Head of Sustainability - Egypt

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the organization’s sustainability strategy aligned with business objectives and ESG priorities.

• Integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into corporate strategy, operations, and decision-making.

• Set, track, and report on sustainability goals and KPIs (e.g., carbon reduction, resource efficiency, social impact).

• Ensure compliance with local and international sustainability regulations, standards, and frameworks.

• Lead sustainability reporting, disclosures, and assurance processes (e.g., ESG reports, annual reports).

• Partner with executive leadership to embed sustainability across all business units and functions.

• Drive initiatives related to climate action, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable sourcing.

• Engage key stakeholders, including employees, suppliers, regulators, investors, and community partners.

• Identify sustainability risks and opportunities, integrating them into enterprise risk management.

• Build and lead a high-performing sustainability team and promote a culture of sustainability across the organization.

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Experience & Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Sustainability, Environmental Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field (Master’s preferred).

• 15+ years of progressive experience in sustainability, ESG, environmental management, or corporate responsibility.

• Proven experience developing and executing enterprise-wide sustainability or ESG strategies.

• Strong knowledge of sustainability frameworks, standards, and reporting requirements (e.g., ESG metrics, carbon accounting).

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing cross-functional teams and influencing senior stakeholders.

• Experience working with regulators, investors, and external partners on sustainability-related matters.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights and business value.

• Track record of leading sustainability transformation or change management initiatives.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including executive and board-level reporting.

• Experience in the relevant industry or regional market is a strong advantage.

Responsibilities

Strategy Development & Implementation:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive sustainability strategy for the Egypt branch aligned with the bank’s global sustainability framework, Egypt’s vision 2030 and the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) sustainable finance initiatives.

• Identify key sustainability priorities and set measurable targets for environmental and social impact reduction, focusing on areas relevant to Egypt’s development challenges.

• Translate the ESG & sustainability strategy into actionable plans, initiatives, and projects across various business units within the branch.

ESG Integration

• Lead the integration of ESG factors into the bank’s risk management, lending, investment & operational process in Egypt.

• Develop & implement ESG due diligence procedures for new & existing clients & projects ensuring compliance with Egyptian environmental & social regulations Work with Risk team in Egypt & business units to identify & mitigate ESG risk subclasses & capitalize on ESG opportunities associated with their activities in the Egyptian market.

Sustainable Finance Leadership

• Lead the development & promotion of sustainable finance products & services tailored to the Egyptian market, such as green loans, sustainability-linked loans, social bonds & microfinance initiatives.

• Identify, & pursue opportunities to finance projects that contribute to environmental & social sustainability in Egypt, focusing on key sectors such as renewable energy, water management, sustainable agriculture & green buildings.

• Build relationships with clients & investors in Egypt interested in sustainable finance.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build & maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders in Egypt, including the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), government agencies, clients, investors, NGOs, community organizations & industry association.

• Represent the bank at industry events & conferences related to sustainability & sustainable finance in Egypt.

• Communicate the bank’s sustainability performance & initiatives to stakeholders in Egypt through various channels, including reports, presentations & online platforms.

Reporting & Disclosures:

• Oversee the collection, analysis & reporting of ESG & Sustainability data to track progress against sustainability targets in Egypt.

• Ensure compliance with relevant sustainability reporting frameworks & regulations, such as GRI, SASB, TCFD & local Egyptian regulations.

• Prepare & submit sustainability reports to the home office, the CBE & other stakeholders in Egypt.

Risk Management:

• Identify, assess & manage ESG risk subclasses within the branch’s operations & portfolio in Egypt.

• Develop & implement policies & procedures to mitigate ESG risks & ensure compliance with relevant regulations.

• Collaborate with the risk management team in Egypt to integrate ESG factors into the bank’s overall risk framework in Egypt.

Awareness & Training:

• Promote sustainability awareness & engagement among employees in Egypt through training programs, workshops & communication campaigns.

