Environmental Risk Officer

About the role

Why Bank OZK Founded on a legacy of more than 120 years in banking, Bank OZK is much more than just a company. We’re nationally recognized as an industry leader in financial services. That means we combine exceptional service with innovative technologies to deliver smart solutions to our clients across the country. We’re investing in small businesses, fueling economies in local communities and changing skylines in the largest cities across America. Here, we're not simply filling roles. We're fostering even greater careers.

Responsibilities

• Administers and supports the Bank's environmental risk management program for commercial credit transactions and real estate collateral.
• Independently evaluates environmental conditions and potential lender liability; determines or recommends risk-based due diligence and mitigation; and provides practical guidance to lending, credit, appraisal, legal, Special Assets, and other partners throughout the loan lifecycle.
• Determine the appropriate level of environmental due diligence for commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, construction, acquisition, refinancing, renewal, modification, workout, foreclosure, and other credit-related transactions within delegated authority.
• Prepare and document environmental desktop reviews and, when appropriate, Transaction Screens in accordance with Bank procedures and applicable ASTM E1528 requirements.
• Identify transactions requiring escalated risk assessments based on current or historical property use, operating history, location, collateral characteristics, borrower circumstances, or known or suspected contamination.
• Evaluate whether environmental professional reports are complete, technically reasonable, consistent with the approved scope, and sufficient to identify recognized environmental conditions, controlled or historical recognized environmental conditions, significant data gaps, contamination, remediation obligations, and other potential liabilities.
• Perform independent research to supplement available environmental information and resolve inconsistencies, data gaps, or unclear regulatory status.
• Exercise sound judgment in recommending mitigation appropriate to individual transactions, including additional investigation, remediation, monitoring, reserves, escrows, covenants, indemnification, guarantees, environmental insurance, regulatory closure, reliance documentation, or other structural protections.
• Define or confirm scopes of work; obtain or coordinate proposals; engage approved environmental professionals; and monitor assignments, timing, quality, and costs in alignment with transaction needs.
• Support environmental professional qualification, performance evaluation, service standards, and approved vendor governance to promote reliable and consistent work products.
• Prepare concise, well-supported risk reviews, memoranda, conclusions, approval conditions, exceptions, and follow-up requirements for credit files and RIMS records.
• Operate customary equipment and technology used in a business environment, with or without accommodation.

Skills

• Knowledge of environmental due diligence for commercial lending and real estate transactions, including Phase I and Phase II ESAs, remediation, and closure documentation, and specialized environmental studies.
• Working to advanced knowledge, commensurate with level, of CERCLA lender-liability protections, federal and state environmental programs, banking regulatory expectations, and current ASTM standards.
• Knowledge of commercial credit, loan structure, collateral evaluation, problem-loan and recovery considerations, and the role of environmental risk throughout the loan lifecycle.
• Knowledge of environmental professional scopes of work, report quality control, and third-party vendor oversight.
• Skill in analyzing complex technical information and translating findings into concise, defensible, credit-focused conclusions and recommendations.
• Skill in clearly communicating complex environmental matters to underwriters, lenders, and credit personnel.
• Skill in applying analytical, research, problem-solving,