DESCRIPTION

Responsible for independently evaluating environmental risks associated with real estate collateral, determining appropriate levels of environmental due diligence, and ensuring the quality and integrity of the environmental review process. Provides clear, well-supported risk conclusions and mitigation recommendations to support credit decisions. Manages assignments with elevated complexity, including the most complex environmental matters, and serves as a technical resource to business units, credit teams, consultants, and less experienced teammates.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Following is a summary of the essential functions for this job.  Other duties may be performed, both major and minor, which are not mentioned below.  Specific activities may change from time to time.  

1. Independently determine appropriate scope and level of environmental due diligence based on property type, current and historical use, transaction structure, identified environmental conditions, and applicable Bank requirements.

2.  Evaluate environmental risks associated with real estate collateral and determine whether those risks are acceptable within established risk parameters. Clearly communicate conclusions and provide practical risk mitigation recommendations to business units, credit teams, and other stakeholders in support of credit decisions. 

3.  Develop and oversee risk-based action plans when environmental concerns are identified, including additional investigation, regulatory evaluation, remediation, environmental insurance, engineering or institutional controls, ongoing monitoring, and estimates of potential costs to cure.

4. Order, review, and evaluate environmental assessments and related technical documentation for accuracy, completeness, regulatory relevance, compliance with applicable ASTM standards, and consistency with the approved scope of work.

5. Manage environmental assignments with elevated levels of risk, complexity, or sensitivity, including the most complex matters involving significant contamination, regulatory involvement, remediation obligations, redevelopment, multiple properties, or complex transaction structures.

6. Coordinate with environmental consultants, business units, legal counsel, credit teams, property owners, and other stakeholders to resolve due diligence deficiencies, clarify environmental findings, and determine whether completed work adequately addresses identified risks.

7. Evaluate the quality and performance of environmental consultants, provide feedback regarding the adequacy of completed work, and make recommendations concerning the addition, retention, restriction, or removal of firms from the Bank’s approved consultant program.

8. Provide technical consultation and training to business units, credit teams, and other teammates regarding environmental due diligence, environmental risk mitigation, regulatory requirements, and the application of Bank environmental risk policies and procedures.

9. Maintain advanced knowledge of environmental risk management practices, applicable federal and state environmental requirements, CERCLA liability and defenses, lender and secured-creditor protections, and current ASTM assessment and reporting standards.

10. Assist with the development, interpretation, implementation, and periodic revision of Bank environmental risk policies, procedures, guidance, tools, and quality-control practices.

11.  Identify emerging environmental risks, regulatory developments, and industry trends that could affect real estate collateral, lending activities, or the Bank’s environmental risk management practices.

12.  Mentor and provide technical guidance to less experienced teammates, support consistent application of environmental risk requirements, and assist with the review or escalation of complex assignments.

13.  Maintain complete, accurate, and timely documentation of environmental reviews, risk conclusions, required actions, approvals, and final resolution in applicable Bank systems.