Location
Glasgow
Other Locations
Edinburgh
London / Greater London
Northampton / Northamptonshire
Salary
From £100,000 per annum
Contract
Permanent ( Full Time
)
Reference
4191
Closing Date
28 July 2026
Job description
The Head of Unsecured Lending Products is accountable for the end-to-end strategy, development, commercial performance, governance and transformation of the Business Banking unsecured lending portfolio, including overdrafts, credit cards, term lending and revolving credit. The role will shape a best-in-class proposition that captures the significant SME and commercial lending opportunity by combining strong customer insight, disciplined risk and pricing management, digital-first journeys, responsible growth, and Nationwide’s mutual purpose to deliver fair, transparent and sustainable outcomes for customers and members.
The Head of Unsecured Lending Products will play a pivotal role in building and scaling a core growth engine for the Business Banking function. This is a rare opportunity to create a modern, differentiated unsecured lending proposition within a full-service mutual business banking function—helping UK SMEs access the finance they need to manage cash flow, invest with confidence and grow sustainably.
Reporting to the Director of Group Business Products, the role will lead the product strategy, roadmap and transformation of unsecured lending, ensuring our propositions are simple to access, commercially attractive, operationally scalable, well controlled and aligned to customer need, risk appetite, Consumer Duty and regulatory expectations.
As Business Banking evolves, we are looking for an inspiring unsecured lending leader with deep SME lending experience, strong commercial judgement and the ability to build propositions that compete with the best in the market while staying true to Nationwide’s member-first purpose.
You’ll lead the development of market-relevant lending products that help businesses finance growth, smooth working capital, respond to trading cycles and access finance at the point of need through efficient, data-led and relationship-enabled journeys.
Across the unsecured lending portfolio, you’ll own the full lifecycle from market and customer insight through to proposition design, credit policy input, pricing, digital journey design, distribution, launch, portfolio optimisation, customer outcomes, controls and ongoing performance management.
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 job you'll spend at least two days per week, or if part time you'll spend 40% of your working time, based at either our Glasgow, London or Northampton office. If you’re based at our Glasgow office, this will apply from 1 April 2027 and ahead of that there will be a need to regularly connect with colleagues for collaboration events. Alternatively, you'll be located at our Edinburgh hub . There will be a need to regularly connect with colleagues for collaboration events, this is expected to be weekly in Edinburgh. 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 .
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
The Head of Unsecured Lending Products is accountable for shaping and leading a strategically important product portfolio spanning strategy, proposition development, commercial performance, risk-adjusted growth, customer journey enhancement and strategic execution.
Operating with significant autonomy and influence, the role holder will translate our Business Banking strategy into a best-in-class unsecured lending roadmap, balancing customer value, responsible access to credit, risk appetite, pricing discipline, operational resilience and sustainable commercial outcomes.
You will work closely with Transformation, Credit Risk, Data and Analytics, Digital, Customer Operations, Finance, Legal, Compliance, COO, Business Control and Coverage teams to design products and journeys that are scalable, well governed and easy for Relationship Managers, digital channels and service colleagues to support.
You will ensure unsecured lending is developed as part of an integrated business banking proposition - connecting current accounts, savings, payments, overdrafts, relationship coverage and digital servicing to deliver rounded customer solutions in line with our purpose.
You will build strong relationships with ExCo, senior leaders and functional heads, acting as the single point of accountability for unsecured lending internally and externally, and representing product, customer, colleague, risk and commercial perspectives in senior decision-making forums.
You will own a robust performance management framework across acquisition, conversion, utilisation, yield, margin, losses, arrears, complaints, customer satisfaction, operational performance, conduct indicators and portfolio quality—using data and insight to optimise outcomes and capture growth opportunities responsibly.
About you
As a minimum you’ll have:
Significant senior product leadership experience in business banking lending, with demonstrable ownership of unsecured SME or commercial lending products and end-to-end product lifecycle outcomes
Deep understanding of SME lending markets, customer segments, working capital needs, credit appetite, pricing, distribution models and competitive propositions across banking, challengers and specialist lenders
Strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience managing product P&L, balance sheet drivers, margin, cost of acquisition, portfolio quality, risk-adjusted returns and growth trade-offs
Proven ability to work with Credit Risk, Finance, Legal, Compliance, Operations, Digital and Data teams to design responsible, well-controlled lending propositions, journeys and decisioning approaches
Experience using customer insight, market benchmarking, data analytics and test-and-learn approaches to improve acquisition, funnel conversion, customer experience, retention and portfolio performance
Track record of leading strategic change at pace, converting business strategy into clear product roadmaps, delivery priorities, business requirements and measurable customer and commercial outcomes
Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to represent Nationwide and Business Banking with senior leaders, colleagues, customers, partners and external stakeholders
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
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 Head of Business Products.
