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Head of RISK ESG Madrid

BNP Paribas • Spain • Added on Sep 15, 2026
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As a key leader in the RISK ESG Hub, you will oversee the Madrid-based team while driving the integration of environmental and social risk drivers across the bank’s global framework. You will own the strategic delivery of cross-risk analyses, ensuring that emerging ESG themes are synthesized into actionable insights for top management. This role balances local people management with the technical oversight of credit, market, and operational risk factors through a sustainability lens.

This position is critical because it acts as the second line of defense in one of Europe’s largest financial institutions, directly influencing how the bank mitigates climate and nature-related financial risks. By steering ESG integration, you help ensure the bank’s portfolio remains resilient against systemic environmental shifts and regulatory scrutiny. Your work provides the high-impact data necessary for the Group to meet its ambitious sustainable development goals.

This suits someone who is a seasoned risk professional with deep analytical rigour and the emotional intelligence required to lead international, multi-location teams through complex regulatory landscapes.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission of this role is to lead the RISK ESG Madrid Hub, acting as a pivotal senior figure in the bank's second line of defense. You will be responsible for building local capabilities and ensuring that the team delivers high-quality ESG risk assessments across credit, market, and operational risk domains. Beyond management, you will drive transversal workstreams to produce strategic notes and forward-looking insights for the Group Chief Risk Officer. This involves coordinating closely with counterparts in London and Paris to align risk appetite with the bank's broader sustainability commitments.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain deep exposure to supervisory on-site inspections and the evolving regulatory expectations from the ECB and other international bodies. This role provides a front-row seat to how a major financial institution quantifies nature-related risks and climate stressors within a complex global portfolio. Furthermore, you will refine your leadership skills in a multi-manager environment, learning to navigate the nuances of cross-border organizational structures while mastering the latest ESG-A methodologies and operational risk frameworks.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal profile brings over 15 years of experience in risk management, audit, or internal governance within a sophisticated financial environment. While ESG-specific expertise is a significant advantage, the ability to synthesize complex data into clear, strategic priorities for the Board is the most critical technical requirement. Fluency in English and French is essential for effective collaboration across the Group's main hubs, while Spanish is a valuable asset for local hub management. You should possess the gravitas to influence senior stakeholders and the coaching skills to mentor a growing team of ESG specialists.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, focus your application on your transversal leadership experience—specifically your ability to manage projects that span multiple departments or geographies. Demonstrate a clear understanding of how ESG factors specifically impact traditional risk categories like credit and liquidity. Highlight any previous interactions with banking regulators or experience in managing complex audit recommendations, as the role involves significant engagement with supervisory priorities. Showing an analytical mindset that can connect macro-environmental trends to micro-financial risks will be highly regarded.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role focuses heavily on Environmental and Social (E&S) risk embedding. This means you will likely work on projects related to biodiversity loss, climate transition risks, and the social impact of the bank’s lending activities. A key focus will be the development of ESG-A questionnaires and nature-related risk frameworks. You will ensure that the bank's risk appetite accurately reflects the external environmental pressures and internal sustainability targets set by the Group.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the primary challenges is the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, which requires constant adaptation of internal models and reporting standards. You will need to maintain high delivery standards while managing the complexity of a team spread across Madrid, London, and Paris. Balancing the role of 'gatekeeper' with the need to be a 'business partner' is another hurdle. You must ensure that the bank remains compliant and protected from ESG risks without stifling the sustainable development of the business lines you support.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might involve a morning ManCo meeting to align on global ESG strategy, followed by one-on-one coaching sessions with the Madrid-based analysts to review their current deep dives into portfolio risk. You might then shift to drafting a sharp briefing note for the Group CRO regarding emerging nature risks. The afternoon could be spent in cross-functional workshops with the Credit Risk or Operational Risk teams, discussing how to better integrate ESG performance signals into existing scoring models, ending with coordination calls with colleagues in Paris.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

This role offers significant visibility at the Top Management level, positioning you for potential executive transitions within the Risk function or specialized Sustainability leadership roles. The global nature of the BNP Paribas network facilitates international mobility and exposure to various business lines. You will have the opportunity to become a recognized expert in the field of ESG risk, a domain that is currently seeing explosive growth and demand within the financial services industry worldwide.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact daily with the Head of RISK ESG and members of the RISK ESG Management Committee. You will also serve as a key point of contact for the Group Chief Risk Officer (CRO) and other senior executives regarding ESG performance and risks. External stakeholders include regulatory bodies and supervisors during inspections. Internally, you will collaborate extensively with heads of Credit, Market, and Operational Risk, as well as the Madrid Hub team members whom you will manage and mentor.

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