Director of Strategy

ABOUT NEXTSTEP

NextStep connects top consulting talent with high-potential opportunities through smart, AI-powered matching. We partner with ambitious companies across sectors to place experienced professionals in roles where they can have a real impact. On behalf of a client in our partner network, we are currently looking for a Director of Strategy to join their team.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Our client is a PE-backed climate technology company headquartered in London, focused on decarbonisation solutions for heavy industry. They develop and deploy proprietary carbon capture and process optimisation technologies across steel, cement, and chemicals — sectors that collectively account for nearly a third of global emissions. Founded in 2017 and majority-backed by a leading infrastructure and energy transition fund since 2022, the company has grown to 280 employees across the UK, Germany, and the Gulf, and is currently executing an ambitious international expansion plan. The strategy function sits at the centre of the business and works directly with the CEO and Board on the decisions that will define the company's next decade.

THE ROLE

As Director of Strategy, you will lead the company's corporate strategy function and serve as a key thought partner to the CEO and executive team. This is a senior individual contributor role with significant scope to shape how the company grows, where it competes, and how it allocates capital. You will own the annual strategic planning process, lead high-stakes market and competitive analyses, and drive special projects that cut across the business — from new market entry to partnership structuring and M&A evaluation. The role requires someone who can move fluidly between rigorous analysis and boardroom-level communication, and who brings both intellectual horsepower and sound commercial judgement.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Own the annual corporate strategy cycle, including horizon planning, strategic priority-setting, and presentation to the Board and shareholders.

• Lead market entry assessments for new geographies and industrial verticals, including sizing, competitive mapping, regulatory analysis, and go-to-market recommendations.

• Evaluate M&A, partnership, and licensing opportunities — conducting strategic due diligence and building business cases for executive and Board review.

• Develop the analytical frameworks and financial models underpinning major strategic decisions, including scenario planning and returns analysis.

• Work closely with the CFO and investor relations team to align strategic narrative with capital markets positioning ahead of a potential liquidity event.

• Commission and synthesise external research, policy analysis, and stakeholder insight to keep the leadership team ahead of market and regulatory shifts.

• Build and develop a small strategy team, setting high standards for analytical rigour and output quality.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• 7–12 years of experience, with a strong foundation in strategy consulting (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or equivalent) and ideally subsequent in-house strategy experience.

• Deep familiarity with corporate strategy frameworks and a track record of applying them in complex, fast-moving environments.

• Experience in energy, industrials, infrastructure, or climate sectors is highly desirable; intellectual curiosity about the energy transition is essential.

• Excellent financial modelling and quantitative analytical skills, with comfort operating at both the granular and strategic level.

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to structure and present complex arguments clearly to senior audiences.

• Confident operating with ambiguity and incomplete information; able to form a point of view and defend it.

• Prior exposure to M&A, fundraising processes, or PE-backed environments is a meaningful advantage.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Base salary of £120,000 – £150,000, based on experience and seniority.

• Annual performance bonus of up to 30% of base salary.

• Long-term incentive plan (LTIP) with meaningful participation in value creation tied to the company's growth milestones.

• Private medical insurance (family cover available), life assurance, and enhanced pension contribution.

• 30 days annual leave plus public holidays.

• Hybrid working from the company's London headquarters, with travel expected for key client and stakeholder engagements.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered for this role, please create your profile at getnextstep.com https://getnextstep.com/candidate/landing?utm_medium=job-board&utm_source=job-board. Once your profile is complete, our matching system will evaluate your background against the role criteria and match you with the company if it's a strong fit. No cover letter required.

This role is listed by NextStep on behalf of our client. All applications are handled with confidentiality.