The Carbon Finance team collaborates extensively with CI’s field programs and partner organizations to develop and finance a robust pipeline of top-tier nature-based carbon projects, supported by innovative financial mechanisms that ensure lasting sustainability and robust private sector engagement. Leveraging CI’s extensive expertise and technical insights, the team drives the expansion and enhancement of emission reductions and removals in both voluntary and compliance carbon markets, measured in gigatons. A core focus of the Carbon Finance team is maximizing impact through meaningful community involvement, equitable benefit-sharing, biodiversity and environmental preservation, and rigorous safeguard implementation.
The Senior Manager, Carbon Projects Delivery will oversee the development and execution of a portfolio of Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) carbon projects throughout Africa, ensuring on-the-ground implementation adheres to agreed timelines and complies with certified standards and Conservation International’s high-quality principles. This position will also play a pivotal role within the Keystone Protected Area Financing (KPF) team, collaborating closely with the Rob Walton Foundation to mobilize investments in protected areas. The role will foster relationships with project partners while working in tandem with cross-functional teams to advance critical milestones, including the preparation and submission of Project Descriptions (PDs) and Monitoring Reports (MRs), as well as guiding projects through validation and verification stages. Effective coordination across internal project teams and country offices is essential to maintain alignment, accountability, and timely delivery, involving regular field visits at various stages of project development to oversee execution, evaluate risks, and provide hands-on support to teams.
The Senior Manager will lead critical initiatives within the Keystone Protected Area Financing initiative in partnership with the Rob Walton Foundation. Responsibilities include fostering early-stage pipeline development, conducting comprehensive project scoping and due diligence, delivering technical assistance—such as feasibility assessments—and overseeing field visits. Additionally, the role entails collaborating closely with project partners to advance high-priority opportunities toward full-scale implementation. To maintain transparency, the individual will prepare and distribute regular project updates to internal stakeholders, highlighting key milestones, potential risks, and notable achievements across the portfolio.
The Senior Manager will oversee the evaluation of financial and grant reports submitted by project partners, verifying that funds are allocated and utilized in strict compliance with approved budgets and robust financial controls. This role will assist in compiling and submitting progress reports to the Rob Walton Foundation and other funding entities, ensuring all reporting obligations are fulfilled with precision and punctuality. Furthermore, the position will contribute to establishing and maintaining appropriate systems, governance frameworks, and operational procedures to uphold project integrity and optimize delivery.
This role does not involve direct oversight of team members.
Responsibilities
Seasoned in overseeing projects from initiation to completion, you will be responsible for ensuring timely delivery, managing resources effectively, and maintaining alignment with strategic objectives. Your role will involve coordinating cross-functional teams, mitigating risks, and driving efficiency throughout the project lifecycle. Strong leadership, meticulous planning, and a results-driven approach are essential to succeed in this position. Proficiency in project management methodologies, tools, and best practices is required, along with the ability to adapt to evolving project demands and stakeholder expectations.
Coordinate and oversee the execution of a diverse portfolio of nature-based carbon initiatives throughout Africa, collaborating closely with Conservation International (CI) field programs, pertinent CI project teams, external partners, and service providers to ensure alignment with approved work plans, allocated budgets, and established timelines.
Support the successful implementation of the Keystone Protected Area Financing (KPF) initiative, in partnership with the Rob Walton Foundation. This encompasses:
Responsible for identifying and defining the scope of potential project opportunities.
Overseeing the planning and execution of Technical Assistance (TA) packages constitutes a key responsibility, ensuring they are delivered effectively and meet client requirements.
Assisting in initiatives aimed at securing project funding.
Collaborating with Co-Management Partners and Protected Area Management initiatives to enhance local carbon finance capabilities constitutes a key responsibility.
Craft project-specific work plans in partnership with key stakeholders, pinpointing critical deliverables while establishing clear roles and responsibilities to uphold accountability throughout every phase of the project lifecycle.
Oversee project execution to track performance metrics, proactively detect potential delivery risks, and enforce corrective measures that uphold schedule adherence and quality benchmarks.
Develop, implement, and oversee project monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure effective tracking of progress and outcomes.
Collaborate effectively with the finance, grants, and contracts team to monitor project budgets closely, ensuring project deliverables remain on track throughout each phase of the project lifecycle.
Oversee interactions with project collaborators, consultants, Validation & Verification Bodies (VVBs), and external service providers to uphold accountability standards and ensure punctual completion of deliverables.
Perform routine field assessments to evaluate the progress of implementation, partner capabilities, safeguard effectiveness, and overall project preparedness.
Collaborate effectively with institutional carbon-focused staff and teams, both in field and global programs, to ensure cohesive alignment with Conservation International’s Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) and carbon crediting strategies and priorities.
Prepare progress reports for the Rob Walton Foundation and other donors, ensuring all reporting obligations are fulfilled with accuracy and punctuality.
Carbon project development involves identifying, structuring, and implementing initiatives that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions while generating high-integrity carbon credits. This role requires expertise in methodologies such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), or Gold Standard, along with a strong understanding of carbon accounting, project finance, and regulatory compliance. Key responsibilities include conducting feasibility studies, developing project documentation, engaging with stakeholders, securing validation and verification, and managing the end-to-end carbon credit issuance process. Familiarity with carbon markets, climate policy frameworks, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles is essential, alongside proficiency in carbon accounting software and financial modeling tools.
