Environmental Officer II

Eastern Bank

25d

About The Position

The Environmental Officer II plays a crucial role in Eastern Bank's Environmental department, assessing the environmental risk associated with the bank's commercial real estate transactions. This position involves assessing environmental risks, reviewing due diligence reports, and providing recommendations to lending teams. Environmental Due Diligence and Risk Assessment Independently assess environmental risk for existing and proposed commercial real estate collateral. Review incoming environmental due diligence requests and determine appropriate report type based on policy, property type, and risk characteristics. Evaluate third‑party Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) reports to ensure compliance with ASTM standards, state and federal regulations, and bank policy. Review environmental questionnaires, regulatory records, historical sources, and online databases to support risk assessments. Identify environmental issues that could affect collateral value, marketability, borrower operations, or repayment capacity. Documentation and Communication Prepare written environmental review memoranda summarizing findings, assigning environmental risk ratings, and providing recommendations to business partners. Communicate environmental concerns, mitigation requirements, and conditions for loan approval to credit officers and lending staff. Consult with team members for guidance on environmental risk. Escalate high‑risk or complex environmental issues to SVP as appropriate. Process Controls and Risk Governance Support the bank’s environmental risk governance framework, including adherence to internal policies and supervisory expectations from federal banking regulators. Assist with portfolio monitoring tasks, including tracking high‑risk properties, unresolved conditions or ongoing remediation. Contribute to internal audit or regulatory exam preparation by maintaining accurate and complete documentation. Vendor Engagement and Oversight Select qualified environmental consultants based on assignment criteria and vendor performance. Initiate and track environmental report orders to ensure timely delivery and appropriate scope of work. Review vendor deliverables for technical adequacy and consistency. Assist in review of vendors for continuous improvement and distribution of work. Training, Collaboration & Continuous Improvement Participate in training for lending teams related to environmental due diligence and policy requirements. Recommend improvements to environmental risk processes, templates, and vendor management practices. Collaborate with Credit, Appraisal, Loan Administration, Legal, and Enterprise Risk as needed. Responsible to stay current with evolving environmental regulations. The role requires: Strong knowledge of commercial real estate lending and environmental due diligence practices. Ability to interpret technical environmental data and identify key risks. Judgement to recommend when escalation, further investigation, or additional reporting is needed. Management of multiple assignments, workflow and shifting priorities. Decision making authority is exercised under established policy frameworks with supervisory support.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences, Geology, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in environmental due diligence, including Phase I & II ESAs.
• Strong knowledge of ASTM E1527 Phase I ESA Standards and relevant federal and state regulations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and data interpretation.
• Ability to interpret technical environmental data and identify key risks.
• Excellent communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Attention to detail, multi-tasking, and strong time management skills.
• Analytical mindset with critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in commercial real estate lending or a related industry is preferred.
• Willingness to stay updated with industry trends and regulatory changes.

Responsibilities

• Independently assess environmental risks for commercial real estate collateral.
• Review and select appropriate Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) report types.
• Evaluate third-party ESA reports for compliance with standards and regulations.
• Prepare written memoranda summarizing environmental risk assessments.
• Communicate environmental concerns and mitigation requirements to credit officers.
• Support the bank's environmental risk governance framework and internal policies.
• Assist with portfolio monitoring and tracking of high-risk properties.
• Engage and oversee environmental consultants, ensuring timely and accurate reports.
• Participate in training and collaborate with various teams on environmental due diligence.
• Stay current with evolving environmental regulations and industry best practices.

Benefits

• Eastern offers a robust benefits and retirement package.
• Please see the description of benefits included with this job posting for additional information.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level