Specialist – Credit Environmental and Social Risk Job at CRDB Bank Plc

CRDB Bank Plc is looking for a Specialist – Credit Environmental and Social Risk to support the implementation of its Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS). The role focuses on identifying and managing environmental, social, climate, labour, health and safety, biodiversity, human rights, and related risks associated with the Bank’s lending and investment activities.

The successful candidate will work throughout the credit lifecycle, from environmental and social due diligence before loan approval to monitoring compliance after financing is provided. The position combines ESG, climate risk, credit risk, sustainability, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement, making it particularly suitable for professionals with environmental or sustainability expertise and practical experience in financial-sector risk assessment.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) for lending, investment, and other credit transactions.

• Categorize environmental and social risks according to the Bank’s ESMS.

  

• Assess climate, labour, occupational health and safety, biodiversity, community health and safety, land acquisition, resettlement, and human rights risks.

• Identify material environmental and social risks and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.

• Develop and review Environmental and Social Action Plans (ESAPs).

• Review Environmental Impact Assessments, permits, licences, audit reports, and other E&S documentation.

• Prepare Environmental and Social Risk Assessment reports for Credit Committees.

• Support continuous improvement of the Bank’s Environmental and Social Management System.

• Integrate ESG requirements into credit appraisal and approval processes.

• Maintain E&S screening tools, checklists, templates, and guidance documents.

• Ensure mandatory E&S reviews are completed before credit approval.

• Support integration of E&S requirements into CreditPro and other credit management systems.

• Contribute to the digitalization and automation of E&S risk management processes.

• Monitor ESAP implementation, covenant compliance, and Environmental and Social Conditions Precedent and Conditions Subsequent.

• Conduct environmental and social site visits and monitoring missions.

• Review client monitoring reports and consultant assessments.

• Follow up corrective actions with Relationship Managers and clients.

• Escalate significant environmental and social incidents to senior management.

• Prepare watchlists for high-risk environmental and social exposures.

• Support annual E&S risk reviews of the lending portfolio.

• Conduct climate risk screening for credit applications.

• Assess physical and transition climate risks affecting borrowers.

• Incorporate climate risk considerations into ESDD reports.

• Maintain climate-risk information and support climate-related portfolio analysis.

• Monitor climate-related covenants and mitigation measures.

• Maintain E&S risk databases, registers, dashboards, and monitoring systems.

• Prepare periodic ESG and E&S risk reports for management, Credit Committees, regulators, and development finance partners.

• Ensure ESG information is complete, accurate, and reliable.

• Work with Business Units, Legal, Compliance, Risk, ICT, and Operations teams.

• Coordinate environmental and social consultants involved in due diligence assignments.

• Support engagement with development finance institutions and technical partners.

• Participate in client meetings and explain environmental and social requirements.

• Conduct awareness and training sessions for Relationship Managers and Credit teams.

• Share lessons learned and good practices from ESDD activities.

• Monitor emerging ESG regulations and international environmental and social standards.

Qualifications and Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in:

  • Environmental Science

  • Environmental Engineering

  • Natural Resources Management

  • Environmental Management

  • Sustainability

  • Climate Change

  • Occupational Health and Safety

  • Social Sciences

  • A related field

• Minimum 3 years of experience in Environmental and Social Risk Management.

• Experience in a commercial bank, development finance institution, financial institution, environmental consultancy, project environment, regulatory agency, or related organization.

• Practical experience supporting credit appraisal, due diligence, portfolio monitoring, project finance, or related activities.

• Experience conducting Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD).

• Experience with IFC Performance Standards, Equator Principles, or comparable international E&S frameworks.

• Experience in climate risk assessment and ESG integration in lending or investment processes.

• Knowledge of sustainability reporting.

• Knowledge of environmental legislation and regulations.

• Understanding of occupational health and safety standards.

• Knowledge of labour standards, biodiversity conservation, human rights, and resettlement principles.

• Experience preparing E&S risk assessment reports for credit approval.

• Experience monitoring environmental and social risks after financing.

• Professional certifications in ESG, sustainability, climate risk, or E&S risk management are an added advantage.

• Examples include IFC Sustainability Training, GRI, ISSP, CFA ESG Investing Certificate, and ISO 14001.

What This Job Really Involves

This is essentially an ESG and environmental/social credit-risk role within a banking environment.

The specialist does not simply assess whether a project is environmentally friendly. They determine whether environmental and social issues associated with a borrower or project could create financial, regulatory, reputational, operational, or credit risks for the Bank.

For example, before financing a major project, the specialist may review environmental assessments, permits, labour practices, land acquisition issues, community impacts, climate exposure, and health and safety risks. If significant risks are identified, they recommend mitigation measures and monitor whether the borrower actually implements them.

The role therefore sits at the intersection of ESG + credit risk + sustainability + environmental assessment + banking compliance.

Ideal Candidate

The strongest candidate would have:

• Environmental or sustainability academic qualifications.

• At least 3 years of relevant E&S risk experience.

• Direct experience with ESDD and credit/project-finance transactions.

• Knowledge of IFC Performance Standards or Equator Principles.

• Understanding of climate and ESG risks.

• Experience preparing reports for credit or investment decisions.

• Ability to conduct site visits and engage with borrowers.

• Strong report-writing and analytical skills.

• Familiarity with banking or development-finance processes.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application through the CRDB Bank careers portal:

The application deadline is 12 August 2026.

Final Thought

This is a specialized opportunity for an environmental, sustainability, ESG, climate-risk, or E&S professional who wants to work within banking. The most important areas to demonstrate in your CV are Environmental and Social Due Diligence, IFC Performance Standards, ESG integration, climate-risk assessment, credit appraisal, portfolio monitoring, environmental legislation, and E&S reporting.