As the technical lead in Carbon Finance, you will oversee the preparation and delivery of Project Descriptions (PDs), Monitoring Reports (MRs), and associated documentation to successfully achieve project validation and verification, ensuring adherence to relevant carbon standards. This involves collaborating with project teams to assist in work planning, offering technical guidance and review, implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and managing the work of consultants, Validation & Verification Bodies (VVBs), and other external service providers.
We provide tailored training sessions on carbon project development to countries, projects, and partners in CI, based on identified needs.
Conducting a thorough evaluation of pipelines and performing comprehensive due diligence are essential responsibilities within this role. The position requires analyzing pipeline integrity, assessing potential risks, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Key duties include reviewing technical documentation, conducting field inspections, and identifying critical vulnerabilities that may impact operational safety or efficiency. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and expertise in pipeline systems are necessary to execute these tasks effectively. Additionally, the role demands the ability to interpret complex data, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and provide actionable recommendations to mitigate identified risks.
Support the initial scoping phase, feasibility evaluations, and due diligence assessments for emerging carbon project opportunities. This position entails conducting comprehensive desktop reviews and technical evaluations of project-related documentation, including design frameworks, alongside direct interaction with project stakeholders. Where necessary, it also involves on-site due diligence visits to verify critical details and gather firsthand insights.
Assess anticipated emission reductions and removals, evaluate governance preparedness, analyze safeguards frameworks, and identify implementation risks to guide investment strategies.
Offer well-organized insights regarding the feasibility and preparedness of projects for advancement.
We are seeking a visionary professional to spearhead technical innovation initiatives within our organization. The ideal candidate will possess a robust background in technology, engineering, or a related field, with a proven track record of driving groundbreaking solutions. Proficiency in identifying emerging trends, evaluating feasibility, and implementing cutting-edge technologies is essential. Responsibilities include researching and developing innovative prototypes, optimizing existing systems, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Collaboration with cross-functional teams to align innovation strategies with business objectives will be a key aspect of this role. Strong analytical skills, creativity, and the ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable insights are critical for success.
Develop carbon-related tools, frameworks, and templates to enhance efficiency in data collection, analysis, and storytelling within feasibility assessments, due diligence reports, PDs, and MRs. This includes creating models for emissions reduction or removal, frameworks for biodiversity and community monitoring, stakeholder engagement strategies, work plans, and theory of change models.
Conduct thorough technical evaluations and provide expert commentary on reviews of carbon market standards and methodologies, which will be spearheaded by the Carbon Finance team.
Ensures the protection of assets and maintains the integrity of projects through diligent oversight and strategic risk management. Implements robust controls and compliance measures to mitigate potential threats, while fostering a culture of accountability and ethical standards across initiatives.
Establish and maintain the presence of qualified specialists, robust systems, and effective governance frameworks to uphold safeguards, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (EPIC), benefit-sharing commitments, and carbon integrity standards.
Qualifications
Required
A bachelor’s degree in forestry, rangeland management, ecology, natural resource management, climate science, environmental science, or a related discipline is required.
We seek candidates with five to seven years of expertise in the development, due diligence, or implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) projects.
Experienced in validating and verifying NCS crediting projects—such as those under VCS, Gold Standard, and CCBS frameworks—with a strong background in preparing Project Descriptions (PDs), Monitoring Reports (MRs), and conducting Validation and Verification Body (VVB) audits.
Demonstrates strong analytical capabilities, with proficiency in constructing and evaluating carbon models aligned with established carbon standards.
Experience in project management is required, with a proven ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and ensure accountability for delivery among self and project partners.
Proven track record in collaborating with local stakeholders, coupled with a deep comprehension of the practical complexities and obstacles inherent in project implementation and execution.
Demonstrates a proven ability to collaborate effectively with individuals, groups, and organizations across a broad spectrum of economic, cultural, religious, gender, and professional demographics, spanning multiple countries and geographic regions.
Proficient in both written and verbal English communication.
Proven capability to thrive in fast-paced environments, effectively manage multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritize objectives, and produce high-quality deliverables.
Proven problem-solving expertise paired with the capacity to leverage existing knowledge for innovative solutions.
Preferred
A master’s degree in a field directly aligned with the position’s requirements is mandatory.
Proficiency in either French or Swahili is required.
Proven hands-on expertise spans various Nature-based Solutions (NCS) pathways and project categories, such as forest conservation initiatives like RED+, native ecosystem restoration efforts under ARR, improved forest management practices (IFM), sustainable rangeland and grassland management, as well as blue carbon projects.
Proven expertise in overseeing diversified carbon project portfolios spanning multiple countries, with a particular focus on Africa or other emerging market environments.
Proven expertise in conducting carbon accounting for diverse soil systems, including peatlands, wetlands, and rangeland.
Proficient in the financial structuring of carbon projects, encompassing revenue forecasting, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and financial modeling specific to carbon initiatives.
Skilled in instructing field teams on the creation and execution of forest, carbon, and biodiversity monitoring plans.
Professional experience involving collaboration with or within private sector entities focused on climate strategies and nature-based solutions initiatives is required.
Applicants should possess demonstrated experience collaborating with Indigenous peoples and traditional communities, along with a strong grasp of safeguards frameworks, the principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (EPIC), grievance mechanisms, and benefit-sharing structures specifically tailored to carbon projects.
Skilled in collaborating with governmental entities and contributing to the formulation of policy initiatives across multiple African nations.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
5 - 7 years
