events at one of our locations.
These are currently expected to take place monthly in Glasgow, London,
Manchester or Northampton although locations may vary. If your application is
successful, your hiring manager will share further details on how this will work
in practice. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working
here [https://nationwide-jobs.co.uk/life-at-nationwide/rewarding-you].
Virgin Money is now part of Nationwide
Nationwide acquired Virgin Money in October 20
24. Virgin Money continues to
serve customers on the high street, and there will be a phased and considered
integration over the coming years.
You’ll be employed by Nationwide from day one, delivering real impact and
benefitting from a highly competitive range of benefits. We’re a workplace where
you’re rewarded, recognised and celebrated.
If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert
earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What you’ll be doing
You will play a key role in delivering our national Manufacturing, Industrial &
Defence sector strategy, originating high-value, new-to-bank opportunities
across the UK, aligned to your local and national network.
You will develop and execute targeted sector and intermediary coverage
strategies, building a clearly differentiated approach within priority
Manufacturing, Industrials & Defence sub-sectors and sponsor ecosystems.
You will build and lead strategic client, sponsor and adviser relationships,
acting as a trusted senior partner to drive long-term value and repeat deal
flow. Alongside this, you will lead the structuring and execution of complex
lending transactions, maintaining strong credit discipline and alignment with
risk appetite.
Externally, you will represent the bank as a sector specialist, enhancing market
visibility and originating opportunities through networks, events and strategic
partnerships. Internally, you will provide leadership and mentorship,
contributing to a high-performance, collaborative culture within Strategic
Finance.
About you
As a minimum requirement,
you will have:
• Significant experience as a senior originator and relationship leader within
mid-market or corporate banking, with a demonstrable track record in
Manufacturing & Industrials or adjacent sectors
• Proven ability to originate, structure and execute complex lending
transactions, including sponsor-backed and event-driven financings
• Exceptional credit and technical expertise, with advanced financial analysis
and structuring capability across a range of capital solutions
• Deep experience in stakeholder management, with an established network across
corporates, private equity sponsors and professional advisers at a senior
level
• Highly developed commercial judgement, with a consistent focus on income
generation, capital efficiency and delivering attractive risk-adjusted
returns
Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we
work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to
display, in every role:
• Feel what customers feel
• We step into our customers’ shoes, using their
feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs,
so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind
• Say it straight
• We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think –
we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives
to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand
• Push for better
• We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status
quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal
development
• Get it done
• We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are
decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer
outcomes
You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours
resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.
QUALIFICATIONS
The extras you’ll get
There are all sorts of
employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:
* 30 days holiday, pro rata
• Access to private medical insurance
• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for
retirement
• Access to an annual performance-related bonus
• Training and development to help you progress your career
• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the
event of your death
• Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year
Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society
We forge our own path at Nationwide.
As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have
a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see
customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and
put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their
lives.
If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful
impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.
At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued.
Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives
to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work
for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.
We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.
What to do next
If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to
attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us.
We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date
to let you know the outcome of your application.
Keeping your data and personal information confidential is important to us. To
find out more about how we use and process your data, please read our Privacy
policy [https://nationwide-jobs.co.uk/privacy].
If you want to find out more
about using AI in our recruitment process, please
read more here [https://nationwide-jobs.co.uk/help-and-support].
Disability Confident
We’re not just guided by data, we’re driven by the real experiences of our
people. We’re a Disability Confident Level 3 Leader, the highest level.
That’s why we’re constantly evolving our policies and practices to make sure
everyone feels genuinely supported, valued, and empowered to champion inclusion.
Whatever your needs, we’re here to support you. If you need
any additional support throughout your application journey, email our team
at Recruitment Support [Recruitment.Support@nationwide-jobs.co.uk].
Apply safely with Nationwide
Recruitment scams can look convincing, so take a moment to check the role is
listed on our official careers site and read our guidance on Don’t be conned by
a job scam. [https://www.nationwide.co.uk/news-and-stories/job-scams/]
Please note that should you be successful in securing this role the job title on
our internal systems will be Senior Director.