Carbon Manager

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.

POSITION SUMMARY – This position is based in Mexico City, Mexico 

Conservation International is one of the global leaders in implementing natural climate solutions (NCS) and international voluntary markets to combat climate change. There is significant growth in the demand for high-quality conservation projects that can access the voluntary and compliance carbon markets and CI is rapidly expanding its portfolio of high-quality carbon projects to meet this demand. Projects include landscape restoration, climate-smart improved forestry and agricultural management, and Blue Carbon. These initiatives go beyond protecting forests and other ecosystems by integrating sustainable production and focusing on improving human well-being – to assist in originating, evaluating, and developing a project pipeline of new bankable avoided deforestation, restoration, improved forest management, and other NCS projects- and jurisdictional-scale initiatives, both internally within CI and externally with outside partners.

Working in close collaboration with CI Mexico Sr Technical Director, the Americas Finance Carbon Lead, and relevant global teams at CI, the Manager will follow up on the current pipeline of carbon finance projects in Mexico for the evaluation, approval, and project development stages as well as manage relationships with potential partners, particularly in-the-field activities, data collection and development of technical documentation. Using and applying in-house tools, and drafting internal documentation required for project assessment, this person will be responsible for conducting desktop analysis of country opportunities for NCS carbon crediting projects, conducting field visits for feasible opportunities, managing origination workflow across the pipeline of initiatives under consideration, supporting the development of full feasibility assessments for selected initiatives and oversee current project under implementation. Additionally, the Manager will provide support with internal and external due diligence and other reporting obligations; and work in close collaboration with safeguards personnel to ensure compliance with CI´s Safeguards Framework.

Lastly, the Manager will coordinate efforts with CI Mexico technical teams to identify local partners to develop NCS project proposals led by CI Mexico. This proposal must be technically, socially, and financially viable, must preferably be in CI’s Mexico priority locations, and comply with CFD conditions to seek for funding. The Manager will lead these efforts, work on the technical documentation needed for this, and conduct the proper field visits.

To be successful, the Manager needs to be fully conversant with developments and trends in nature conservation in Mexico, national and international NCS carbon markets, climate policy, carbon/climate, and social and environmental safeguards certification standards, and have experience working on conservation carbon project, coastal and marine ecosystems, and/or climate-smart agriculture, forestry, and agroforestry. Having worked previously with NCS carbon methodologies (Verra VCS and CCBS, and Climate Action Reserve in particular) is highly required. Demonstrated knowledge or experience in the role and development of conservation finance and forestry carbon finance transactions is desirable. The Manager 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 previous technical experience in carbon projects, preferably in forestry and agroforestry activities, as well as experience working with communities on-the-field activities.

The Manager will work in close collaboration with external partners, project developers/consultants, and 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 country, 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 CI Mexico Sr. Technical Director with joint and indirect reporting to the Americas Carbon Finance Lead.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• In close collaboration with the CI Mexico, the Americas Carbon Origination team, the Conservation Finance Division, and key external partners, including NGOs, local communities, project developers, investors, and financial institutions; help develop a quality NCS carbon finance project lead by the CI Mexico Office and that meets CI’s quality criteria and Safeguards; based on desk-top analysis and interviews, site visits where applicable, and prepare a Project Information Note (PINs) for internal review. Manage project origination and evaluation workflow through identification, scoping, and due diligence stages including working closely with implementing partners, creating workplans and budgets for projects that have the potential to be funded by one of CI’s financing vehicles. As the carbon focal point for the CI Mexico, office, assist the local teams in any carbon-related issue, including providing guidance, training, orientation, data, etc.
• Lead the coordination, and development of feasibility assessments for selected REDD+, ARR, and IFM opportunities with relevant stakeholders highlighting key recommendations to advance them towards full development and implementation. The feasibility assessment might include aspects such as assessing the agents and drivers of deforestation, key carbon finance eligibility concepts, reviewing potential emissions reduction and removal analysis, estimating project and program intervention costs, identifying implementation partners and key stakeholders, assessing potential risks and challenges as well as risk mitigation, business models, financing, etc.
• Serve as the project manager for the ongoing carbon projects in Mexico as the focal point with stakeholders, coordinating administrative and compliance tasks, joining field trips when needed, as provide overall supervision to technical aspects of the project. This requires revising carbon forest inventories, estimation of removal using CAR´s CALCBOSK tool, project reports and annexes submitted to CAR when a verification event takes place.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• The position is based in Mexico.
• Frequent travel within Mexico, including traveling to remote locations with rustic conditions.
• Some international travel.
• Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process. OR This position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some remotely. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in a relevant discipline or field related to the objectives of the program (e.g. environmental science, economics, forestry, agronomy, law, or business).
• 4 to 6 years of work experience with NCS projects (carbon, smart agriculture, forest management, restoration, etc.) and/or jurisdictional initiative development and implementation.
• Demonstrated NCS carbon crediting knowledge and experience, including voluntary carbon markets and standards such as the Climate Action Reserve standard and the Mexico Forest Protocol, and Verra VCS / Climate Community & Biodiversity Standards.Work experience with Indigenous peoples and local communities’ natural resources management.
• Demonstrated track record of working effectively and collaboratively with multicultural, international, and multidisciplinary teams to produce concrete results, including a strong capacity to navigate diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Self-starter with the ability to work in a matrix organization.
• Language Skills: English: Excellent written, reading, and speaking skills.

Preferred

• Previous experience with project management.
• Familiarity with land management project design.
• Familiar with other carbon standards such as Plan Vivo, Gold Standard, or Social Carbon.
• Familiarity with spatial analysis, GIS, and remote sensing.
• Commercial and business acumen to be able to develop bankable NCS projects.

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.

Application Deadline: October 4, 2024  (11:49 PM EST)

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.