--- title: "Project Manager (with focus on Sustainability Regulations)" canonical: https://csrjobs.club/jobs/j-safra-sarasin-project-manager-with-focus-on-sustainability-regulations-l2as locale: en description: "J. Safra Sarasin is hiring a Project Manager (with focus on Sustainability Regulations) on CSR Jobs. Discover this in-house sustainability role and apply today." updated: 2026-10-28 company: J. Safra Sarasin country: Switzerland contract: Full time seniority: Mid-level missions: ESG reporting job_type: ESG/Sustainability Reporting Manager posted: 2026-10-28 valid_through: 2026-11-27 apply: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4484437864 source: CSR Jobs --- # Project Manager (with focus on Sustainability Regulations) This is a change management role at the centre of how a Swiss private bank applies new sustainability rules. You will run regulatory projects end to end, starting with SFDR 2.0 and CSRD, from gap analysis through to rollout across the group's affected entities. Day to day this means writing business requirements for IT, coordinating testing and training, and keeping decisions documented for audit and governance. The sustainability angle is concrete rather than promotional. J. Safra Sarasin presents itself as a sustainable private bank, and these regulations govern what it can claim about its products and how it reports on them. Your work will determine whether that positioning holds up in practice, across more than 30 locations and several regulatory regimes. It is a chance to shape compliance frameworks that investors and supervisors will scrutinise. This suits someone who has already delivered complex projects in Swiss private banking or consultancy, knows sustainability regulation from the inside, and is comfortable translating legal text into specifications that IT and business teams can act on. You should be able to set priorities across competing demands and work without close supervision. ## Job FAQs ### What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role? **The core mission is to lead end-to-end delivery of strategic sustainability regulatory projects, with an initial focus on SFDR 2.0 and CSRD for affected entities of the J. Safra Sarasin Group.** That starts with comprehensive gap analyses to establish where the bank currently stands against the regulatory requirements, followed by designing solutions and driving group-wide implementation. The project manager owns the full lifecycle, which means maintaining a clear plan, tracking progress, resolving issues and ensuring that each affected entity reaches compliance within the required timeframe. The role is not limited to one country, since the group operates in more than 30 locations and the regulations touch multiple jurisdictions. **On a day-to-day level, the responsibilities include requirements engineering and change management.** The project manager translates high-level regulatory mandates into detailed Business Requirement Documents that IT developers and business stakeholders can work from. This involves close collaboration with Legal and Compliance to interpret the rules correctly, and with IT to ensure the specifications are buildable. Later stages include orchestrating rollout processes, running User Acceptance Testing and delivering targeted training programs so that teams across the bank are ready for the new processes. Documentation of critical decisions and outcomes is also part of the role, both for audit and governance purposes. **Another central responsibility is stakeholder coordination across functions and jurisdictions.** The project manager acts as the central liaison between IT, Operations, Legal, Compliance, Asset Management and Private Banking units, aligning diverse interests and executing unified strategies. Communication with senior leadership is expected, including the articulation of complex conceptual approaches and solution options. While the initial focus is sustainability, the posting notes that diversification into other project areas is possible later, so the role may evolve beyond regulatory sustainability work over time. ### Key learning opportunities for this job **The most immediate learning will come from implementing two major regulatory frameworks, SFDR 2.0 and CSRD, across the group's affected entities.** That means hands-on exposure to how these regulations are interpreted in practice, how gap analyses are structured, and how requirements are translated into system and process changes. This is knowledge that is in high demand in the financial sector and is difficult to acquire outside a live implementation. The candidate will also learn how a Swiss private bank organizes regulatory projects, including governance, audit documentation and decision tracking. **Working across multiple jurisdictions gives exposure to different legal and regulatory environments.** The bank operates in more than 30 locations across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, so the project manager will likely encounter variations in how sustainability rules apply in different entities. Coordinating with Legal, Compliance, IT, Operations, Asset Management and Private Banking units builds a broad understanding of how a bank functions and how change is delivered across functions. For someone aiming to broaden their change management skills, the stated possibility of later diversification into other areas is an additional learning path. **There may also be opportunities to develop presentation and communication skills at a senior level.** The role requires articulating complex conceptual approaches and solution options to senior leadership, which is a skill that develops through practice. Documentation for audit and governance purposes sharpens precision in writing. Depending on the bank's internal offerings, the candidate might also access training in project methodologies, regulatory topics or leadership, though the posting does not specify formal programs. Mentorship could come from senior project or program managers within the change function. ### How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)? **The posting sets a clear baseline: higher education in business or finance and at least five years of project management experience in Swiss private banks or a leading consultancy.