Head of Sustainable Finance (Wholesale Banking)

The core mission is to drive the origination, structuring and execution of sustainable finance solutions across Emirates NBD's wholesale banking franchise, which includes corporate banking, investment banking and financial institutions. Day to day, this means identifying opportunities with corporate, sovereign and financial institution clients and structuring transactions such as green loans, sustainability-linked loans, green bonds, sustainability bonds and transition finance instruments. A significant part of the role involves client advisory. The head will advise clients on sustainability strategies, transition pathways and financing frameworks, helping them align with ICMA and LMA principles. This includes guidance on ESG disclosure, impact reporting and KPI selection. The role also acts as the point of contact for relationship managers on sustainable finance and ESG enquiries, providing expert guidance on energy transition and evolving standards. On the product side, the role works with product teams to develop sustainable solutions across project finance, structured finance, debt capital markets and trade finance. There is also an internal leadership component, embedding sustainability into client engagement and providing training. Finally, the head monitors global regulatory developments such as ISSB, EU CSRD and EU Taxonomy, contributes to thought leadership and ensures transactions align with the bank's frameworks and risk policies.

The role offers deep exposure to transition finance in the GCC, a market where decarbonisation strategies are still developing and where the candidate can help shape best practices. Working on transactions across corporate, sovereign and financial institution clients will build expertise in structuring diverse instruments, from green loans to sustainability-linked bonds and transition finance products. The candidate will also learn how to develop a go-to-market approach for a universal bank, including creating hunt plans and identifying new opportunities. This is a strategic skill that combines market analysis, client segmentation and commercial execution. Interaction with product teams on project finance, structured finance, debt capital markets and trade finance will broaden product knowledge. Staying current with global regulatory developments such as ISSB, EU CSRD and EU Taxonomy will be part of the job, providing continuous learning. The internal training component means the candidate will also develop coaching and knowledge-sharing abilities. Mentorship might come from senior leadership in wholesale banking, and success could lead to recognition as a regional expert.

The ideal candidate likely has eight to twelve years of experience in corporate or investment banking, with a significant portion spent specifically in sustainable finance or transition finance at a universal bank. They should have a demonstrated record of structuring and executing transactions such as green loans, sustainability-linked loans, green bonds and sustainability bonds. Experience with ICMA Green Bond Principles and LMA Sustainability Linked Loan principles is explicitly required. Beyond technical skills, the role demands strong client advisory capabilities. The candidate should be comfortable advising large corporate and institutional clients on sustainability strategies, transition pathways and KPI selection. They need to translate sustainability frameworks into commercial opportunities, which requires both financial acumen and a deep understanding of climate and nature-related issues. A preferred background includes five years of knowledge of GCC markets and experience working with key clients in the region. An advanced degree in finance, economics or sustainability is advantageous. Soft skills such as excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management are essential, as the role involves internal leadership and collaboration with relationship managers, product teams and risk functions.

The application should demonstrate a track record of structuring and executing sustainable finance transactions, not just a general interest in ESG. Emirates NBD is looking for someone with eight to twelve years of experience in a universal bank, so the CV should quantify specific deals such as green loans, sustainability-linked loans or green bonds, and mention the frameworks used, ICMA or LMA. Highlight any experience with GCC clients and transition finance, since that is a preferred requirement and aligns with the bank's regional footprint. In the cover letter, show how you would build a go-to-market approach for wholesale banking sustainable finance. The role asks for a hunt plan and origination strategy, so discuss how you would identify opportunities across corporate, sovereign and financial institution clients. Mention how you have advised clients on transition pathways and KPI selection, which shows you can handle both origination and advisory. For interviews, prepare examples of how you translated sustainability strategies into commercial banking opportunities. Be ready to talk about regulatory developments such as ISSB or EU CSRD and how they affect clients in the MENAT region. Understanding the bank's own sustainable finance targets and climate commitments will help you explain how you would contribute to those metrics.

