Job description

Some careers have more impact than others.

If you’re looking for a career where you can make a real impression, join HSBC and discover how valued you’ll be. Whether you want a career that could take you to the top, or simply take you in an exciting new direction, HSBC offers opportunities, support and rewards that will take you further.

We are currently seeking a high calibre professional to join our team as Global RES Product Owner - GCOO.

Role purpose

The Global Head of Real Estate Services ESG & Sustainability will play a key role in driving the organization’s corporate real estate related sustainability initatives and be responsible for developing and implementing sustainability strategies that align with the organization’s company values and ambition to be Carbon Net Zero in its own operations and supply chain by 2050.  

Given increasing regulation of ESG disclosures globally, this role is a critical focal point between Group Sustainability, Accounting, Internal Audit, and Risks & Controls for all manner of environmental data. The position is responsible for ensuring that Real Estate Services’ data related to HSBC’s external environmental reporting is complete and accurate. This includes energy, water, waste, and direct emissions of greenhouse gases. Oversight of Global Environmental compliance programme, delivering a robust outcome for HSBC portfolio.

Principal Accountabilities and Responsibilities

This role works with and reports into the Global Head of Real Estate Services, across all their areas of responsibility, aligning, delivering and contributing to policies, processes, procedures and tools for their implementation.

The role holder’s key tasks will include the following:

  • Sustainability Strategy Development & Change Programme Ownership – Develop and lead the global sustainability strategy for the Real Estate Services function, ensuring alignment with company-wide sustainability objectives and climate risk mitigation. This will include strategies related to all aspects of Real Estate Services functions (Energy Management, Scope 1 & 2 emissions roadmap, renewable electricity programmes, Social initiatives & compliance) and including input from relevant bank wide functions such as Corporate Sustainability, Operations & Procurement functions, HR, Risk, Compliance, Legal et al. Familiarity with collaborating and leading across a matrix function with other ESG professionals and influencing non-technical stakeholders.
  • End-to-End Embedding of Sustainability practices across Real Estate Services lifecycle – The ongoing review, revision, development and implementation of Sustainability for key functions including Transactions & Estate Management, Workplace & Construction Management, Facilities Management, Critical Engineering, Workplace, Standards, Policies and Processes to ensure sustainability is systemic and embedded across end-to-end Real Estate Services operations. Including the oversight of Strategic partners and their subsequent sustainability/ESG plans, supporting HSBC strategy through their delivery outputs. Delivery towards Green Lease Programme requirements, supporting new site selection standards evolution and associated performance metrics.
  • Public Energy Targets: Reduce, Replace, Resolve Strategy – Working with internal teams and partners, drive energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives across the global real estate portfolio to meet publicly stated targets:
    • 100% renewable electricity in own operations by by 2030, delivery through PPA’s, green tariffs, on-site generation and Renewable Energy Certificates.
    • Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by >90% by 2030

This strategy will be aligned with the validated corporate science-based carbon target, be region/market specific, and be integrated into the overall sustainability plan;

