The Environmental Risk Specialist is responsible for supporting the bank’s environmental risk management program by conducting and overseeing environmental due diligence activities associated with commercial credit transactions. This role evaluates environmental risk exposure related to real estate collateral and commercial lending relationships, including the review of Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), Phase II subsurface investigations, remediation documentation, and other environmental reports to identify potential liabilities and ensure compliance with internal policy and regulatory expectations.

The Environmental Risk Specialist partners closely with Credit Underwriting, Portfolio Management, Special Assets, Appraisal/Valuation, Legal, Policy, and external environmental consultants to assess environmental conditions that may impact collateral value, borrower repayment capacity, or the bank’s legal and reputational risk. This role helps ensure environmental risks are appropriately identified, escalated, documented, and mitigated throughout the credit lifecycle.

Salary Range

The annual salary range for this position is $60,000 - $121,300. The base salary indicated for this position reflects the compensation range applicable to all levels of the role across the United States. Actual salary offers within this range may vary based on a number of factors, including the specific responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s relevant skills and professional experience, educational qualifications, and geographic location.

Key Accountabilities

• Environmental Due Diligence Review

Review environmental due diligence reports for commercial real estate and commercial & industrial lending transactions, including:

• Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
• Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
• Records review reports
• Regulatory database reports
• Limited site investigations
• Remediation status reports
• Vapor intrusion, asbestos, lead-based paint, mold, wetlands, and other specialized environmental studies, as applicable
• Assess the adequacy, scope, and conclusions of environmental consultant reports and determine whether additional investigation or risk mitigation is warranted.
• Identify transactions requiring enhanced environmental review due to property type, historical use, industry classification, or collateral characteristics.

Credit and Risk Advisory Support

• • Provide environmental risk guidance to underwriting, credit approval, and portfolio teams during origination, renewal, modification, and workout activities.
  • Advise on environmental risk considerations related to collateral acceptability, structure recommendations, loan policy adherence, and approval conditions.
  • Recommend appropriate risk mitigation strategies, including indemnifications, reserves, remediation requirements, monitoring, environmental insurance, or other structural protections.
  • Support environmental risk assessment for criticized, classified, or problem loans where contamination or environmental liability may impact collateral value or liquidation strategy.

Reporting and Documentation

• • Prepare clear, concise environmental risk summaries and recommendations for credit files, approval memoranda, and risk committees.
  • Document environmental due diligence decisions, exceptions, and required follow-up in accordance with internal policies and procedures.
  • Track and monitor environmental reporting requirements, outstanding review items, remediation matters, and covenant compliance.
  • Maintain organized records of environmental assessments, consultant communications, and internal approvals.

Policy, Governance, and Program Support

• • Support the administration and ongoing enhancement of the bank’s environmental risk management framework, including policies, procedures, job aids, and due diligence standards.
  • Assist in developing environmental screening criteria and risk-based review requirements by loan type, collateral type, and exposure threshold.
  • Promote consistency in environmental due diligence practices across lending teams and portfolios.
  • Participate in internal audits, regulatory examinations, and periodic reviews related to environmental risk management.
  • Stay current on emerging environmental risk trends, regulatory developments, and industry standards affecting commercial lending.
• Vendor and Consultant Coordination
  • Coordinate with approved environmental consulting firms to obtain, review, and clarify reports.
  • Evaluate consultant responsiveness, report quality, and alignment with bank requirements.
  • Assist with management of third-party environmental vendors, including engagement standards and service expectations.
• Training and Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Serve as a subject matter resource to internal stakeholders on environmental due diligence requirements and environmental risk issues.
  • Provide training or guidance to credit, underwriting, lending, and portfolio teams on environmental screening triggers, report interpretation, and escalation protocols.
  • Collaborate with Legal, Special Assets, Appraisal, and other risk functions on complex environmental matters and remediation strategies.

Key Competencies for Position

Promotes Change – Seeks to understand and embrace change. 

• Actively seeks, information to understand the rationale, implications and impact for changes.
• Remains agile by quickly modifying daily behavior, leveraging resources, and trying new approaches to effectively embrace change.
• Willing to act quickly, learn and adjust as needed.
• Identifies and recommends changes to leadership to improve performance.

Compelling Communication – Openly and effectively communicates with others. 

• Effectively and transparently shares information and ideas with others.
• Tailors the delivery of communication in a way that engages the audience and that is easy to understand and retain.
• Unites others towards common goal.
• Asks for others' opinions and ideas and listens actively to gain their support when clarifying expectations, agreeing on a solution and checking for satisfaction.

Makes Decisions & Solves Problems – Seeks deeper understanding and takes action. 

• Takes ownership of the problem while collaborating with others on a resolution with an appropriate level of urgency.
• Collaborates and seeks to understands the root causes of problems.
• Evaluates the implications of new information or events and recommends solutions using decisions that are sound based on what is known at the time.
• Takes action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences.

 Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, Environmental Engineering, Geology, Hydrogeology, Chemistry, Risk Management, Finance, or a related field required
• Advanced degree in environmental, engineering, or business-related discipline preferred
• 3–7+ years of relevant experience in environmental risk management, environmental consulting, commercial real estate due diligence, commercial credit, or a related field
• Experience reviewing and interpreting Phase I and Phase II environmental reports required
• Experience supporting environmental due diligence in a commercial banking, credit, lending, or real estate finance environment preferred
• Experience with contaminated properties, remediation monitoring, and environmentally sensitive industries preferred
• Familiarity with ASTM environmental site assessment standards and commercial real estate transaction due diligence practices
• Working knowledge of environmental regulatory programs at the federal and state level
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and environmental/credit tracking systems