US Corporate ESG and Sustainability Vice President

ESG Subject Matter Expert

Top-tier European bank with a growing and strategically important U.S. platform is seeking a highly qualified ESG Subject Matter Expert (Senior Associate to Vice President level) to join the Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) Risk Management team. This position is critical in advancing BBVA's leadership in sustainable finance and embedding ESG and climate risk analysis into the bank's credit underwriting and portfolio risk management processes.

The ideal candidate will bring 510 years of experience in credit risk, sustainable finance, ESG research, or related fields, preferably within a Corporate and Investment Banking environment. This role will work closely with GRM USA and global ESG risk counterparts to provide in-depth analysis of environmental, social, and governance factors that may affect the financial, reputational, or regulatory risk profile of corporate clients and transactions.

The ESG SME will be instrumental in supporting the execution of BBVA's sustainability strategy by contributing to client and transaction-level assessments, ESG scoring, sectoral risk evaluations, climate alignment tracking, and compliance with evolving ESG frameworks and regulations. The role requires a solid grounding in financial analysis, combined with a strong understanding of sustainability and climate-related risks across key sectors.

BBVA is a recognized global leader in sustainable banking and impact-driven finance. We support our clients in the transition to a low-carbon economy, promote inclusive growth, and contribute meaningfully to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The successful candidate will join a values-driven institution committed to generating positive environmental and social impact through responsible banking practices.

Certifications such as GARP Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) or CFA ESG Investing are highly valued, though not required.

BBVA is seeking an experienced ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Subject Matter Expert (SME) to join its Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) Risk division in the U.S. This newly created role reflects BBVA's ongoing commitment to sustainability and aims to formalize and elevate ESG integration within our credit risk and client onboarding processes.

As ESG continues to shape the landscape of corporate finance, the ESG SME will serve as a pivotal advisor and implementation leader, working in close collaboration with credit underwriters, risk managers, and sector teams to ensure ESG considerations are fully embedded in BBVA's investment and lending decisions. The ESG SME will apply advanced knowledge of sustainability risks, climate frameworks, and regulatory standards to support the credit evaluation of corporate and institutional clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the incorporation of ESG and climate-related risks into the credit analysis process for corporate and institutional clients.

• Ensure that all sustainability-related data is accurately collected, validated, and utilized in the credit memo process.

• Partner with underwriters to interpret sector-specific ESG risks and opportunities and reflect these in credit decisions.

• Support alignment of client assessments with global sustainability frameworks and internal decarbonization strategies.

• Act as a primary liaison between U.S. Risk teams and global ESG Risk functions on complex ESG issues, policy interpretations, or transaction reviews.

• Analyze environmental and social risks during client onboarding and transaction evaluation stage, including the calculation of the internal ESG risk score.

• Review client decarbonization or transition plans to assess alignment with BBVA's climate goals.

• Contribute to sectoral policy development and risk appetite definition based on ESG risk exposure.

• Provide training and guidance to credit analysts and bankers on tool usage and ESG factor interpretation.

• Collaborate with data teams to ensure that ESG data is properly mapped and maintained across systems.

• Support reporting teams with ESG-related data for regulatory submissions, internal dashboards, and portfolio-level risk analyses (e.g., PCAF,…