Vacancies at Conservation International

• The Carbon Finance team works across CI field programs and partner organizations to source and finance a strong pipeline of high-quality NCS carbon projects coupled with innovative financing designed to ensure long-term sustainability and private sector participation. The team taps the deep knowledge and technical expertise within CI to catalyze and improve the quality of gigatons of emission reductions and removals in the voluntary and compliance carbon markets. The CF team prioritizes impact through community engagement and benefit-sharing, biodiversity and environmental benefits, and the application of safeguards.
• The Senior Manager, Carbon Projects Delivery will be responsible for the development and delivery of a portfolio of NCS carbon projects across Africa, ensuring that on-the-ground implementation is executed within agreed timelines and aligned with approved workplans, certification standards, and CI principles of high quality. The role will also be an integral part of the Keystone Protected Area Financing (KPAF) team working in close collaboration with the Rob Walton Foundation to catalyze investment into protected areas.  The role will manage relationships with project partners and work closely with cross-functional teams to drive progress on key milestones, including the development and submission of Project Description (PD) and Monitoring Reports (MRs), and supporting projects through validation and verification processes. Strong coordination across internal project teams and country offices is required to ensure alignment, accountability, and timely execution, including conducting regular field visits at different stages of project development to monitor implementation, assess risks, and provide direct support to teams.
• The Senior Manager will play a key role in the delivery of Keystone Protected Area Financing, in collaboration with the Rob Walton Foundation. This includes supporting early-stage pipeline development, conducting project scoping and due diligence, providing Technical Assistance, including delivery of feasibility assessments, performing field visits, and supporting project partners to move priority opportunities to full-scale development. The individual will communicate project progress to internal stakeholders through appropriate reporting channels, ensuring visibility of key milestones, risks, and achievements across the portfolio.
• The Senior Manager will support the review of financial and grant reports from project partners to ensure funds are utilized in accordance with approved budgets and with strong financial discipline. The role will support the preparation of progress reports to the Rob Walton Foundation and other funders and ensure reporting requirements are met accurately and on time. In addition, the position will help ensure that appropriate systems, governance structures, and operational processes are in place to safeguard project integrity and effective delivery.
• This position does not directly supervise staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Management and Delivery

• Coordinate and manage the delivery of a portfolio of nature-based carbon projects across Africa, working closely with CI field programs, relevant CI project teams, partners, and service providers to ensure implementation is aligned with approved workplans, budgets, and timelines.
• Support the delivery of Keystone Protected Area Financing (KPAF) in collaboration with the Rob Walton Foundation. This includes:
• Identification and scoping of project opportunities
• Scoping and delivery of Technical Assistance (TA) packages
• Supporting projects to secure project investment
• Working with Co-Management Partners and Protected Area Management to build local carbon finance capacity
• Develop project specific workplans and identify deliverables in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders, defining key roles and responsibilities to ensure accountability through the project lifecycle.
• Monitor project performance, identify delivery risks, and implement corrective actions to maintain schedule and quality standards.
• Support and maintain project monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Work closely with the finance, grants, and contracts unit to track project budgets to ensure that project deliverables are maintained throughout the project lifecycle.
• Manage relationships with project partners, consultants, Validation & Verification Bodies (VVBs), and other service providers to ensure accountability and timely delivery.
• Conduct regular field visits to assess implementation progress, partner capacity, safeguards performance, and overall project readiness.
• Work closely with, coordinate, collaborate, and communicate with all institutional carbon-related staff & teams (field and global programs) to ensure alignment with CI’s NCS and carbon crediting strategies and priorities.
• Support the preparation of progress reports to the Rob Walton Foundation and other donors, and ensure reporting obligations are met accurately and on time.

Carbon Project Development

• Act as a Carbon Finance technical lead on the management and delivery of Project Descriptions (PDs), Monitoring Reports (MRs), and other related documentation to ensure achievement of project validation and verification processes, ensuring compliance with appropriate carbon standards. This includes providing project entities with support on work planning, technical input and review, monitoring and evaluation, and overseeing the work of consultants, Validation & Verification Bodies (VVBs), and other service providers.
• Support carbon project development training for CI countries, projects, and partners on a needs assessment basis.

Pipeline Assessment & Due Diligence

• Support early-stage scoping, feasibility assessments, and due diligence of new carbon project opportunities. This will require desk-top review and technical analysis of relevant documentation regarding project design, as well as direct engagement with project entities and conducting due diligence field visits, where needed.
• Evaluate projected emission reductions/removals, governance readiness, safeguards frameworks, and implementation risks to inform investment decisions.
• Provide structured recommendations on project viability and readiness for development.