The role is squarely focused on sustainable finance and transition finance within wholesale banking. This means the primary focus will be on financing the energy transition and decarbonisation strategies of large corporate, sovereign and financial institution clients. The candidate will help clients structure instruments like green bonds, sustainability-linked loans and transition finance products, which directly support environmental objectives. Governance and standards are also central. The role requires aligning transactions with frameworks such as ICMA Green Bond Principles and LMA Sustainability Linked Loan principles, and ensuring compliance with the bank's own sustainable finance policies. Monitoring regulatory developments like ISSB, EU CSRD and EU Taxonomy will inform client advice and product development. The social aspect may appear through financial inclusion or community impact, but the core is environmental and governance-driven. Emirates NBD has committed to sustainable banking, and this role contributes to its sustainable finance targets and climate commitments. The transition finance angle, covering both climate and nature, indicates a broad scope that goes beyond traditional green finance.

One challenge is balancing origination targets with the bank's risk and governance frameworks. Sustainable finance transactions must align with internal policies and committees, and ESG due diligence can be complex, especially for transition finance where definitions and standards are still evolving. The candidate will need to navigate these requirements while keeping deals moving. Another challenge is the diversity of clients and markets. Emirates NBD operates across thirteen countries, each with different regulatory environments, sustainability priorities and levels of market maturity. The role requires tailoring approaches to corporate, sovereign and financial institution clients, which demands flexibility and deep local knowledge, particularly in the GCC. Internally, embedding sustainability into client engagement means influencing relationship managers and coverage teams who may have different priorities. The candidate must act as a point of contact for ESG enquiries while also driving commercial outcomes. This requires strong stakeholder management and the ability to translate technical sustainability concepts into business language.

A typical day might start with internal meetings with relationship managers or coverage teams to discuss potential sustainable finance opportunities. The head could review a pipeline of deals, prioritising transactions that align with the bank's hunt plan. There may be calls with clients to advise on transition pathways or to present financing frameworks, often involving senior executives from corporate or financial institution clients. Mid-day could involve working with product teams on structuring a green loan or sustainability-linked bond, ensuring alignment with ICMA or LMA principles. This might require coordination with risk and compliance for ESG due diligence. The afternoon could include monitoring regulatory updates or preparing thought leadership materials, such as a market report or presentation for an event. The role likely involves a mix of scheduled meetings and ad hoc enquiries from relationship managers needing guidance on ESG matters. There may be internal training sessions to deliver or attend. Variability comes from deal cycles, with some periods focused on origination and others on execution or reporting.

This is a head-level role, so the immediate scope is already senior. Growth could come from expanding the sustainable finance franchise across more markets in the MENAT region and potentially globally, given Emirates NBD's operations in thirteen countries. Success in origination and product development might lead to broader leadership responsibilities within wholesale banking or group sustainability. The role also offers a platform to become a recognised expert in transition finance, particularly in GCC markets. Building a track record of innovative deals and thought leadership could open doors to speaking engagements, board advisory roles or senior positions in other financial institutions. The internal training component means you would also shape the bank's sustainability capabilities, which is a visible leadership contribution. As sustainable finance continues to grow, professionals with deep structuring and client advisory skills are in demand. This position provides exposure to high-level strategy and client relationships that could accelerate a career towards chief sustainability officer or head of sustainable finance at a larger institution.

The primary internal stakeholders are wholesale banking relationship managers and coverage teams, who need support on sustainable finance and ESG enquiries. The role acts as a central point of contact for them, so interactions will be frequent and advisory in nature. Collaboration with product teams across project finance, structured finance, debt capital markets and trade finance is also essential to develop new instruments. The sustainable finance coordination team will be a key partner, as will risk and compliance teams during ESG due diligence and transaction approval. The candidate will likely engage with senior management to report on origination progress and contribute to the bank's sustainable finance targets. Internal training responsibilities mean they will also interact with colleagues seeking to build their sustainability knowledge. Externally, the main stakeholders are corporate, sovereign and financial institution clients. The role involves advising these clients on sustainability strategies, transition pathways and financing frameworks, often at a senior level. The candidate may also engage with market bodies, regulators and industry groups to monitor developments and contribute to thought leadership.