Senior Sustainability Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Duty Station: Head Office

Reports to:     Head of Risk

SUMMARY

The Senior Sustainability Officer serves as FINCA Uganda’s technical lead and subject matter expert on sustainability and climate-related risk.  He/She is responsible for embedding sustainability considerations into strategy, risk management and operations, and for the day-to-day implementation of FINCA Uganda's Sustainability and Climate Risk Policy, Environmental and Social Governance Policy, and related governance frameworks across the credit portfolio and business operations. He/She is also responsible for coordinating, monitoring and reporting on Environmental Social and Governance/climate risk in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, and driving execution of the Environmental and Social Governance Implementation across the network.

 1.      Governance, Risk & Compliance

·        Leading the implementation of Environmental and Social Governance and climate-risk frameworks, policies, and due diligence tools.

·        Reviewing high-risk credit transactions, managing corrective action plans, conducting climate stress testing, and ensuring compliance with Bank of Uganda and international sustainability standards.

2.      Sustainable Finance & Strategy

·        Integrating climate-risk and sustainability considerations into overall business strategy, operations, and procurement.

·        Partnering with business teams to develop green lending, climate finance, and financial inclusion products that drive both environmental impact and commercial value.

·        Overseeing the collection, tracking, and validation of Environmental and Social Governance data.

·        Leading the preparation of audit-ready sustainability disclosures, regulatory submissions, and funder reports. 

4.      Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

·        Building and managing strategic relationships with development finance institutions, funders, regulators, and industry networks to support capacity building and product design.

5.      Innovation & Continuous Improvement

·        Identifying and launching innovative green products, climate-resilience programs, and resource-efficiency initiatives.

·        Bench marking internal performance against industry peers and international best practices.

6.      Sustainability Culture

·     Driving organization-wide awareness and training programs to embed Environmental and Social Governance commitments into daily operations and fostering collaboration across business units.

7.      Strategic Advisory

·        Serving as the subject-matter expert to advise senior management and the Executive Committee on emerging Environmental and Social Governance trends, risks, regulations, and strategic priorities.

8.      Assurance & Certification

·        Directing sustainability audits, certifications, and external assessments by maintaining robust governance controls, documentation, and evidence.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

1.      Exceptional verbal, written, and creative communication skills, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality reports and presentations.

2.      Outstanding interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and multi-sector stakeholders.

3.      Strong organizational and administrative capabilities, with a proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.

4.      Proven capacity to translate high-level corporate strategies into clear, achievable performance objectives.

5.      Deep understanding and practical knowledge of contemporary practices in corporate marketing and communications.

6.      High level of personal accountability, with a strict focus on delivering broader corporate goals and sustainability commitments.

7.      Ability to make firm decisions and issue authoritative recommendations under uncertain conditions, particularly when evaluating escalated high-risk transactions.

8.      A natural ability to project a positive professional image and role-model the Bank's core values.

9.      Impeccable ethical standards and sound judgment, essential for executing the role's gatekeeping authority over high-risk lending decisions.

Qualifications and Experience

•      A Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Agriculture, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Business, Finance, Economics, Banking or any relevant field

•      A professional qualification in a sustainability-related course, or a certification in Environmental & Social Governance (ESG), is an added advantage.

•      A minimum of 2 years’ experience managing sustainability programs and sustainability communications

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

1.      Exceptional verbal, written, and creative communication skills, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality reports and presentations.

2.      Outstanding interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and multi-sector stakeholders.

3.      Strong organizational and administrative capabilities, with a proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.

4.      Proven capacity to translate high-level corporate strategies into clear, achievable performance objectives.

5.      Deep understanding and practical knowledge of contemporary practices in corporate marketing and communications.

6.      High level of personal accountability, with a strict focus on delivering broader corporate goals and sustainability commitments.

7.      Ability to make firm decisions and issue authoritative recommendations under uncertain conditions, particularly when evaluating escalated high-risk transactions.

8.      A natural ability to project a positive professional image and role-model the Bank's core values.

9.      Impeccable ethical standards and sound judgment, essential for executing the role's gatekeeping authority over high-risk lending decisions.

Qualifications and Experience

•      A Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Agriculture, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Business, Finance, Economics, Banking or any relevant field

•      A professional qualification in a sustainability-related course, or a certification in Environmental & Social Governance (ESG), is an added advantage.

•      A minimum of 2 years’ experience managing sustainability programs and sustainability communications