Specialist – Strategic Investments

Job title: Specialist – Strategic Investments
Team: Strategic Investments
Location: Any Scottish hub (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, or Aberdeen), with everyday flexibility options
Salary: £57,060 – £61,848
Hours: Full-time, with flexible working options
Status: Permanent
Closing date: 20 August 2025

Be part of building Scotland’s future

At Scottish Enterprise, we aim to support Scotland’s most ambitious companies to help them innovate and scale to transform the economy.

Over the next decade, Scotland faces both significant challenges and extraordinary opportunities. That’s why we’ve focused on three bold missions:

• Building a globally competitive energy transition industry
• Scaling Scotland’s innovation strengths into high-growth industries of the future
• Unlocking capital investment to boost productivity and create high-value jobs

To reach our goals, Scottish Enterprise is changing. We’re refocusing our leadership, people, support, networks, and partnerships across Scotland, the UK, and internationally. This will help us ensure that we’re fully focused on the transformational opportunities that can deliver a more successful, greener, and fairer Scotland.

Flexible and patient investment into Scotland’s most ambitious high-growth and scaling companies is at the heart of our strategy. Building on our successful co-investment model, we’re creating strategic investment partnerships, developing new innovative solutions to de-risk investment opportunities, and identifying opportunities to attract capital to support the growth of our ambitious companies. 

The role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced investment specialist to join the Strategic Investments team – part of our Entrepreneurship and Investment Directorate.

You’ll play a key role in shaping and delivering some of our most significant, high-impact investments – essential to achieving Scotland’s long-term economic ambitions.

Reporting to the Team Leader of Strategic Investments, you’ll be part of a small, expert team responsible for delivering targeted equity, debt, and project finance investments from origination through to exit.

You’ll bring strong commercial acumen, creativity in deal structuring, and a drive to deliver large-scale impact.

In this role, you’ll appraise, structure, and manage complex, high-value deals, delivering tailored investments that balance strong commercial returns with meaningful economic benefits for Scotland.

You’ll work on novel, strategically aligned opportunities across our mission priorities and key sectors – collaborating with colleagues at Scottish Enterprise, company leadership teams, co-investors, and other stakeholders throughout the full investment lifecycle.

Success will depend on your ability to think strategically, build strong relationships, and bring fresh, creative thinking to investment challenges.

Responsibilities 

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading complex investment transactions: you'll originate, structure, and execute strategic investments across equity, debt, and project finance – driving due diligence, negotiating commercial terms, aligning with co-investors and stakeholders, and liaising with target and other funders.
• Managing and growing the portfolio: you'll take a hands-on approach to managing a portfolio of new and existing strategic investments, including follow-on funding, restructures, and exits. You'll also work closely with co-investors and management teams to add value, strengthen governance, and improve performance. You’ll help shape boards, support non-executive appointments, and represent our organisation as a board observer where needed.
• Shaping future investment opportunities: you'll spot and develop high-impact investment opportunities – building strong relationships with investee companies, sector partners, and stakeholders. You’ll use your networks, collaborate internally, and contribute to the design of mission-led investment strategies that deliver real economic impact.

Who we’re looking for

As an investment specialist in our Strategic Investments team, you’ll bring end-to-end investment experience, with the skills to assess and deliver every part of a proposition.

You’ll enjoy solving complex problems in creative ways and working collaboratively to build consensus and get results.

Your skills, experience, traits, and strengths include:

• Proven experience in private equity, corporate finance, banking, or similar investment environments
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with a track record of negotiating and managing complex investment deals
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
• Being a strategic thinker with the ability to interpret complex data and develop compelling and innovative investment propositions
• Being resilient, solutions-focused, and comfortable navigating ambiguity and sensitive situations
• A track record of managing multiple complex tasks and projects
• Education to SCQF Level 10 or equivalent relevant professional experience

Role profile

Further information on the role can be found in the attached role profile.

Life at Scottish Enterprise

As one of Scotland’s Top 10 Flexible Employers, we pride ourselves on empowering our colleagues to work when and where they can best deliver their role in support of our corporate plan. Learn more about working with us.

How to apply

If you're interested in this role, complete and submit your application by 20 August 2025.

Interview dates

To be confirmed.

Our values

Being part of Scottish Enterprise means being open to new ideas and trying different ways of working. We support each other to reach our full potential. We celebrate shared success and learn together when things don’t go so well. And we always treat each other fairly, with respect and understanding. Together, we are the difference.

At Scottish Enterprise, we’re proud to celebrate difference. Diversity of experience and thought is vital to the success of our vision for the future of every community across Scotland. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from a wide range of individuals, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, gender identity and expression, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We commit to providing any reasonable adjustments required, not only during the application and assessment process but throughout your employment with us.

We have the following networks which are open to all colleagues to help drive inclusion: Disability Positive, Gender Balanced, Multi-Cultural, Multi-Generational and Pride (LGBTQ+).

Apply now to build your future with us.