Job Description

Closing Date 2024/08/22
Reference Number LAN240816-2
Job Title Head: Sustainability
Division Strategy and Stakeholder Relations
Unit Strategy Marketing Comms & Policy
Job Type Classification Permanent
Location - Country South Africa
Location - Province Gauteng
Location - Town / City Centurion
Job Advert SummaryTo lead and direct the sustainability function and its underpinning facets of ESG at a Group level. This includes designing, developing, and implementing sustainable strategies, de-risking issues of business and operational impact, and maximising opportunities to enhance the Banks reputational capital and position it favourably to attract funding investments. The role involves providing actionable insights to the business (board, executive, and staff) through expert guidance, embedding sustainability imperatives within the Banks business model to manage its risks and exposure to business impacts and opportunities, including those of its clients activities. Additionally, the Head of Sustainability will lead the sustainability team in developing long-range strategic plans and objectives by identifying strategic issues and opportunities that could influence business reputation and sustainability.
Key Performance Areas1. Strategy Development and Leadership

• Design and establish a Sustainable Development Strategy for the Group and a supporting framework, and an implementation plan.
• Provide strategic thinking and contributions to crafting of the Banks ESG goals, and sustainable development goals (SDGs), and ensuring that the targets are aligned to global frameworks.
• Develop and present the annual Sustainability Strategy for the board (RGC and SEC) and ExCo for approval for incorporation into the Banks corporate and divisional scorecard.
• Research and observe the general and financial services industrys sustainable development trends and integrate with the Banks business strategy.

2. Sustainability Programme and Project Management

• Collaborate across the organisation with the leadership, aiding in translating the sustainability strategy into an implementable sustainability programme.
• Lead facilitation and monitoring of the execution of the Banks sustainability programme consisting of different projects and initiatives taking place across the Bank.
• Conceptualise and implement sustainable development events, programmes and projects according to the identified annual business priorities and needs.
• Whether standalone Land Bank or partnerships events or workshops, lead the engagement on the sustainability strategy and issues to ensure relevance, best practices and maintain the reputation of the Bank.

3. Compliance, Risk and Reporting

• Facilitate and contribute to corporate risk sustainability assessments.
• Design and ensure effective reporting systems that may be required from time to time for both internal and external reporting obligations.
• Leverage technology to enable sustainability management, disclosures and reporting.
• Coordinate, prepare and ensure the Banks responses to, inter-alia, regulatory institutions and lenders ESG conditions.

4. Thought Leadership

• Ensure the Bank is positioned as a thought leader in the sustainability space by developing and managing external stakeholder relationships and advising ExCo and the Board on the use of external influence.
• Conduct research and prepare recommendations in specific areas either as identified by the business or by the unit itself.
• Act as the chief contributor to the Banks spokespersons on sustainability issues, and position oneself as a subject matter expert for sustainability by communicating (through written articles, media interviews) to various audiences, including the media regarding trends and developments regarding the Banks sustainability work.
• Produce quarterly thought leadership pieces and/or input into the Boards sub-committee reports by providing guidance as to focus areas, ensuring consistency of messaging, and provision of relevant insights for ExCo and the board.

5. Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management

• Use own influence and credibility to attract high-quality speakers and contributors to the Banks events, outputs and engagements.
• Solve client-related problems and effect change in market conditions by consulting with internal and external stakeholders to propose solutions and by working closely with regulatory teams to ensure that relevant change is affected.
• Build and enhance stakeholder relationships (including global associations and other bodies) by understanding and analysing their requirements.
• Ensure the Bank is considered the partner of choice in sustainability events manifested through offers of sponsorships and invitations to partners received

6. People ManagementPerformance ManagementBuild the sustainability team and manage their performance by:

• Establishing key roles.
• Developing role profiles.
• Developing key performance areas.

Capacity Planning

• Determine the human resource requirements, in accordance with the expected deliverables and current capacity.
• Secure the human capital requirements to ensure that deliverables will be met in accordance with the expected targets.
• Set and achieve employment equity targets.

Financial Management

• Develop and manage the departmental budget.
• Manage expenditure and ensure no fruitless expenditure.
• Adhere to financial guidelines and thus ensure proper control over expenditure.

Preferred Minimum Education and Experience * Bachelors degree in Commerce, Environmental Science, Risk, Business Management, or related fields.

• A minimum of 8 years exposure working with Group risk with a sustainability focus.
• 5 - 8 years experience in Strategic planning and implementation
• 5 - 8 years experience in sustainability assurance - i.e. auditing sustainability indicators
• 2 - 3 years experience in Financial services and analysis
• 2 - 3 years experience in Managing resources

Critical Competencies * Organisation and Planning

• Problem Solving
• Quantitative Analysis
• Excellent Written & Verbal Communication
• Reporting
• Stakeholder Management
• Commercial and Business Acumen
• Achievement Orientation
• Leading and Empowering others
• Strategic & Innovative Thinking
• Teamwork & Cooperation

Additional Requirements * Knowledge of / Experience in Financial Lending Principles and Tools

• Knowledge of PFMA
• Land Bank Act

Land Bank