Practice Lead, Finance and Investment; Build and Scale Practice

Practice Lead, Finance and Investment (Build and Scale a New Practice)

Overview: Palladium’s UKEA Partnership seeks a senior leader who can build, define offers, win first generation flagship work and form a high‑performing team around it. The role has full accountability for shaping the practice, growing a sustainable pipeline, and positioning Palladium as a leading partner in finance and investment for development. This includes direct responsibility for originating opportunities, engaging senior clients, converting priority deals, and building a team aligned to delivery and growth.

The practice focuses on strengthening financial markets and systems, mobilising capital at scale across climate, nature, economic growth and health.

• A rare opportunity to build a new practice within an established and credible organisation
• Direct access to senior leadership and influence over UKEA strategy and growth
• A platform to shape how finance and investment is applied across major development priorities
• The ability to leverage Palladium’s existing client relationships and delivery track record while defining a new market position
• High visibility and impact across a priority growth area for the business

• Financial sector transformation and regulatory strengthening:
  How financial systems function and allocate capital
• Design of innovative financing facilities:
  Including blended finance vehicles, guarantees, catalytic funds, and results‑based mechanisms
• Capital mobilisation and market development:
  Including investor engagement, pipeline development, and market ecosystem building
• Investment climate and financial market reforms:
  Improving the conditions under which investors decide whether to invest
• Impact, ESG and sustainability design and reporting:
  Supporting credible impact frameworks aligned to climate, nature, and development goals
• Supporting governments to strengthen the fiscal and financial conditions needed to mobilise domestic and private capital

London office. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

• The Practice Lead reports to the Managing Director, UKEA
• The role works closely with Palladium’s sectoral teams in climate, environment, economic growth and health

Practice strategy and leadership

• Define and lead a clear strategic vision for the Finance & Investment Practice aligned with Palladium UKEA’s regional strategy and global priorities
• Translate the practice value proposition into credible, differentiated market offer
• Build on Palladium’s finance‑for‑nature leadership, positioning the practice at the intersection of financial system reform, climate finance, nature‑positive investment and impact, health and economic growth
• Contribute as a senior member of the UKEA team to wider organisational transformation and growth
• Take full ownership for originating, shaping and converting a pipeline of priority opportunities
• Build and maintain senior client relationships, including UK government, DFIs, MDBs and foundations
• Lead opportunity positioning, deal development and bid strategies for major programmes
• Be accountable for securing the first wave of anchor programmes for the practice
• Provide clear commercial leadership on pricing, partnerships and market entry

Delivery oversight and quality assurance

• Provide senior oversight of the Finance & Investment portfolio
• Ensure strong delivery, financial performance, and client satisfaction
• Act as programme director for selected flagship programmes

Team leadership and management

• Build and lead a high‑performing, multidisciplinary team aligned to the practice’s priorities
• Define team structure, roles and accountabilities
• Deploy internal and external expertise against priority opportunities and delivery
• Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, delivery excellence and wellbeing

Market positioning and thought leadership

• Represent Palladium at senior external forums
• Drive thought leadership aligned to priority markets and clients
• Build Palladium’s visibility and credibility in finance and investment

• Senior leadership experience in…