Please note this position is based in London and the successful candidate’s contractual location will be London; other locations cannot be considered.
Director, Natural Capital
About Us
At Aviva Investors, our expertise is in matching the right investment approach to each client’s unique needs. As the global asset management business of Aviva plc, we bring together our broad investment capabilities to deliver client-focused solutions worldwide. Managing £261 billion in assets, our 1,000‑strong team across nine countries is brilliantly connected, collaborative, and focused on delivering outcomes that truly matter.
Working together and acting responsibly are central to how we operate. We take time to understand what our clients want to achieve and design solutions that last - strengthening every portfolio with diverse perspectives and integrated thinking. Our long track record in sustainable investing reflects our commitment to doing the right thing for clients and communities alike.
Everyone at Aviva Investors plays a part in creating an exceptional client experience. With the scale and influence to make a real difference, we take our responsibility seriously. Join us and you’ll find an inclusive, supportive environment where your contribution is valued, high performance is recognised, and you’re empowered to shape your development.
We are recruiting for Director, Natural Capital to join our private markets team. This is a great opportunity for someone with strong investment expertise and a passion for sustainability to play a leading role in developing and executing a Natural Capital and Carbon Removal investment strategy across private markets.
Private Markets
As one of Europe’s largest real assets managers, we take an owner’s approach to investment. From infrastructure to real estate and private debt, we make disciplined, high-conviction decisions that create long-term value for clients and communities.
A bit about the role:
As Director, you will lead the entire investment lifecycle, from sourcing and assessing new opportunities through to structuring, negotiating and executing complex transactions across private markets.
Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, you will apply strong financial analysis, commercial judgement and relationship management skills to build a high-quality portfolio of investments. Beyond transaction execution, you will remain actively involved in the assets post-investment, partnering with portfolio and asset management teams to support strategic decision-making and drive long-term value creation. This role offers the opportunity to combine investment expertise with a growing and innovative area of the market, helping to deliver both attractive financial returns and positive environmental outcomes.
The successful candidate will be responsible for originating, analysing, structuring and executing investments across natural capital and carbon removal sectors, including forestry, land-based assets and climate-related technologies. They will lead transactions from initial opportunity sourcing through due diligence, negotiation, governance approvals and completion, while developing robust investment cases and managing complex stakeholder relationships. Working closely with internal teams, operating partners and advisers, they will ensure investments are structured to achieve strong commercial and sustainability outcomes. The role also includes mentoring junior team members, representing the strategy externally and supporting portfolio assets post-investment to drive long-term value creation and effective risk management.
Skills and experience we’re looking for:
Extensive private markets investment experience with a strong track record of originating, executing and closing complex transactions across sectors such as infrastructure, energy transition, private equity, project finance and M&A.
Advanced analytical and financial skills, including financial modelling, valuation, investment analysis and sound investment judgement.
Proven ability to lead commercial negotiations, manage complex deal processes and coordinate multiple internal and external stakeholders.
Exposure to natural capital, forestry, agriculture, carbon markets, climate technologies, impact investing and partnership/joint venture investment structures is advantageous.
Strong commercial acumen, communication and collaborative leadership skills, supported by a relevant degree; professional qualifications such as CFA are beneficial but not essential.
In this role you’ll be ‘Certified’ under the Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority’s Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR). This means that we’ll need to complete some regulatory background checks on you before you take up your role and we’ll need to ask you some questions on an annual basis to make sure you remain ‘fit and proper’ and competent to carry out your role. We’ll provide training on what holding a SMCR role means when you join us and annually thereafter.
What you’ll get for this role:
Our purpose - with you today, for a better tomorrow – is a promise we make to our colleagues too. And one of the ways we live up to that promise is by investing in you. We have so much to offer when it comes to being an Aviva colleague:
Competitive salary (depending on skills, experience, and qualifications).
Discretionary bonus opportunity - depending on individual performance and Aviva Investors’!
Generous pension scheme - Aviva will contribute up to 14%, depending on what you put in.
29 days holiday plus bank holidays, and you can choose to buy or sell up to 5 days!
Aviva-funded Private Medical Benefit to help you get expert support when you need it.
Make your money go further with up to 40% discount on Aviva products, and other retailer discounts.
Up to £1,200 of free Aviva shares per year through our Matching Share Plan and share in the success of Aviva with our Save As You Earn scheme.
Brilliantly supportive policies including parental and carer’s leave.
Flexible benefits to suit you, including sustainability options such as cycle to work.
Make a difference, be part of our Aviva Communities and use your 3 annual volunteering days to help others.
Aviva is for everyone:
We’re inclusive and welcome everyone – we want applications from all backgrounds and experiences. Excited but not sure you tick every box? Even if you don’t, we would still encourage you to apply. We also consider all forms of flexible working, including part time and job shares.
Most of our people are smart working – spending at least 50% of their time in our offices every week - combining the benefits of flexibility, with time together with colleagues. To find out more about working at Aviva, take a look here.
We’d love it if you could submit your application online but if you require an alternative method of applying, please email us at [email protected].
#LI-Hybrid
Rebekah: #LI-RG1
Skills Required
- Extensive private markets investment experience originating, executing and closing complex transactions
- Advanced financial analysis skills including financial modelling, valuation and investment analysis
- Proven ability to lead commercial negotiations and manage complex deal processes with multiple stakeholders
- Experience or exposure to natural capital, forestry, agriculture, carbon markets, climate technologies or impact investing
- Strong commercial acumen, communication and collaborative leadership skills
- Relevant degree
- CFA or equivalent professional qualification
- Eligible to be certified under the FCA/PRA Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) and pass regulatory background checks
- Contractual location based in London (must be able to work from London)
What We Do
Welcome to Aviva Investors. The global asset manager that chooses integration. The future is full of questions. Only by working closely with our clients can we find the answers. That’s why we integrate our whole business around our clients – their goals, their values and the experience they have when they work with us. That’s why we start by listening closely and understanding their investment aspirations and concerns – from low prospective investment returns, to highly correlated asset prices; from the prospect of rising global interest rates, to the challenges and opportunities of market volatility. Through our vast collective industry experience, we’ve been through every market cycle, making us better prepared for the next one. Inspired by our deep client insight, we build solutions that aim to defy uncertainty, answering the questions that keep our clients awake at night. From large institutional investors to individuals saving for retirement, we work together to deliver meaningful outcomes, now and over the long run. That’s why we work hard to join the dots across asset classes to find the best investment ideas; why we break down barriers so our teams can connect seamlessly; and why we manage risk with discipline and rigour. By working in partnership, we bring components together in new ways to ensure our clients get the very best of our collective expertise with every investment. Please remember the value of an investment and any income from it can go down as well as up. Investors may not get back the original amount invested.
