Stakeholders & Scale

Internal: This role will work with a wide range of EMEA departments teams, with specific accountability for SMBC BI counterparts, including, the Risk Management Department, Compliance Department, Corporate Secretary team, Finance & Control Department, Marketing Departments; and in Tokyo the Sustainability Planning Department, the Global Banking Unit Planning Department, and the Environmental and Social Risk Management Department. The role holder will coordinate and work closely with the EMEA Head of Sustainability Strategy to ensure consistency and seamless coordination at the regional level.

External: SMBC’s stakeholders, including customers, peer banks, regulators and wider society.

The role will make a direct and significant contribution to executing the EMEA wide sustainability strategy with a particular focus on SMBC BI.

Accountabilities and Responsibilities

You would be responsible for enhancing and leading the execution of the SMBC EMEA Sustainability Strategy and Social Value Creation Framework in SMBC BI, in close coordination with the Head of Sustainability Strategy EMEA. The role holder will be required to attend relevant committees such as the Sustainability Risk Management Committee (SRMC), the EMEA Reputational Risk Committee, Social Value Management Forum, among others, and may be involved in their decision-making processes where relevant. The role holder will represent SMBC BI on sustainability initiatives when communicating with external parties including, but not limited to, regulators or clients.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• In depth knowledge of sustainability and regulatory frameworks such as UN Sustainability Development Goals, ISSB, TCFD/TNFD, ICMA/LMA Sustainable Bond/Lending principles, the Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT) Disclosure Framework, relevant PRA and EBA regulations, and an understanding of the Conference of Parties UNFCC (COP) goals and the principles of the other major sustainability/climate change regulations or disclosure frameworks.
• Familiarity with the public sector and with the relevant policy making bodies (But a candidate with a pure public sector background is unlikely to be a good fit).
• International and extensive experience of sustainable/ESG financial products including green, social and sustainability-linked loans/bonds and transition finance.
• Scientific/academic background in Sustainability/Climate Change with experience as a strategy adviser/consultant.
• Proven track record of developing and leading teams in a major institution, either public sector or private sector, such as a global bank, a major regulator or international agency leading and developing strategy on Sustainability/ESG/Climate Change activities.
• Proven track record of successful decision-making, problem solving and conflict resolution.
• A leader who promotes collaboration and good teamwork.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and an ability to communicate complex proposals.
• Previous experience leading teams across multiple disciplines and cultures.
• Ideally able to communicate in another major international language, in addition to English.
• Relevant degree from a leading university.

Challenges

• The Head of Sustainability Strategy UK will be required to lead the firm on all aspects of the execution of its Sustainability strategy at a time of rapidly changing standards and regulations.
• Helping the firm prioritise social value creation ambitions alongside economic value creation expectations.
• Manage the firm’s reputational risk relating to its Sustainability activities.

What we offer

For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-being and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:

• Hybrid and flexible working
• Competitive paid leave days
• Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
• Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
• Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
• Ambitious remuneration package

So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!

We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal, backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.

We are committed to transparent and equitable pay practices. Compensation is determined using objective criteria, including skills, experience, and role responsibilities, and applied consistently throughout our recruitment processes. We do not request candidates' pay history and are committed to preventing unjustified pay disparities.