Senior Carbon Project Manager

**Senior Carbon Project Manager**
- The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a global challenge. Due to the fluidity of the situation, we periodically reassess our plans to reopen our offices. For the safety of our employees, our approach is tailored to the situation in each of the 30 countries we operate in. Travel is only conducted when absolutely necessary and safe to do so. Hiring managers will provide guidance on flexible work arrangements in accordance with country-specific safety policies._

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

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Based out of the America’s Field Division, CI is seeking a Senior Carbon Project Manager to assist in originating, evaluating, and developing a project pipeline of new bankable avoided deforestation, restoration, improved forest management, and other NCS projects

**RESPONSIBILITIES**

To be successful, the Senior Carbon Project Manager needs to be fully conversant with developments and trends in nature conservation, NCS carbon markets, climate policy, carbon/climate, and Safeguards certification standards, and have experience working on the tropical forest, blue carbon ecosystems, and/or climate-smart agriculture and forestry projects. Familiarity with NCS carbon methodologies (Verra VCS in particular) is preferred, but not required. The Senior Carbon Project Manager must also have demonstrated knowledge or experience in the role and development of conservation finance and forestry carbon finance transactions (especially REDD+); and must be able to work across a broad range of stakeholders including external partners in the private sector, development finance institutions, project developers, government, and civil society. Must have a business and commercial acumen and be able to articulate an actionable plan for developing a pipeline of high-quality emissions reductions and NCS projects (environmental and social approach) at scale. Managing NCS project information also requires excellent communication skills, a high degree of organization, attention to detail, interdisciplinary thinking, and strong technical writing skills.

The Senior Carbon Project Manager will work in close collaboration with project implementers such as CI’s country offices in the Americas, external partners, project developers/consultants, and with key personnel across CI’s Global Programs and Centers (such as the Conservation Finance Division and the Center for Natural Climate Solutions) to ensure alignment between regional and institutional strategies as well as efficient implementation of CI’s carbon origination and project development processes. The position will report directly to the Americas Carbon Finance Lead with joint reporting to the Carbon Finance and Americas Field Divisions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Support the origination, evaluation, and management of high-quality NCS carbon finance project pipeline(both terrestrial and blue carbon) with CI´s Field Offices, Conservation Finance Division, and key external partners, including NGOs, governments, and local communities, project developers, investors, and financial institutions.
- Support the coordination and development of feasibility assessments for selected REDD+, ARR, and IFM opportunities.
- Work closely with, coordinate, collaborate, and communicate with all multiple institutional Carbon-related CI staff & teams. Engage and collaborate with CI Americas country program teams.

**WORKING CONDITIONS**
- The position could be based in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, or Peru.
- This is a full-time position with the flexibility to adjust to deadlines and time zones.
- Frequent travel within the region will be required, often this will entail travel to remote locations with rustic conditions.
- Flexibility in work schedule is required in order to accommodate time differences between the Arlington, VA office and field offices in Latin America located in multiple time zones.

**QUALIFICATIONS**

**Required**
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. environmental science, economics, forestry, agronomy, law, or business).
- 5 to 7 years of work experience with NCS projects and/or jurisdictional initiative development and implementation.
- Proven knowledge or experience in climate-related issues including carbon finance transactions (origination, voluntary carbon market standards, and implementation), terrestrial and/or blue carbon, and a track record of success in Latin America, ideally in Brazil.
- Demonstrated NCS carbon finance knowledge and experience, including voluntary carbon markets, and use of c