Director, Sustainability and ESG Strategy

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Since our launch in 2015, we've lent over £10bn to ambitious entrepreneurs up and down the UK. That's led to the creation of over 40,000 new jobs and over 29,000 new homes - and we're not about to stop there. We're dedicated to helping trailblazing businesses thrive and this role is pivotal to ensuring our continued progress and momentum in terms of sustainability and ESG.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a fast-paced, growing bank with a reputation for doing things differently. We don't want another cog in the machine, we're looking for self-starters and bold thinkers who want to pave their own career paths and are passionate about supporting the UK's best and brightest business people.

Responsibilities

• Build the profile of OakNorth in the external market as a climate leader
• Assess appropriate sustainability opportunities for OakNorth and drive the ESG agenda within the business
• Assess the impact of climate change, biodiversity, or environmental principles, policies, and programs on various sectors and develop recommendations
• Lead the strategy and OKRs to help the business achieve its ESG and net zero targets
• Lead on the reporting and disclosure of ESG including within the annual results, as well as TCFD, TNFD, and ISSB reporting
• Assist on the evolution of the bank's climate risk management, monitoring and frameworks
• Create partnerships with external climate organisations and build awareness of current/recent policy discussions and enhancements
• Own the business' carbon footprint calculation and drive its reduction through a continual review of customers, suppliers and transition planning mechanisms
• Ensure awareness of regulatory and disclosure requirements for climate and ESG
• Gather and review climate-related studies published by government agencies, research laboratories, and other organizations
• Lead ESG engagement activities for employees
• Measure impact of OakNorth's climate change progress

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Requirements

• Great project management capability, including the ability to execute and drive to completion large programs of work
• Excellent communication skills, up to Board level and with external partners
• Excellent problem-solving skills, can think logically through issues and propose alternative solutions
• Proactive, creative and excellent at generating ideas and action plans
• Solid analytical skills; able to define and analyse sectors, evaluate jurisdictions and consider business impacts through the lens of climate activity
• Excellent research and presentation skills
• Experience in developing and executing on ESG and climate-related strategy
• The ability to work well independently, identifying which stakeholders you need to bring in at different times, and where you may need additional support
• The ability to develop high-level strategy, but are also willing to roll up your sleeves to execute on the implementation of that strategy

About Us

We're OakNorth Bank and we embolden entrepreneurs to realise their ambitions, understand their markets, and apply data intelligence to everyday decisions to scale successfully at pace.

Banking should be barrier-free. It's a belief at our very core, inspired by our entrepreneurial spirit, driven by the unmet financial needs of millions, and delivered by our data-driven tools.

And for those who love helping businesses thrive? Our savings accounts help diversify the high street and create new jobs, all while earning savers some of the highest interest on the market.

But we go beyond finance, to empower our people, encourage professional growth and create an environment where everyone can thrive. We strive to create an inclusive and diverse workplace where people can be themselves and succeed.

Our story

OakNorth Bank was built on the foundations of frustrations with old-school banking. In 2005, when our founders tried to get capital for their data analytics company, the computer said 'no'. Unfortunately, all major banks in the UK were using the same computer - and it was broken.

Why was it so difficult for a profitable business with impressive cashflow, retained clients, and clear commercial success to get a loan?

The industry was backward-looking and too focused on historic financials, rather than future potential.

So, what if there was a bank, founded by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs? One that offered a dramatically better borrowing experience for businesses?

No more what ifs, OakNorth Bank exists.

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