• Build a culture of sustainability within the branch & encourage employees to adopt sustainable practices in their daily work.

• Design and implement awareness programmes for employees and other stakeholders which include e-learning

• Coordinate and support internal business stakeholders in the implementation of sustainability initiatives. Prepare documentation required for project funding for various environmental initiatives including proposals and grant applications

• Develop methodologies, procedures to assess, evaluate and monitor the viability or success of sustainability initiatives and programs.

• Research on emerging environmental sustainability issues, concerns, or stakeholder interests and advise the business appropriately. Maintains current working knowledge of, and ensures compliance with, all applicable environmental laws and regulations

• Prepare communication plans for the Group`s sustainability initiatives and strategies in line with international best practices (including campaigns) and respond to surveys

• Manage the sustainability reporting process for annual report and integrated reporting.

• Implement and manage the bank’s sustainability database and knowledge management.

• Review sustainability program objectives, progress, or status to ensure compliance with policies, standards, regulations, or laws.

• Identify and coordinate sustainability partnerships with relevant stakeholders.

• Represent the bank in appropriate forums for purposes of learning, exposure and sharing.

• Identify and evaluate pilot projects or programs to enhance the Group`s sustainability agenda which will identify opportunities for green initiatives.

• Assess and evaluate feasible international and regional frameworks and principles for sign up to aid Group`s sustainability positioning.

• Performs other related duties as required

Innovation & Collaboration

• Stay abreast of emerging trends & best practices in sustainability & sustainable finance, particularly in the contest of the Egyptian market.

• Identify & evaluate new technologies & solutions that can improve the bank’s sustainability performance in Egypt.

• Collaborate with other banks & organizations in Egypt to promote sustainability in the financial sector.

Policy & Governance:

• Develop & implement sustainability policies & procedures for the Egypt branch.

• Ensure compliance with all applicable local & international sustainability-related laws & regulations.

• Support the development of internal governance structures to oversee sustainability initiatives.

Budget Management:

• Develop & mange the sustainability budget for the Egypt branch.

• Monitor expenditures & ensure that resources are allocated effectively to achieve sustainability goals.

Qualifications

To be considered for the role, the successful applicant should have the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences or a Related Field is preferable.

• Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences or a Related Sustainability Field will be added advantage.

• At least 5 years’ experience in managing Environmental or Sustainability Programmes.

• Professional Qualification in a Sustainability Related Course or Certification in Environmental & Social Governance is preferred.

• Prior experience of conceptualizing / managing / implementing / monitoring CSR projects preferable

• Experience in developing and implementing systems to measure progress of sustainability initiatives

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to manage people/teams and diverse stakeholders.

• Excellent writing & presentation skills.

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as environmental science, sustainability, finance, economics or business administration. Master’s degree preferred.

• [Number] years of experience in sustainability, ESG, sustainable finance or corporate social responsibility, preferably in financial services industry.

• Deep understanding of sustainability issues, trends & best practices, particularly in the context of developing countries like Egypt.

• Strong knowledge of ESG frameworks, reporting standards & regulations.

• Experience in developing & implementing sustainability strategies & initiatives

• Proven track record of integrating ESG factors into business process & decision making.

• Experience in sustainable finance, including green loans, sustainability linked loans & social bonds.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal & stakeholder engagement skills.

• Strong analytical & problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work independently & as part of team.

• Fluency in English & Arabic is highly desirable.

• Strong understanding of the Egyptian environmental & social context, regulatory landscape & financial market.

• Experience working with the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) or other Egyptian government agencies is a plus.

• Skills:

• Strategic thinking

• Leadership

• Communication (written & verbal in both English & Arabic if possible)

• Stakeholder management (particularly in Egyptian context)

• Project management

• Data analysis

• Problem solving

• Influencing & negotiation

• Technical expertise in ESG & sustainable finance

• Knowledge of relevant regulations& reporting frameworks (including Egyptian regulations)