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VP/SVP - E&S Risk, Sustainable Finance, Institutional Banking Group

DBS Bank • Singapore • Added on Sep 17, 2026
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As a key leader in the Institutional Banking Group, you will oversee the environmental and social risk profile of high-stakes lending and advisory portfolios. Your daily focus involves conducting complex due diligence, refining sector-specific exclusion lists, and ensuring every major transaction aligns with rigorous international standards and Net Zero objectives. You bridge the gap between commercial banking interests and strict ESG safeguards.

This role is critical because it functions as the first line of defense for a major Asian financial institution navigating the transition to a low-carbon economy. By embedding climate risk data and the Equator Principles into the core of banking operations, you directly influence how capital is deployed across high-impact sectors like energy and mining. It is about steering large-scale finance toward sustainable outcomes in a fast-evolving regulatory landscape.

This suits someone who possesses over a decade of experience in E&S risk or sustainability consulting and thrives when translating complex technical environmental standards into pragmatic banking solutions.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission involves serving as the first line of defense for the bank’s Institutional Banking Group, ensuring all high-risk transactions meet environmental and social criteria. You will lead the identification and assessment of risks in complex sectors like Oil & Gas and Mining, applying the Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards to safeguard the bank’s portfolio. Beyond transaction-level due diligence, you are responsible for shaping internal frameworks and sector-specific position statements. This includes developing exclusion lists and risk management policies that align with the bank's broader Net Zero commitments and evolving regional regulatory expectations. Engagement is a core responsibility, where you will advise Relationship Managers and external clients on sustainability transition pathways. You will negotiate E&S clauses in loan documentation and design specific action plans to mitigate identified risks, ensuring that commercial growth does not compromise sustainability integrity.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain deep exposure to the practical application of Net Zero methodologies within a major financial institution. This includes learning how to integrate climate risk data into credit underwriting and developing transition risk assessment tools that are at the forefront of modern banking. There is also a significant opportunity to master the intersection of AI and sustainable finance. The role encourages using AI tools to enhance the efficiency of risk monitoring and data analysis, providing a technical edge in a rapidly digitalizing sector. Furthermore, the role offers high-level visibility into emerging sustainability markets, such as carbon credits and biodiversity finance. You will be at the cutting edge of how these new asset classes and regulatory requirements are operationalized within the Asian banking context.

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

The ideal candidate brings at least 10 years of experience in E&S risk management, sustainability consulting, or ESG-focused banking. You should have deep technical knowledge of international standards, specifically Equator Principles IV and the IFC Performance Standards, with the ability to apply these to real-world deal structures. Academic background in Environmental Science, Finance, or Sustainability is essential, with a CFA Certificate in ESG Investing or LEED/ISO certifications highly valued. You must be able to demonstrate practical experience in handling sector-specific challenges in heavy industries like mining or renewable energy. Soft skills are just as vital; the bank seeks a leader who can influence senior stakeholders and mentor junior team members. You must possess the commercial acumen to understand banking products and credit risk while maintaining the discipline required for rigorous risk oversight.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, move beyond general sustainability knowledge and demonstrate sector-specific technical expertise. Highlighting your direct experience with complex due diligence in high-impact industries like Metals & Mining or Energy will show you can handle the bank's most sensitive portfolios. Align your application with the 'first line of defense' mindset. Show that you understand how to balance commercial interests with risk mitigation, rather than viewing them as opposing forces. Demonstrating an understanding of how E&S risks impact creditworthiness is key for this specific role. Research DBS’s specific Net Zero commitments and recent sustainability reports. Mentioning how your previous work could help them achieve their specific transition targets in Asia will demonstrate a proactive and strategic fit for the team.

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

This role focuses heavily on transition risk management and the decarbonization of the bank's lending portfolio. You will be instrumental in ensuring that the capital DBS provides helps clients move toward lower-carbon operations rather than entrenching unsustainable practices. There is a strong emphasis on social safeguards and human rights, as dictated by the IFC Performance Standards. This ensures that large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects financed by the bank do not have adverse impacts on local communities or labor standards. Lastly, the role drives the integration of climate data into every deal. By using the ESG Risk Questionnaire (ERQ) and monitoring biodiversity impacts, you ensure the bank’s activities are contributing to a resilient and nature-positive economy in Southeast Asia.

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

One of the primary challenges is balancing commercial pressures with strict risk oversight. In a fast-paced banking environment, ensuring that due diligence is thorough without unnecessarily stalling transactions requires significant diplomacy and technical confidence. Navigating the fragmented regulatory landscape in Asia is another hurdle. Since DBS operates across 19 markets, you will need to adapt global standards like the Equator Principles to various local contexts, each with different levels of sustainability maturity. Managing data gaps in climate risk can also be difficult. Inferred risks must often be calculated with incomplete client data, requiring you to make sound judgments and utilize emerging AI tools to project potential environmental impacts accurately.

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

A typical day usually begins with reviewing complex transaction proposals that have been flagged for E&S risks. You might spend the morning collaborating with Relationship Managers to understand the commercial structure of a deal while advising them on necessary E&S safeguards. Mid-day might involve stakeholder meetings with the Risk Management Group or the Chief Sustainability Office. These sessions focus on broader policy enhancements, such as updating the bank’s stance on specific high-emission sectors or reviewing the latest climate risk methodologies. Afternoons are often dedicated to technical due diligence or client engagement. You might be reviewing an external environmental consultant's report or negotiating sustainability-linked loan clauses directly with a corporate client to ensure their transition plan is credible.

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

There is a clear path toward executive leadership within the sustainability or risk functions of the bank. Given the high visibility of this role, successful performance can lead to global head positions or strategic roles within the Chief Sustainability Office. Exposure to innovative financial products provides lateral growth opportunities into Sustainable Finance product development. You will be at the center of creating new green lending frameworks, making you a highly versatile asset in the future of banking. The role also offers mentorship and capacity building opportunities. Leading internal training programs for Relationship Managers allows you to establish yourself as a thought leader within the organization, potentially leading to broader regional management responsibilities.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact daily with Relationship Managers (RMs) and coverage teams, acting as their primary advisor on how to navigate E&S risks while closing deals. These interactions are critical for embedding sustainability into the bank's commercial front line. Internal risk and sustainability teams, such as the Risk Management Group (RMG) and the Chief Sustainability Office (CSO), are key partners. You will collaborate with them to ensure that transaction-level decisions align with the bank’s overarching risk appetite and ESG strategy. External stakeholders include corporate clients and sustainability consultants. You will engage with clients to discuss their transition pathways and work with third-party experts to validate environmental assessments for high-stakes projects.

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