Assistant Vice President - ESG Planning, Policy and Engagement

Key Responsibilities Include

• Develop, drive and monitor APAC’s sustainability and ESG compliance programme.
• Actively engage subsidiaries across the region to ensure regulators’ expectations are met where sustainability and ESG are concerned.
• Support the management of sustainability and ESG policies and procedures, including developing and advising on new policies for identifying, managing, and monitoring environmental and social risks; and ensuring that they remain relevant and effective in building firm-wide resilience, as well as aligned with regulations and market best practices.
• Work cross-functionally with internal stakeholders to help define and drive the implementation of sustainability and ESG related frameworks, policies and guidelines.
• Support efforts to coordinate and standardise ESG risk and compliance processes and procedures across the region to ensure consistency and efficiency.
• Facilitate awareness and capacity building on ESG risk management within the Bank.
• Act as a point of escalation for complex risk and compliance issues, providing support as needed.
• Engage subsidiaries in the region to ensure prompt adoption and localisation of the Group ESG policies and to ensure compliance with Group core standards.
• Provide support on internal business units-led sustainability initiatives and collaborating with the business units in enhancing the Bank’s sustainability communication through all available channels.
• Work with internal stakeholders to collate information for various sustainability related communications and reporting requirements for the region.
• Support communications with relevant teams in Tokyo Head Office to ensure alignment with Group policies, programs and initiatives.

Key Attributes and Skills

• Minimum 5 years working experience in a corporate sustainability, ESG policy and compliance, ESG risk management or relevant discipline – with at least 2 years’ experience working in a sustainability or ESG role within the banking sector or a consultancy.
• Relevant academic studies in environmental management, environmental law, ESG law and policy, climate change, sustainable development, sustainable finance.
• In-depth understanding of sustainability, ESG and environmental risk topics, international reporting standards and frameworks, regulatory trends in Asia, as well as industry best practices.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing sustainability and ESG compliance programmes, policies and controls in the banking sector.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen attention to detail.
• Possesses professional and interpersonal skills to establish good working relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently as well as within the team
• Ability to multi-task, prioritise and work under tight deadlines.
• Effective communication and writing skills; ability to synthesise information quickly and concisely.
• Knowledge in Japanese language would be an advantage to support communications with Tokyo Head Office, although not a requirement