CIB, Associate, Structured Finance – Project Finance Underwriting & Portfolio Management (First Line of Defense)

CIB, Associate, Structured Finance – Project Finance Underwriting & Portfolio Management (First Line of Defense)

Country: United States of America

It Starts Here:

Santander is a global leader and innovator in the financial services industry and is evolving from a high-impact brand into a technology-driven organization. Our people are at the heart of this journey and together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible.  This is more than a strategic shift.  It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference.

If you are interested in exploring the possibilities We Want to Talk to You!

The Difference You Make:

The CIB, Associate role sits within Santander Corporate & Investment Banking and functions as a front-office, First Line of Defense credit role supporting the underwriting, structuring, and active management of infrastructure and real assets credit exposures, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy, energy transition, and infrastructure (including digital infrastructure).

The role operates as a credit function within the business, partnering closely with origination and product teams and maintaining direct accountability for asset-level underwriting, credit quality, documentation, and execution. The Associate leads transactions across the full investment lifecycle, from underwriting through active asset-level portfolio management, applying rigorous credit judgment and engaging credibly with the 2nd Line of Defense.

This position is designed for a highly motivated professional who thrives in a fast-paced, client-facing investment banking environment and demonstrates strong judgment, ownership, and commitment to Santander’s risk culture.

Underwriting

• Support underwriting and structuring of new infrastructure and real assets transactions, including new originations, refinancings, extensions, upsizes, amendments.

• Act as the First Line of Defense credit owner, accountable for the accuracy and completeness of credit analysis, due diligence, and supporting documentation.

• Develop clear, concise, and judgment-driven credit recommendations that articulate key risks, mitigants, and structural protections in line with Santander credit standards

• Support the senior underwriter to defend credit recommendations and actively drive and accelerate approvals with the 2nd Line of Defense.

Portfolio Management

• Participate in and, as appropriate, lead client interactions, demonstrating command of asset performance, financing structure, and client requests.

• When acting in an Administrative Agent role, take a leadership position in coordinating the lender group building consensus.

• Develop and maintain complex financial models, incorporating debt, tax equity, and equity structures, with a focus on operating cash flows.

• Own post-close portfolio management end-to-end, with direct accountability for asset performance monitoring, covenant compliance, proactive risk identification, and delivery against client and transaction timelines.

• Own consent, waiver, and amendment processes, leveraging asset-level analysis to prepare credit write-ups and recommendations, structure and negotiate outcomes with sponsors and counterparties. Synthesize portfolio performance, trends, and emerging risks into clear, concise written materials and presentations for senior management.

• Represent the business in interactions with auditors and regulators, demonstrating command of underlying credit decisions, asset fundamentals, and Santander’s risk framework.

• Respond to ad-hoc requests from Senior Management, often covering implications of law changes and shifts in government policy

• Perform annual credit reviews of assigned exposures, reassessing performance, risk profile, and adherence to original underwriting. Strong ability to synthesize complex asset-level and cash flow analysis into clear, credit narratives.

Leadership & Development

• Provide guidance, review, and mentorship to Analysts, setting expectations for analytical rigor, writing quality, and execution discipline.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of underwriting, portfolio management, and credit processes.

What You Bring:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance,