Schwarz reports directly to C4's chief executive, Andy Duncan, who confirmed he had begun discussions with a number of potential partners to explore submitting a proposal for the new multiplex.
Ofcom is expected to advertise the second national digital multiplex in the second half of this year. Speaking at the Oxford Media Convention last week, Duncan said: "Radio could be a perfect fit with our digital strategy ... to put public service plurality on every platform. Our aim is to contribute something new to the radio mix by offering a public service alternative to the BBC in genres like news, current affairs, entertainment, lifestyle, comedy and music."
As well as identifying investment opportunities, Schwarz is responsible for C4's majority shareholding in digital radio station, Oneword.
C4 bought the Oneword stake in March last year, and last week the station began broadcasting a weekly current affairs series fronted by C4 News anchorman Jon Snow.
Schwarz joins Channel 4 from Emap, where she was working as a strategy and development consultant.
During her time at Capital Radio, she was instrumental in the £710m merger with GWR and the expansion of the business through acquisitions including the Century Radio network.
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