Chief of Staff – to the Chief Lending Officer

THE ROLE

Working directly with OakNorth's Chief Lending Officer, you'll help grow and scale our UK and US lending businesses.

This is a commercial, analytical and hands-on role. You'll shape strategy, assess growth opportunities and work with lending leadership and teams across the business to turn plans into results.

You’ll be a trusted partner to the CLO — exercising independent judgement, anticipating what’s next and bringing structure without slowing decisions — and thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Shape growth and strategy

• Shape the growth strategy for UK and US lending, identifying opportunities across sectors, markets and segments and testing them with financial modelling and commercial judgement

• Own the strategic planning rhythm — annual plans, budgets, targets and quarterly priorities — with Finance, Credit and lending leadership

Turn strategy into execution

• Lead high-priority strategic and operational initiatives end to end, turning priorities into clear plans with milestones and owners

• Work across Lending, Credit, Finance, Product, Technology and People to keep initiatives moving and remove barriers

Partner with the CLO and build for scale

• Act as a trusted partner to the CLO — preparing analysis and materials for executive, leadership and board discussions, and coordinating MBRs, QBRs and OKRs

• Build the operating models, structures, hiring and capabilities needed to scale, simplifying through technology, automation and AI

THE PROFILE

We are open on background. You may have worked in investment banking, private credit, commercial lending, strategy and operations, consulting, or as a Chief of Staff to a senior commercial leader. What matters most is how you think and your ability to turn strategy into results.

YOU WILL BRING:

• Commercial and growth mindset — able to spot opportunities, size them and translate them into actionable plans

• Strategic and operational capability — thinks strategically while getting into the detail to deliver

• Strong executive partnership — confident with a fast-moving leader; independent judgement, clarity and constructive challenge without slowing decisions

• Entrepreneurial approach — comfortable without a playbook, taking ownership in a high-growth environment

• High energy, low ego and a hands-on approach

• Financial services experience — strong preference for banking, lending, private credit or investment banking

WHAT WE OFFER

• Equity — we want you to have a stake in the business so our interests are aligned

• 25 days’ holiday plus personalised benefits — opt in to what matters to you

• Subsidised private medical insurance with Bupa

• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

• Wellbeing and social events, plus an in-house Barista Bar in the London office

• Volunteering time off to support causes that matter to you