Sustainability Consultant WB - Terra

Our Purpose

Sustainability is one of the world’s biggest challenges. Climate change threatens our planet and us all. Many people around the world struggle with inequality, poor financial health and a lack of basic human rights. Putting sustainability at the heart of what we do recognizes that we have a responsibility to society to define new ways of doing business that align economic growth with positive environmental and social impact. We live up to this responsibility because it is the right thing to do.

We’ve always been a pioneer. And we’re determined to be a banking leader; building a sustainable future for our company, our customers, society and the environment. By protecting the planet and supporting people to make the necessary transition. How?

• We lead by example by striving for net zero in our own operations.

• We play our full part in the social and low-carbon transformation that’s necessary to achieve a sustainable future, steering our financing towards meeting global climate goals.

• We work with our clients to help them achieve their own sustainability goals.

• We manage the most relevant environmental and social risks.

• And we empower our colleagues to contribute to it all.

The Opportunity

This vacancy is in the Wholesale Banking team and is for the expert area of Terra, which is our approach on steering hundreds of billions of euros in our loan book towards meeting net-zero climate goals. The position reports to the team’s Head of Sustainability, Wholesale Banking.

This role is established to facilitate Terra. ING is focusing on the sectors in our loan book that are responsible for the world’s most greenhouse gas emissions: power generation, fossil fuels, automotive, shipping, aviation, steel, cement, residential mortgages and commercial real estate. We are measuring whether our lending in each sector is adding up to contribute to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Per sector, we use the most appropriate methodology available, acknowledging that there are many roads to net zero and in the end it’s the impact that counts. More information on Terra is available here: https://www.ing.com/Sustainability/Sustainable-business/Terra-approach.htm

In this role, the candidate’s responsibilities include supporting on all deliverables of the Terra team as needed, for example:

• Update sector pathways to net-zero scenarios and setting intermediate targets

• Expand our coverage to more sectors and other asset classes

• Assessing and reporting on absolute emissions for our book

• Contribute to ING’s Integrated Climate Report and meeting other reporting/disclosure needs

• Create the right tools which are dynamic and can inform business to steer towards our net zero ambitions

• Use the tooling to integrate climate alignment in core business credit processes, systems and reporting

• Educate and engage with business teams to bring net zero targets to life within each sector

• Represent ING in relevant working groups, conferences, events to build and share knowledge and position ING as a climate leader

• Act as an advisor to senior management and ING leaders to set the strategy, KPIs and incentives to drive net-zero action within the bank

What are we looking for?

• Master’s degree (e.g. Environmental/Climate Science, Sustainability, Finance, Strategy, Business)

• Appr. 2-3 years of relevant working experience (preferably with financial institutions or corporate supply chains)

• Ability to deal with technical knowledge, complex data & analytics and deep dive into specific climate topics is a must

• Able to digest scientific research and apply this for business purposes

• Knowledge on climate alignment with experience on how to use this knowledge in the financial sector or other business environment is a strong plus

• Experience with being a part of large complex programmes is a plus

• Ability to work and communicate with diverse groups of people in different cultural, functional and geographical boundaries.

• Ability to draw quick but steady conclusions in tight timeframes, and to remain friendly and diplomatic under pressure

• A good team player who is able to do support the collective ambition of the team

• Passion to build knowledge and experience in climate alignment and strategizing and implementing net zero in FIs

• Fluent in English spoken and written

• Based in the Netherlands (in exceptional cases, we may consider supporting relocation)

We do not view gaps in resumes negatively if they help build the additional skills, passion and drive that are needed for this role.

We offer you

• A position within a strong and dynamic team, in a work field that is of growing importance both inside and outside ING

• A full time position (36-40 hours) and a competitive salary

• Work location is Amsterdam (Cedar), the Netherlands with partial remote working and flexibility

Our department

The Sustainability agenda is a board level mandate. The Global Head of the team reports directly to the CEO of ING Group. The Global Sustainability team is organized like ING’s business organization where it is split to focus on ING’s main business lines Wholesale Banking, Business Banking and Retail Banking. Within these business lines, we cover the key ESG focus areas which are climate, biodiversity, human rights and financial health. The team is diverse in terms of gender, nationality, background and skills. With an increasing focus to meaningfully and speedily integrate sustainability into the business, the team seeks to play the role of an expert center and an advisor.

ING’s Global Sustainability department develops the overall ethical, social and environmental direction of ING. The department has a global focus. We engage in dialogue with key stakeholder groups such as NGOs, governments, academics, sustainable research agencies and investors. The team analyses social and environmental trends, takes part in public debate, works closely with the various business lines and risk departments as well as with Media Relations or Public & Governmental Affairs, and advises ING’s MBB and senior management on strategy, reputation management, reporting and business development.

For more information visit: www.ing.com or our Community: https://communities.ing.net/sites/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx