Head of Sustainable Finance - Wholesale Banking

The Role

The Head of Sustainable Finance (Wholesale Banking) will support the origination, structuring, and execution of sustainable finance solutions across the bank's Wholesale Banking franchise, including Corporate Banking, Investment Banking, and Financial Institutions. The role supports clients in financing their energy transition, decarbonization, and broader sustainability strategies while contributing to the bank's sustainable finance targets and climate commitments. The candidate should also have strong knowledge of transition finance (climate and nature) and strong experience of developing go-to-market approaches for universal banks for wholesale banking in relation to sustainable finance.

Key Responsibilities

• Originate sustainable finance opportunities across corporate, sovereign and financial institution clients, and drive origination of transition finance opportunities across key market segments.
• Drive the go-to-market approach for Wholesale Banking related to sustainable finance, and help create and maintain the 'hunt' plan for sustainable and transition finance.
• Structure and execute transactions including green loans, sustainability-linked loans (SLLs), green bonds, sustainability bonds and transition finance instruments.
• Identify financing opportunities linked to decarbonization and the energy transition.
• Advise clients on sustainability strategies, transition pathways and financing frameworks, including frameworks aligned with ICMA and LMA principles.
• Provide guidance on ESG disclosure, impact reporting and sustainability KPI selection.
• Act as the point of contact for Wholesale Banking Relationship Managers for sustainable finance, transition finance and ESG enquiries.
• Work with product teams to develop sustainable solutions across project finance, structured finance, debt capital markets and trade finance, including sustainability-linked structures and transition finance products.
• Partner with relationship managers and coverage teams to embed sustainability into client engagement, and provide internal training where applicable.
• Monitor global regulatory developments including ISSB, EU CSRD, EU Taxonomy and transition finance guidance, and contribute to market thought leadership through reports, events and client engagement.
• Ensure transactions align with the bank's sustainable finance frameworks, policies and committees; support ESG due diligence and collaborate with risk and compliance teams.

Qualifications & Experience

• 8-12 years of experience in corporate banking or investment banking, in sustainable finance.
• 8-12 years of experience working in a universal bank in sustainable finance and/or transition finance.
• Experience working with large corporate or institutional clients.
• Advanced degree in finance, economics, sustainability or a related discipline preferred.
• Demonstrated experience structuring sustainable finance transactions such as green bonds or sustainability-linked loans.
• Strong understanding of the ICMA Green Bond Principles and LMA Sustainability Linked Loan Principles.
• Preferred: 5 years' knowledge of GCC markets in sustainable and transition finance; knowledge of key Emirates NBD clients; experience of having developed sustainable finance strategies for 15+ clients.

Skills

• Strong transaction structuring and execution capability.
• Strategic client advisory and stakeholder management.
• Deep knowledge of sustainability and climate finance markets.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to translate sustainability strategies into commercial banking opportunities.