** That means the ideal candidate is not a recent entrant to the field but someone who has already managed complex projects in a banking environment and understands how regulatory change moves through an organisation. Experience in implementing sustainability related regulations is listed as a requirement, so familiarity with frameworks such as SFDR, CSRD or equivalent is expected. The candidate should be able to translate regulatory mandates into business requirement documents and work with IT developers on practical specifications. **On the soft skills side, the profile emphasizes analytical strength, problem solving and the ability to weigh problems and set priorities.** A project manager in this role will face competing demands from different jurisdictions and business units, so the ability to decide what matters most is important. The bank also asks for a hands-on mentality and willingness to take responsibility, which suggests they want someone who is comfortable producing work directly rather than only coordinating. The ability to work independently matters because the role involves end-to-end delivery, from gap analysis through to training and user acceptance testing. **Fluency in English is required, and experience in stakeholder coordination across functions is implied by the scope of the role.** The ideal candidate has worked with Legal, Compliance, IT, Operations and front-office teams and can align diverse interests. A background in asset management or private banking could help because the regulations in question affect investment products and client-facing processes. Certifications in project management, such as PMP or Prince2, are not mentioned but would likely be viewed positively. Overall, the profile is a seasoned change manager who combines regulatory knowledge with delivery discipline. ### Advice to stand out and make a successful application **Because this role sits at the intersection of regulatory change and project execution in a Swiss private bank**, your application should demonstrate that you can move from regulatory text to a working project plan. In your cover letter, name the specific regulations you have implemented, such as SFDR, CSRD or similar frameworks, and describe your role in the delivery, not just the regulatory analysis. Explain how you structured a gap analysis, what business requirements you produced and how you handled rollout across different business units. The bank operates in more than 30 locations across multiple regions, so show that you understand the complexity of group-wide implementation across legal entities and jurisdictions. **Quantify your project experience where possible.** Five years or more in Swiss private banking or a leading consultancy is expected, so highlight the scale of projects, the number of stakeholders involved and the concrete outcomes. Mention any exposure to audit and governance documentation, since the role requires precision in decision records. If you have worked with IT developers on business requirement documents, describe the format and tools you used. The job lists fluency in English as a requirement, but German language skills could be useful for internal coordination at a Zurich-based bank and can be added if you have them. **During interviews, prepare to discuss how you prioritize competing regulatory demands** and how you communicate complex concepts to senior leadership. The posting emphasizes a hands-on mentality and the ability to work independently, so bring examples where you took ownership rather than simply coordinating. Research J. Safra Sarasin's own sustainability positioning as a private bank that emphasizes sustainable investment, and connect your motivation to that strategy. Avoid generic statements about wanting to work in sustainability; instead, explain why regulatory implementation in private banking is where you can add value. ### What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on? **The role's sustainability focus is regulatory compliance and implementation rather than environmental project work.** SFDR 2.0 and CSRD are disclosure and reporting frameworks, so the project manager will be working on how the bank classifies products, reports sustainability information and meets transparency obligations. This affects asset management and private banking activities, where client-facing documentation and investment processes must align with the rules. The role therefore sits at the point where sustainability regulation meets banking operations and IT systems. **J. Safra Sarasin describes itself as a leading sustainable private bank, which gives this role a particular context.** A bank that positions itself on sustainability has more at stake in getting disclosure right, because inconsistencies between its stated approach and its regulatory reporting could damage credibility with clients and regulators. The project manager's work on gap analyses and implementation directly supports that positioning by making sure the group's entities comply with the frameworks. The role also touches governance aspects, since CSRD and SFDR require clear accountability and documented processes. **Environmental and social goals appear indirectly through the regulations themselves.** CSRD covers a broad set of sustainability matters, including environmental and social topics, while SFDR focuses on transparency around sustainable investment products. The project manager is not expected to set the bank's sustainability strategy, but to make sure the strategy and its disclosures meet regulatory standards across jurisdictions. Later diversification into other project areas could mean the role moves away from sustainability, depending on the bank's priorities and the candidate's interests. ### What are the main challenges someone in this role might face? **The most obvious challenge is the scale and complexity of implementing regulations such as SFDR 2.0 and CSRD across multiple legal entities in different jurisdictions.** The bank has offices in more than 30 locations, and the affected entities will each have their own data, systems and processes. Aligning them under a single implementation approach requires patience, diplomatic skill and a clear method for tracking progress. Regulatory timelines add pressure, and any delay in one jurisdiction can affect the group-wide rollout. The candidate will need to manage dependencies carefully. **Translating high-level regulatory mandates into detailed business requirement documents is another difficulty.