Deputy Head of Public Affairs & Strategic Engagement

London, United Kingdom

As Deputy Head of Public Affairs and Strategic Engagement, you will play a pivotal role in shaping Nationwide’s political engagement and public affairs strategy. Acting as a senior leader within the Corporate Affairs function, you will help ensure the business maintains a strong and influential voice across Westminster, Whitehall, and the wider political landscape. Working closely with the Head of Public Affairs and Strategic Engagement, you will design and deliver Nationwide’s cross‑party engagement strategy, supporting senior leaders to navigate political developments and advocating for policies that protect and promote our mutual model and over 16 million members.

In this role, you will build trusted relationships with ministers, replenish, MPs, peers, advisers, civil servants, and key political networks across all parties. You will lead high‑impact engagement activity including political events, policy round tables, visits, and party conference programmes, ensuring that Nationwide is recognised as a respected and apolitical voice in debates on housing, financial services, the economy, and the future of mutuality.

A central part of σπίτι your work will involve providing strategic counsel to ExCo and senior leaders. You will interpret complex political and regulatory developments, advise on risks and opportunities, and ensure clear, consistent messaging across the Society. You will also oversee stakeholder mapping and targeting, ensuring our engagement is well planned, balanced, and aligned to Nationwide’s priorities.

You will represent Nationwide at senior external forums, lead engagement with parliamentary groups and select committees, and manage consultation responses, policy papers, and senior‑level briefings. You will also help manage external agencies, oversee budgets, and support leadership of the Public Affairs team, offering coaching and guidance to colleagues.

This is a high‑profile, outward‑facing role ideal for a politically astute leader who thrives in a fast‑moving environment and is motivated by shaping policy outcomes that make a real difference to people’s lives.

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, country etc.

For this job you’ll spend at least two days per week, or if part time you’ll spend 40% of your working time,
based at our London office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here.

Nationwide is committed to the redeployment of our employees impacted by change, as such applications for redeployment candidates will be prioritised in this recruitment process.

If you’re a colleague on long‑term absence (for example, on parental leave) or a temporary worker, please use your personal email address to submit an application.

Uncompromisingly Customer, whatever our role

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• 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

Are you a Virgin Money colleague? Take a look at the Cross‑Company Careers Guidance on VMx where you'll find information on how we manage cross‑entity hires.

Banking – but fairer, more rewardingැබ 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…