Carbon Manager – One Mara Carbon Project

Carbon Manager, One Mara Carbon Project

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 Narok, Kenya

The One Mara Carbon Project (OMCP) is an ecosystem-level conservation initiative that aims to protect ecological resources and provide economic and social co-benefits for local communities in the Maasai Mara. OMCP aims to reduce emissions and restore the degraded landscape, enhance livestock through grazing management, provide alternative livelihoods for communities, ensure biodiversity conservation, build resilient conservancies, and enhance tourism. The project is supported by partner organizations, including Conservation International (CI), the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association, and Ahueni.

CI is seeking to hire a highly qualified individual for a full-time position. The successful candidate will initially be contracted by CI for one year before transitioning to the new OMCP entity once officially registered. The role involves working across different organizations to ensure the successful implementation of the carbon project.

The Carbon Manager will oversee all aspects of the project, including carbon data management, compliance with carbon standards, and project implementation. Key duties include managing soil and ecological data collection, tracking grazing plan adherence, ensuring safe data storage, and supporting baseline quantification. The role also involves preparing for validation and verification visits, developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), managing the project team, and fostering partnerships to optimize resources.

The Carbon Manager will play a crucial role in ensuring the project’s success and sustainability. The Carbon Manager will oversee all aspects of the project, including carbon data management, compliance with carbon standards, and project implementation. Key duties include managing soil and ecological data collection, tracking grazing plan adherence, ensuring safe data storage, and supporting baseline quantification. The role also involves preparing for validation and verification visits, developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), managing the project team, and fostering partnerships to optimize resources. The Carbon Manager will play a crucial role in ensuring the project’s success and sustainability.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure compliance of OMCP with the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) standard.
• Responsible for managing the collection of data aligned with the VCS, this includes overseeing field teams that collect soil organic carbon data and other ecological parameters such as herd structure, herbaceous, and woody biomass required to undertake emissions reduction calculations according to appropriate VCS carbon standard methodologies.
• Track the level of implementation of project activities that are critical to rangeland restoration and carbon sequestration e.g. adherence to livestock grazing management plans and stocking densities, ensure timeous reporting of non-compliance
• Responsible for safe storage and delivery of all Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and other biological samples to project-approved laboratories and ensuring timely delivery of analysis
• Responsible for managing the collection of data on livestock movement, livestock numbers, and herd structures in accordance with appropriate carbon standard methodologies to show evidence of project activities and calculate project emissions and leakage.
• Participate in and support collection of baseline data and support quantification of project baseline; this will include information on past and current grazing and other land use practices and gathering data on broader land use practices in the landscape that contribute to degradation.
• Participate in and support the development of the additionality case for the project
• Responsible for safe and appropriate data storage and managing data sharing with project participants and partners in the landscape.
• Conduct periodic training of monitoring teams to ensure monitoring complies with carbon standards.
• Responsible for preparation of field activities for all validation and verification body visits, including data presentation, field activity logistics, demonstration of data collection protocols
• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) with quality controls and checks for all activities for which the position is responsible. Ensure periodic revision of SOPs.
• Support carbon credit buyer due diligence requests and field visits
• Contribute to project management plans
• Participate in budgeting activities
• Manage team and deliverables, manage and set communication channels (meetings, project folder)
• Foster and maintain relationships with partners to foster collaboration and partnership initiatives.
• Facilitate regular meetings, workshops, and consultations to ensure effective collaboration and information sharing among partners.
• Identify opportunities for synergies and collaboration among partners to optimize resources, leverage expertise, and maximize impact.
• Monitor partner performance and adherence to agreements and project work plan progress, ensuring that commitments are met, and expectations are fulfilled.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This is a full-time position (40hr/week).
• The position requires traveling up to 50% of the time within the project area. Travel is conducted only when safe to do so and per CI policies and country-specific mandates or restrictions.
• The position requires the ability to work in non-traditional and extended settings.
• Expected to be a 1-year assignment.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental management, natural resource management or natural sciences, agriculture forestry, conservation biology.
• 4 to 6 years of experience working with nature-based solutions and rangeland ecology and management.
• Experience in Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector carbon project implementation and strong knowledge of carbon standards such as Verra.
• Excellent project management and coordination skills and a strong attention to detail.
• Experience working with local partners, with an understanding of the on-the-ground realities and challenges of project development and delivery.
• Proven team player able to work effectively across cultures and within and across organizations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Swahili.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to build on existing knowledge to develop new approaches.
• Prepared to work in a remote environment in close contact with wildlife.
• An existing network of connections with conservancy management teams is desirable.
• Field data collection and handling, developing field data collection protocols.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Familiarity with land management project design (e.g. using Open Standards).
• Experience in project management.
• Experience in rangeland ecology, including soil organic carbon dynamics and livestock management impacts on rangelands.
• Experience with the application of land-use carbon accounting approaches and methodologies.
• GIS experience

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

Application Deadline: October 13, 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.