** Regulations are often written in broad legal language, and the project manager must turn them into specifications that IT developers and business stakeholders can act on. This requires close reading, regular clarification with Legal and Compliance, and the ability to make decisions when interpretations differ. If requirements are not precise, later testing and audit can expose gaps. The role also involves documenting critical decisions for audit and governance, which leaves little room for ambiguity. **Stakeholder coordination across jurisdictions and functions is likely to be the daily test.** IT, Operations, Legal, Compliance, Asset Management and Private Banking units have different priorities, and the project manager must align them without formal authority over most of them. Senior leadership may expect clear recommendations, while local teams may resist changes that affect their workflows. The ability to weigh problems and set priorities, as the posting requires, is essential here. There may also be cultural and language differences across offices, even if English is the working language of the project. ### How could a typical day look like for someone in this position? **A typical day is likely divided between project coordination, analysis and communication.** The project manager might start with a check-in with the project team or a review of outstanding tasks and risks. Part of the day could be spent working on Business Requirement Documents, clarifying regulatory points with Legal or Compliance, or reviewing specifications with IT developers. Because the role covers multiple jurisdictions, there may be calls with colleagues in other offices to track local progress and resolve issues. Documentation tasks for audit and governance also require regular attention, so writing decision records or updating project logs is a recurring activity. **Meetings take up a significant share of the schedule.** These could include steering committee sessions with senior leadership, working groups with IT and Operations, and alignment meetings with Asset Management or Private Banking representatives. The project manager may need to present solution options or explain complex regulatory concepts in plain language. During rollout phases, the day could shift toward User Acceptance Testing coordination, training delivery or troubleshooting. The mix changes depending on the project stage, with earlier phases focused on gap analysis and design, and later phases on implementation and training. **There is room for independent work as well, since the posting asks for the ability to work independently and a hands-on mentality.** That might mean spending focused time drafting documents, preparing presentations or analysing regulatory texts. Urgent issues, such as a compliance question or a system problem, can interrupt the planned schedule, so the role requires flexibility. Overall, the day balances structured project work with frequent interaction across functions and locations. ### What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role? **The role itself offers a clear growth path from sustainability regulatory projects into broader change management.** The posting states that while the initial focus will be on sustainability, a later diversification into other areas is possible. This means a successful candidate could move from SFDR 2.0 and CSRD implementation into other strategic projects across the group, widening their portfolio beyond sustainability into wider regulatory or business change. For someone who wants to build a long-term change management career in private banking, that flexibility is valuable. **Exposure to senior leadership and group-wide implementation builds a profile that is rare in the market.** Managing end-to-end delivery across multiple jurisdictions, coordinating with Legal, Compliance, IT, Operations and front units, and presenting solution options to senior management gives visibility that can support promotion to a senior project manager or program lead position. The bank has offices in more than 30 locations, so there may also be opportunities to work on cross-border projects or to move into regional roles over time. **Skill development in regulatory interpretation and requirements engineering is another growth dimension.** Because sustainability regulation in Switzerland and the EU continues to develop, the candidate will keep building expertise in a field where demand is rising. That expertise is transferable to other financial institutions, consultancies or regulatory bodies, which strengthens long-term career options even if the person eventually leaves the bank. The combination of project management discipline and sustainability regulatory knowledge is a durable professional asset. ### The main stakeholders you might be interacting with **The role is described as a central liaison across multiple jurisdictions, so the main internal stakeholders are likely the IT, Operations, Legal, Compliance, Asset Management and Private Banking units.** Each will be involved at different stages: Legal and Compliance for interpretation of regulations, IT for building and testing system changes, Operations for process adjustments, and Asset Management and Private Banking for the practical impact on investment products and client-facing activities. The project manager will need to keep these groups informed, gather input and resolve conflicts between their interests. **Senior leadership is a key audience because the role requires articulating complex conceptual approaches and solution options.** That means preparing presentations, decision papers and recommendations that allow executives to make informed choices. The project manager may also interact with audit and governance functions when documenting decisions and outcomes. Because the bank operates in more than 30 locations, there could be regular contact with entity-level managers or project counterparts in different countries, each with their own regulatory context. **External stakeholders may include regulators only indirectly, through the requirements they set, and potentially consultants or vendors if the bank uses external support for implementation.** The posting does not mention clients directly, but in a private bank, regulatory changes often affect client reporting and product documentation, so front-office teams will be the bridge to that impact. Overall, the stakeholder map is wide and cross-functional, and the ability to build trust with people who do not report to the project manager is central to success. --- Source: https://csrjobs.club/jobs/j-safra-sarasin-project-manager-with-focus-on-sustainability-regulations-l2as