Head - ESG - BFS

- The role will be a senior and influential one and reporting directly to the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of the company.

- The ESG Head's primary role is to manage ESG due diligence, portfolio compliance with ESG framework , technical advice and value add in clients on ESG performance. He/she will work closely with the relevant lending teams. The successful candidate would:

- During due diligence, assess gaps against the ESG requirements / policies and identify opportunities for value addition.

- Appoint and manage specialist consultants, including for complex ESG due diligence and / or monitoring. Work with consultants to implement ESG framework

- Facilitate implementation of ESG requirements in a small and medium enterprise context where many customers or borrowers maybe less knowledgeable about ESG.

- Contribute to the evaluation of credit mechanisms for high velocity small business and retail lending by integrating ESG parameters as part of the screening and evaluation process.

- Support in negotiations with borrowers to ensure that ESG covenants are embedded in legal agreements, including ESG action plans (where appropriate).

- Post-disbursement, undertake sample studies to ensure that ESG criteria or being adhered to as originally agreed and where there are gaps ensure their compliance

- Ensure that adheres to the ESG standards set forth as part of its ESG policy and implementation framewor .

- Contribute to the delivery of ESG training, both for internal relationship teams, credit risk management and for clients where possible.

Personal skills:

- Strong communication skills, including report writing (use of PowerPoint and diagrams to present information in a concise format) and oral communication.

- Effective negotiation skills, including the ability to be persuasive as well as to listen and pragmatically identify feasible solutions.

- Highly motivated and results driven.

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

- Proven ability to mentor and grow the skills of team members.

- Demonstrated ability to independently manage and prioritise a busy and diverse workload with a range of deliverables for a variety of stakeholders.

- Enjoy working as part of a team, collaborating and coordinating where appropriate.

- Good judgement and attention to detail.

Technical skills:

- Knowledge of relevant sectors and ESG issues - Required.

- Insight into the challenges associated with implementing ESG improvements in our markets - Required.

- Familiarity with the application of the IFC Performance Standards - Required.

- Familiarity with the World Bank's EHS Guidelines and / or similar standards - Desirable.

Minimum requirements:

- Advanced university degree (masters or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, preferably environmental engineering, environmental sciences/environmental management.

- At least 10 years work experience in a related field (relevant sector, ESG and / or sustainability etc), preferably from E&S consulting, NBFC, Banks - experience of having worked in projects sponsored by Development Finance Institutions (IFC, ADB, WB, GIZ etc) or handled lines of credit of multilateral agencies.