Executive Director, Team Lead Sustainability, Institutional Banking Group

DBS Bank Limited; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading bank's Institutional Banking Group as a team lead focused on sustainable finance. You will spearhead efforts to integrate ESG considerations into corporate banking solutions while managing a high-performing team. With responsibilities spanning client engagement, risk management, and strategic project contributions, this role requires 15 years of banking experience and strong leadership skills. If you have a passion for sustainable finance and the drive to lead initiatives that enhance client trust, we invite you to apply.

Qualifications

• Overall experience of 15 years in banking with a focus on energy/project/sustainable financing.
• At least 10 years in a leadership role in a corporate client-facing capacity.
• Proven abilities in engaging with hard to abate sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team in integrating ESG advisory into client discussions.
• Oversee ESG risk assessments for high-risk clients.
• Manage team performance and nurture talent.

Skills

Leadership

Client Management

Sustainable Finance

ESG Risk Assessment

Team Management

Job description

DBS Institutional Banking Group (IBG) provides corporate customers with a full range of commercial banking products and services, including trade finance, working capital finance, term loans and capital markets fundraising. Through our continued commitment, DBS has cultivated long-standing relationships with its customers in the region. Well-connected in Asia, IBG serves multinational, large and small to medium sized customers to grow their business.

DBS has also become a signatory of Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) since October 2021 and has established glide paths for some of the key ‘hard to abate’ sectors. We look to partner with our customers to make the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Approach Towards Sustainable Finance

• As a team lead within IBG Sustainability, the role requires \:
  • to have a well balanced approach between ESG risk and opportunities across hard to abate sectors and clients within the sector
  • to have a systematic and well curated client engagement via prioritization (eg. strategic clients ; top financed emissions, industry champions)
  • to provide direction to the team on how to strategically embed ESG advisory in form of concrete ideas in client discussions in context of business profile, medium to longer term client plans
  • to link client’s strategy to ESG priorities, decarbonization journey and targets as well as positioning vis-à-vis stakeholders
  • to have a client centric approach and prepare relevant thought process to facilitate meaningful discussions with C-suite including CFO/Treasurers which remain key decision makers
  • to constantly strive to improve DBS positioning on ESG with clients as well as investors – including Greenwich Survey

2. Robust ESG Risk Lens

• Given the hard to abate sectors such as Power & Utilities, Oil & Gas, Metals & Mining, Chemicals, Shipping, Aviation require a strong reputational risk mindset, the role requires
  • to have a good understanding of environmental risks that need to be considered prior to client engagement as well as deal origination and execution
  • to be able to showcase clear thought process and articulate both dos and don’ts factoring potential ESG risks whilst considering financing of a particular industry or a client or a project or an asset
  • to be able to guide the team on ESG Risk Assessment performed on clients and directly oversee High and Very High Risk classified clients
  • to be on top of “watchlist” names in terms of existing issues faced by those specific clients, maintain a periodic update on mitigation actions & progress by them, remain aligned with stakeholders (Industry/CSO/GSMC) on Bank’s stance and approach towards the situation
  • to be able to contribute key facts and narrative to GSMC and CSO teams in context of challenging names (which could be mainly from watchlist) that require framing of responses to NGO letters / negative media

3. Team Management & Nurturing a Constructive Culture

• As a team lead
  • Encouraging sense of responsiveness towards both internal and external clients
  • Tracking progress and KPIs and providing continuous guidance to deliver better
  • Continuously upskilling the team members and provide necessary exposure to juniors enable them to evolve in career
  • Identifying and nurturing key talents

4. Portfolio Discipline & Transversal Strategic Projects

• As a team lead and senior IBGS team member
  • Ensure and encourage discipline on portfolio management (deal pipeline, engagement statistics, scorecard tracking)
  • Contribute towards strategic projects, presentations, business reviews and Senior Management requirements

Requirements

• Overall experience of 15 years in banking (energy/project/sustainable financing)
• At least 10 years of proven leadership track record and expertise in corporate client-facing role including sustainable finance and solutions
• Background in Corporate & Investment Banking via Coverage or Product Solutioning
• Strong exposure to ‘hard to abate’ sectors and relevant clients
• Strong business acumen and drive to ideate, originate, build client trust
• Proven ability and track record to coordinate, lead and execute financing solutions across multiple teams at a large corporate level
• Experience working in financial institutions and/or having in-depth environmental and social due diligence experience
• Possess professional and interpersonal skills to establish good rapport and working relationship with internal and external stakeholders.
• Team management leadership and skills