Technical Manager, Climate Projects, Nature-Based Solutions at South Pole

Job summary:

• As a project development Manager, you will oversee the timely and effective generation and delivery of carbon credits from our emission reduction projects. As a member of our African Nature-Based Solutions team, you will work with global NBS-related project identification, screening, and project development topics, as well as assign project coordinators to support the team with such activities. You will be fully responsible for a team of project coordinators focused on African NBS projects and you will ensure that all projects assigned to your team are implemented as agreed upon while adhering to a high standard of quality.

Main tasks & responsibilities:

• Responsible for the implementation and management of emission reduction projects which includes leading/drafting feasibility studies and project design documents, validation, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) support under different standards (The Gold Standard, VERRA and national or local Standards) among other local and international carbon schemes
• Conduct site visits and travel to project locations whenever needed
• Be a key point of contact and maintain a good relationship with the team members inside the company, as well as the project partners, communities in the project areas, other clients, validation and verification bodies, and other counterparts
• Provide technical and business development support to the African commercial team
• Follow up with the internal procedures in our internal project management tool for all projects that we have signed an ERPA or an investment agreement with
• Prepare proposals and deliverables and finalise them to the quality required by South Pole and the client
• Define and plan content and structure to support the certification of the project: work plans, work schedules, budgets, and deliverables
• Schedule Technical Reviews and Quality Checks
• Ensure that all collaborators receive ongoing training and that they have the necessary skills and tools to perform their work, oversee work efficiency and make sure project budgets are adhered to
• Keep the team members (collaborators) informed of their progress in the project and remind them to stay within the time and budget agreed
• Draft invoices to be approved by the supervisor and sent to accounting for submission to clients
• Managing project partners accounts in our internal project management tool
• Update proposal/project information in project management tool and ensure all relevant documents are accessible on the drive at any time
• Keep general information, milestones and cash flow in the project management software up to date
• Planning and development of site visits and other types of business trips/training.

Requirements:

• Experience in guiding and directing the work of others, with thorough functional knowledge/expertise in the field of ALM, REDD+, ACoGS, ARR and other AFOLU related topics
• Ability to manage targets and priorities and develop your own and your team’s goals
• Capable to make decisions to improve the operational focus of the team and take accountability for them
• Ability to manage, inspire and lead a team (junior to mid-level project coordinators) of up to 10 members including internal and/or external collaborators
• Network of potential clients, collaborators or other relevant stakeholders
• University degree in forestry, natural resource management, sustainability or climate change and carbon mitigation related fields, a Master’s degree is a plus
• Several years experience in sustainability consulting, climate change mitigation/adaptation or related fields. Candidates with less than 5 years of work experience but with a proven track record of mastering ALM, ARR, REDD+, ACoGS (or other related AFOLU projects) project development/management can be considered
• Ability to create high-quality written documents (proposals and deliverables) in English
• Have excellent communication skills, especially verbal and written skills in English, other African languages are a plus
• Ability to manage targets and priorities and develop own goals