Technical Innovation

• Support the development of carbon tools, frameworks, and templates to streamline data gathering, analysis, and narrative elements of feasibility assessments, due diligence reports, PDs and MRs, including but not limited to emissions reduction or removal models, biodiversity and community monitoring, stakeholder engagement, workplans, theory of change models.
• Provide technical assessment and comment on carbon market standards and methodology reviews that the Carbon Finance team will lead.

Safeguards & Project Integrity

• Ensure that qualified experts, systems, and governance structures are in place to uphold safeguards, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), benefit-sharing commitments, and carbon integrity standards.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This is a full-time position (35h/week).
• Frequent travel (~30%) within the Africa 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 international field offices located in multiple time zones.
• Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, rangeland management, ecology, natural resource management, climate science, environmental science, or related fields.
• 5 to 7 years of experience working on the development, due diligence, or delivery of Nature-based solutions (NCS) projects.
• Demonstrated experience with the validation and verification of NCS crediting projects (VCS, Gold Standard, CCBS, etc.), including the development of Project Descriptions (PDs), Monitoring Reports (MRs), and Validation and Verification Body (VVB) audits.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to develop and analyse carbon models in compliance with appropriate carbon standards.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, including coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and the ability to hold self and project partners accountable for delivery.
• Experience working with local partners, with an understanding of the on-the-ground realities and challenges of project development and delivery.
• Successful track record working with diverse team members, clients, stakeholders, and partners from different economic, cultural, religious, gender, and professional backgrounds in a range of countries and geographic contexts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to work well under pressure, multitask, set priorities, and deliver quality results
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to build on existing knowledge to develop new approaches.

Preferred

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Fluency in French or Swahili.
• Demonstrated field-level experience across multiple Nature-based Solutions (NCS) pathways and project types, including forest conservation (REDD+), restoration of native ecosystems (ARR), improved forest management (IFM), improved rangeland and sustainable grasslands management, and blue carbon initiatives.
• Experience managing multi-country carbon project portfolios across Africa or other emerging market contexts.
• Experience in carbon accounting for soils (e.g., peatlands, wetlands, and rangelands).
• Familiarity with financial structuring of carbon projects, including revenue forecasting, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and carbon project financial models.
• Experience with training field teams on developing and implementing forest, carbon, and biodiversity monitoring plans.
• Experience working with or within the private sector on climate and NCS-related initiatives.
• Experience working with indigenous peoples and traditional communities and knowledge of safeguards frameworks, Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), grievance mechanisms, and benefit-sharing systems within carbon projects.
• Experience working with government partners and supporting the development of policy in various African countries.

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• One of the key roles in achieving this effort is the Senior Director of Tourism Finance. This pillar will focus on supporting the development of ecotourism so as to capture/direct ecotourism cash flows in support of the sustainable management of KPAs and their surrounding ecosystems. Activities will be aimed at de-risking nascent ecotourism destinations from a private tourism sector investment perspective, to unlock the tourism revenue-generating capacity of such KPAs. The successful candidate’s primary role will be to map out the ecotourism opportunity in priority KPAs on the continent, and lead the design of an ecotourism finance facility that targets the financing of this opportunity, including a technical assistance focus. The work will build on CIs existing, very successful, concessional loan facility (CIV Ventures) for protected areas that will need to be scaled to maximize impact and include KPAs, but will also include developing innovative financing solutions for solving for specific ecotourism challenges in direct collaboration with our Structured Nature Finance lead. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of protected area finance at scale, working at the intersection of ecotourism, finance, and conservation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct rapid assessments of priority KPAs to identify and determine viable ecotourism opportunities.
• Perform gap analysis for KPAs with viable tourism potential (policy, infrastructure, biodiversity, access to capital) to identify specific funding needs and develop roadmap to implementation.
• Lead the design and implementation of an ecotourism financing facility.
• Collaborate and align with other program facilities to align with CI’s conservation and organizational priorities.
• Responsible for the development and scale-up of CI Africa’s concessional lending program for protected areas (CI Ventures), including deal and pipeline management of new and existing tourism-linked transactions.
• In collaboration with the Structured Nature Finance lead, structuring of structured financial transactions and management of internal approval processes, including risk assessments.
• Development of alternative, innovative funding strategies for the tourism finance facility.
• Ensure compliance with CI policies, funding agreements, and local requirements.
• Effectively engage stakeholders, including tourism partners, protected area managers, government and NGOs, technical colleagues, funders, and other partners important to program success.
• Represent the organization externally and serve as a trusted point of contact for CI.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Typical office environment

• Local and/or international travel of 30% or more time, often in difficult travel conditions.
• Ability to work in remote locations or under difficult working conditions.
• 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

• Bachelor's degree in (Conservation) Finance.
• 10 or more years of working experience in the ecotourism sector, (conservation) finance, or a related field.
• Experience working and/or traveling in diverse geographies, including East and Southern Africa.
• Business development and client management track record.
• Ability to work in remote locations or under difficult working conditions.
• Strong financial skills with in-depth knowledge of and experience with various financial product offerings, incl. debt, equity, and the design of innovative financing structures.
• Demonstrated understanding of the complexities around the challenges of ecotourism as a contributor to conservation, including potential unintended consequences in specific ecosystems, as well as the involvement of a multitude of stakeholders.
• Team player and able to work effectively with diverse work groups in a multicultural environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and coordination skills.
• Proven ability to multitask and meet priorities. 
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and under minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Fluency in English required.