  • Waste Management & Materials Systems Thinking & Design – Work with stakeholders to drive a resource strategy and support direct reduction of waste creation, move toward zero waste ambitions and market led initiatives for reuse and recycling. Outcome is to drive a more circular economy in HSBC’s own operations - managing waste more efficiently through system redesign and sustainable procurement practices for construction materials, equipment, and services, promoting environmentally friendly suppliers and products.
  • Environmental & Social Knowledge Identification and Application – Actively seek out socially innovative approaches and technologies to enable more diverse, inclusive and advanced ways of meeting HSBC’s sustainable development objectives. Working with the RES community, social enterprise, NGOs, and science and university ecosystems that are ethical and inclusive. Monitor and analyze global environmental and social trends, regulations and stakeholder expectation and translate these into actions across the Global Real Estate asset portfolio. Utilise established industry network, particularly in banking sector to continue to challenge and drive performance.
  • Technology and Automated Data Driven Insights – Broad oversight to ensure clean, high quality and complete data collection programmes operate effectively. Ensure relevance of data driven metrics and maintenance of data for business decision analysis for all appropriate aspects of real estate, facilities management, and procurement operations. Design and lead the creation of a central global ESG data utility, including water and waste reporting.  Ensure appropriate sustainability data governance and controls are in place.
  • Comprehensive Understanding & Application of Current Sustainability Reporting Frameworks - Understand and apply sustainability reporting frameworks within Global Real Estate Services.   Ensure that Real Estate Services stays fully up to date with changing regulatory and other reporting standards.  Working with all necessary internal and external reporting leads, create RES content for the Annual Report & Accounts (ARA) and complete the validation exercise to ensure full RES compliance. 
  • Governance & Risk Management – Identify key sustainability opportunities and risks within the Real Estate Services functions and develop action plans to address them. Possess a detailed working knowledge of Real Estate Services and Sustainability related operational risks (e.g. green washing, energy targets, renewable energy instruments, embodied carbon, material design & performance, supply chain emissions, social impact) and controls. Work with Global and Regional Heads of Real Estate Services, Procurement ESG, Global Risk and Controls Lead and assigned work stream leads to identify, remediate, and record any issues or events in line with HSBC policy.  Ensure that all identified risks are being appropriately managed.
  • Strong Communication & Stakeholder Management – Collaborate with all appropriate internal & external stakeholders, including senior executives, Real Estate Services teams, outsource partners and third parties to integrate and make systemic sustainability practices into Real Estate Services Operations.  Build and manage a bank wide Real Estate Services sustainability communications plan that includes development of behaviour and awareness campaigns for employees, engagement with the Bank’s wider networks and local supply chain partners, to showcase the strength of sustainability solutions from Real Estate Services.
  • Financial Management – Provide robust financial planning, management information, tracking and reporting as required by Real Estate Services Operational Cost Management (OCM) on all ESG related initiatives, proposals and/or option studies. Lobbying for renewable energy budgeting and funding which may not be OPEX but CAPEX related.
  • Industry Best Practice - Stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices in sustainability, bringing innovative ideas and solutions to drive continuous improvement. Be seen as the SME for all ESG related requirements in Real Estate Services. Responsible for ensuring all ESG related regulatory requirements are met within Real Estate Services. Managing the required horizon scanning in collaboration with our 2LOD and translating into actions. Ensuring all existing and new activity required to deliver on the requirements is planned and managed
  • People Metrics – Engage and educate employees and tenants on the importance of sustainability, promoting a culture of environmental responsibility and awareness. Work with Global/Regional/Country HR and management of ‘people’ related issues and metrics related to sustainability. Ensure tangible and achievable stretch Sustainability metrics (Sustainable Development Goals, energy efficiency etc.) and incentives are created, agreed and embedded into senior and middle management scorecards, notably Real Estate Services Heads of geographies, to ensure acceptance and alignment in GCOO.

Requirements

Functional Knowledge

  • Working knowledge of HSBC and ability to navigate different Global Businesses/Functions
  • Experience in driving changes that enable simplification and digitisation of activities. 
  • A good understanding of the financial services industry, including key players, strategic requirements, and key risks facing financial services institutions

Experience

  • Experience in a similar role or working alongside ExCo members.
  • University degree educated or equivalent training/professional development. 
  • Experience in driving change and working/delivering at pace

Performance Measures

  • To achieve agreed operations targets for RES function. 
  • To exceed agreed value targets for the RES function 
  • To contribute to the improvement of process and technology innovation initiatives, delivering improved efficiency for the Bank

Opening up a world of opportunity. 
http://www.hsbc.com/careers

HSBC is committed to building a culture where all employees are valued, respected and opinions count. We take pride in providing a workplace that fosters continuous professional development, flexible working and opportunities to grow within an inclusive and diverse environment. Personal data held by the Bank relating to employment applications will be used in accordance with our Privacy Statement, which is available on our website. 

Issued by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited 

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