ED, Climate & ESG Risk Specialist, Risk Management Group

Business Function

Risk Management Group works closely with our business partners to manage the bank's risk exposure by balancing its objective to maximise returns against an acceptable risk profile. We partner with origination teams to provide financing, investments and hedging opportunities to our customers. To manage risk effectively and run a successful business, we invest significantly in our people and infrastructure.

Job Purpose

Sustainability is the future. A rapidly growing number of stakeholders globally across governments, private and financial sectors as well as the society at large have embraced the urgent need to address environmental and social challenges. DBS has been thoughtful around our own sustainability agenda because we not only want to create a healthy planet, but also to ensure that the transition to accomplish this is just. We want to be a bank that contributes to preserving a healthy planet while also addressing key social needs.

Reporting to the Group Chief Credit Officer, the successful candidate will act as a climate/ESG risk advisor and lead conversations on climate/ESG risks with senior stakeholders. The role will focus on advancing DBS' climate risk management strategies and initiatives, driving and developing climate risk management capabilities, and building our approach to climate risk data collection.

As a second line of defence, the role will collaborate with business to enhance standards and policies, and provide climate risk advise on deals, products, transactions and client engagements, supporting DBS in achieving our Net Zero targets. Working in close partnership with the broader Risk organization, you will be responsible for establishing climate risk best practices in this critical area.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee the implementation of climate risk management strategies and frameworks across DBS' markets, including designing, implementing and documenting new measures and controls to manage climate risk.
• Function as the primary contact for issues relating to climate risk management and associated regulatory demands.
• Drive the interpretation of regulatory expectations and to ensure risk compliance with emerging climate risk regulations.
• Lead the Credit ESG/Climate Risk Team.
• Provide guidance on the use of climate data and scenarios for risk assessment.
• Work closely with the Institutional Banking Group (IBG) Consumer Banking Wealth Management Group (CBWM) to recommend and drive enhancements to our risk policies and guidelines, to manage climate risk and in alignment with our Net Zero targets.
• Provide guidance to IBG/CBWM Credit Risk Managers on climate risk assessments and considerations relating to deals, products, transactions and clients, and provide recommendations to mitigate climate risk, where required/appropriate.
• Lead interactions with senior stakeholders on climate risk topics, including regular reporting and updates.
• Contribute Risk input to broader firm wide sustainability strategic commitments (e.g. NZBA, TCFD, Equator Principles).
• Guide internal risk functions in adapting internal policies for climate risk considerations as appropriate.
• Map out macro climate trends globally/regionally and analyse the impact on our portfolios, and providing advice on risk mitigation for our portfolio.
• Understand the impact of new/innovative climate change products and services, including carbon markets, new climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies.
• Represent the Risk Management Group internally and externally in climate risk related engagements (including regulatory interactions).
• Develop and oversee climate risk capacity building, including providing climate risk training to relevant stakeholders.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's or postgraduate degree in sustainability-related field, and/or a relevant risk domain.
• Experience and proven track record in Climate and ESG Risk management in the financial sector.
• Strong familiarity with the increasing regulatory expectations facing banks with respect to Climate Risk/ESG matters.
• A minimum of 8 to 10 years of experience in a relevant climate or environmental risk related role and working knowledge of climate risk management in financial institutions.
• Good knowledge of risk policies, regulatory frameworks, and banking products and services.
• Confidence to take ideas forward and to challenge others, where appropriate, with experience in management by influence, facilitating and gaining consensus.
• Understanding of climate risk stress testing or quantification of effects of climate risk on bank exposures/portfolios.
• Understanding of relevant sustainability disclosure and reporting standards, including but not limited to SASB, TCFD, GRI.
• Passionate and updated about the latest climate-related trends, news, science and literature.
• Resourceful, with strong ability to leverage on contacts within the banking industry, rating agencies, consultants etc to source inputs for benchmarking and to implement best practices.
• Self-motivated and driven to produce high quality deliverables.

Apply Now

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package and the professional advantages of a dynamic environment that supports your development and recognises your achievements.