Senior Director - Manufacturing & Defence Sector, Strategic Finance

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 Scotland or 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.

Virgin Money is now part of Nationwide

Nationwide acquired Virgin Money in October 2024. 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.

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.

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.

Please note that should you be successful in securing this role the job title on our internal systems will be Senior Director.