Senior Associate, Sustainability

Citizens’ Sustainability Team oversees the bank’s enterprise-wide environmental, social and governance strategy and sits within Enterprise Strategy. We are responsible for ongoing development of, engagement on, and reporting against the bank’s Sustainability & Impact strategy, which requires working across all divisions of the bank and ongoing communication with senior leadership, the Board of Directors, and external stakeholders. We are seeking a motivated and results-oriented individual to join us as a key contributor within our small, high-impact team. This is an exciting opportunity for a professional with relevant work experience and a passion for driving impact through sustainable business practices. The role will afford exposure to all aspects of the team with a focus on engagement with the business on innovative commercial opportunities.  

We welcome applicants who bring solid business expertise and a desire to make a positive impact through innovative, sustainability-focused solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop Market Research & Trend Analysis: Monitor and analyze relevant external trends (e.g., climate-related market trends, sustainability-related funds, investment solutions and consumer preferences), with a close eye on competitive behavior. Identify key takeaways for the team, which can be shared with relevant colleague groups and may be considered for senior management, Citizens’ Board of Directors and via external thought leadership opportunities. 

• Support Product Development & Launch: Work with the business to support the exploration, development and launch of sustainability-related business solutions. This activity will be conducted with an eye on positioning Citizens with distinction and aligning with broader strategic objectives of the bank. 

• Evaluate External Partnerships: Assess and develop relationships with external partners, such as data providers and sustainability-focused fintechs, that could bolster Citizens’ sustainable business offerings, governance processes, or other related efforts.

• Support Enterprise-wide Sustainability Strategy: Collaborate with internal teams to support ad hoc sustainability initiatives that may arise across the bank.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Sustainability, or a related field.

• 3-5 years of relevant work experience, with a strong preference for experience within the financial services industry. Working knowledge of laws, regulations, and other drivers that influence corporate sustainability practices is a plus.

• Strong interest in sustainability and applying related principles to drive business results. 

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to research, analyze, and interpret trends and data on short notice and with an executive audience in mind.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with experience preparing materials and translating complex concepts into succinct takeaways for non-technical audiences.

• Proven organizational and project management skills; can manage multiple priorities effectively.

• Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team environment.

• A proactive, self-starter that excels at navigating uncertainty with agility and strategic problem-solving.

• Familiarity with sustainability frameworks and industry standards (e.g., Green Bond Principles, TCFD).

• Exposure to sustainable finance or ESG-related product development is a plus.

• Comfort working independently and in groups both in-person and virtually, with the expectation that collaboration with Citizens’ colleagues across our footprint will be needed.

Hours & Work Schedule

• Hours per Week: 40
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday In the Westwood MA , Boston MA or New York, NY or Stamford, CT  Office 4 days 1 day remote. 

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Pay Transparency 

The salary range for this position is $93,520 - $100,000 per year, plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the work location, and relevant skills and experience.

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness pr