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- Tasks: Lead HSBC's sustainability and climate risk initiatives while managing a dynamic team.
- Company: Join HSBC, a global leader in banking, committed to innovation and sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, private healthcare, generous maternity pay, and a strong pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the legal industry while fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in legal operations and strong leadership skills are essential.
- Other info: Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of HSBC's recruitment process.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Brand: HSBC
Area of Interest: Audit
Location: London, GB, E14 5HQ
Work style: Hybrid Worker
Date: 13 Mar 2025
Position: Head of Sustainability and Climate Risk, ESG Audit (3395) GCB3 – Global Internal Audit – UK Nationwide
Some careers open more doors than others! If you’re looking for a career that will unlock new opportunities, join HSBC and experience the possibilities. Whether you want a role 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.
As an HSBC employee in the UK, you will have access to tailored professional development opportunities and a competitive pay and benefits package. This includes private healthcare for all UK-based employees, enhanced maternity and adoption pay and support when you return to work, and a contributory pension scheme with a generous employer contribution.
We are currently seeking an innovative and high calibre professional to be the Head of Legal Market Engagement team. You will have the opportunity to drive meaningful change in the legal industry, ensuring HSBC maximizes the value of its external legal spend while fostering innovation and accountability among its external legal partners.
As the Head of Legal Market Engagement, you will play a fundamental role and lead within HSBC’s Legal function, responsible for driving a strategic and commercial approach to the bank’s external legal spend. You will lead a team of Law Firm Relationship Managers, Pricing and Legal Project Managers.
In this role, you will:
- Lead HSBC’s strategic shift from traditional hourly billing to Effective Fee Arrangements (EFAs) that promote cost certainty, efficiency, and value.
- Design and implement innovative pricing structures with law firms and ALSPs, ensuring optimal financial outcomes for the bank, whilst developing and maintaining HSBC’s Legal Market Engagement Framework.
- Oversee HSBC’s panel of law firms and ALSPs, ensuring they meet performance and innovation targets.
- Hold firms to account against a defined set of commercial, operational, and service expectations and lead negotiations on panel agreements, ensuring competitive pricing and strong service delivery.
- Manage and develop a team of Law Firm Relationship Managers, Pricing and Legal Project Managers, fostering a high-performance culture.
- Collaborate with HSBC’s legal leadership, procurement, and finance teams to align external legal strategy with broader business objectives.
- Drive data-led decision-making, leveraging analytics to assess law firm performance, cost trends, and value delivery.
To be successful in this role you should meet the following requirements:
- Extensive experience in legal operations, procurement, or external legal management within a financial institution, law firm, or professional services environment.
- Strong commercial acumen with a proven track record of driving cost efficiencies and structuring alternative fee arrangements.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to influence and negotiate at senior levels, both internally and externally.
- Leadership experience, managing diverse teams and fostering a culture of performance, collaboration, and innovation.
- Knowledge of legal market trends, law firm pricing models, and the evolving role of ALSPs in corporate legal functions.
The base location for this role is based in the UK with a hybrid working pattern. (offices include, London, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Sheffield)
Being open to different points of view is important for our business and the communities we serve. At HSBC, we’re dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces. Our recruitment processes are accessible to everyone - no matter their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or age.
If you’d like to apply for one of our roles and need adjustments made, please get in touch with our Recruitment Helpdesk:
Email: hsbc.recruitment@hsbc.com
Telephone: +44 207 832 8500
Head of Sustainability and Climate Risk, ESG Audit employer: Job Traffic
Contact Detail:
Job Traffic Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Sustainability and Climate Risk, ESG Audit
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the legal and financial sectors. Attend industry events, webinars, or conferences where you can meet people who work at HSBC or similar organisations. Building these connections can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Stay updated on the latest trends in legal operations and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices. Follow relevant publications, blogs, and thought leaders on social media to demonstrate your knowledge during interviews and discussions.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership experience in detail. Think of specific examples where you've successfully managed teams or projects, particularly in a legal or financial context. This will showcase your ability to lead and innovate, which is crucial for this role.
✨Tip Number 4
Familiarise yourself with HSBC's values and recent initiatives related to sustainability and climate risk. Being able to align your personal values with those of the company can make a strong impression during the interview process.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Sustainability and Climate Risk, ESG Audit
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Thoroughly read the job description for the Head of Sustainability and Climate Risk, ESG Audit position. Make sure you understand the key responsibilities and required skills, as this will help you tailor your application.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your extensive experience in legal operations, procurement, or external legal management. Use specific examples to demonstrate your commercial acumen and leadership capabilities.
Showcase Strategic Thinking: Illustrate your strategic thinking abilities by discussing past experiences where you influenced decisions at senior levels. Highlight any successful negotiations or innovative pricing structures you've implemented.
Tailor Your Application: Customise your CV and cover letter to reflect HSBC's values and the specific requirements of the role. Mention your commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as your understanding of legal market trends and ALSPs.
How to prepare for a job interview at Job Traffic
✨Understand the Role Thoroughly
Before your interview, make sure you have a deep understanding of the Head of Sustainability and Climate Risk role. Familiarise yourself with HSBC's approach to ESG audit and how it aligns with their overall strategy. This will help you articulate how your experience fits into their vision.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As this position involves managing a team, be prepared to discuss your leadership style and experiences. Share specific examples of how you've fostered a high-performance culture and driven innovation within your teams in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Highlight your experience in legal operations and procurement, particularly in structuring alternative fee arrangements. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully driven cost efficiencies and what strategies you've implemented to achieve financial outcomes.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
Expect questions that assess your strategic thinking and negotiation skills. Prepare to discuss how you've influenced decisions at senior levels and how you would approach aligning external legal strategies with broader business objectives at HSBC.