Preferred 

• Postgraduate degree in (Conservation) Finance

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• This position requires a highly detail-oriented and proactive finance professional with strong bookkeeping experience, excellent organisational skills, and the ability to work effectively with teams based in different geographic locations. The Senior Finance Administrator will also support audits, reconciliations, payment reporting, and the maintenance of audit-ready finance records, while being adaptable and willing to take on additional responsibilities in a dynamic NGO environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Required to become familiar with the financial systems and controls utilized by CSA.
• Play a supporting role in the creation and approval of vendors, processing invoices, and matching payments in our finance software – Unit 4 Business World, ensure month end deadlines are met for the various offices.
• Receipt of documents for processing in various landscapes(currently in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Springbok, Matatiele, and Kruger to Canyons Biosphere).
• Review documents for all landscapes prior to processing invoices in Unit 4 Business World Accounting software, to ensure all information is supplied correctly and the procurement process is adhered to.
• Finance Administrator should be meticulous in scrutinizing payments before processing and follow up on missing documentation/queries where necessary.
• A key function in this role provides feedback and guidance to the Financial Accountants in various landscapes and the Finance Manager on any compliance issues arising.
• Create new suppliers in Business World Accounting software from Vendor Masterfile and ensure proper documentation for each new vendor or change to an existing vendor.
• Process/capture Supplier invoices and credits, upload supporting docs in Accounting software, (Accounts Payable), reference invoices when processed, and follow up on final invoices where pro-formas were issued.
• Process adjustments in the Accounts Payable module in Business World when required.
• Liaise with Managers regarding approvals of tasks.
• Prepare the Manual Pay Template in Business World once all approvals have been finalized, allocate references.
• Load new beneficiaries in the Online banking system (currently Standard Bank CATS), review and verify.
• Load payment batches and internal transfers into our online banking system, review, verify, and generate an audit report.
• Prepare weekly Excel Payment Schedule listing Supplier Invoice details.
• Update the monthly Excel payment batch.
• Prepare a PDF of full weekly Payment Pack, including Payment Schedule, Audit Report, EFT’s, Invoices, Concur (travel) reports, and other supporting docs as required.
• Submit/share PDF batch of payment documents via email (after uploading in Sharepoint Finance folder) for release in Standard Bank CATS Banking.
• Check the payment date on Bank Statement once paid, and insert references on Bank Statements.
• Forward Proof of Payments to Supplier or Employee requesting payment.
• Assist with the collation/processing of Fleet Cards and debit order entries, and support thereof.
• Assist with the monthly Accounts Payable balance sheet recon, and support thereof.
• Assist with any audit support (internal, external, project, etc.), through the extraction of samples, etc.
• Be prepared to assist with additional activities as they arise within the Finance Team, attend weekly finance meetings, assist with setting up online meetings, taking meeting notes.
• Accurate submission of the monthly timesheet.
• Assist in the maintenance of online finance files in SharePoint to ensure that they are audit-ready.
• Be prepared to take on additional activities as they arise, due to the growing nature of projects.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Based in one of the Conservation South African offices (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Matatiele, Springbok, Mpumalanga)
• Supporting staff based in different locations.
• Experience in working in a team-based environment in different locations.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• 2 to 4 years of bookkeeping/accounting experience.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Experience in MS Office programmes with good Excel knowledge.
• Ability and experience required to administer and execute financial processes and transactions.
• Good administrative and interpersonal skills, ability to be proactive and use initiative.
• Be assertive, deadline driven, able to handle pressure, and dynamic to change.
• Meticulous, attention to detail, and accurate.
• Logical thinker
• A good team player.

Preferred:

• National Diploma in Accounting or related qualification
• NGO experience in a similar role.
   

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• This is an internship contract for the period from 1 June 2026 to 31 August 2026. Based in South Africa, near Acornhoek, Mpumalanga, close to the Kruger National Park. Accommodation will be provided close to the work site, and transport will be provided to and from work.
• This immersive experience is designed for students interested in applied conservation practice, community engagement, and working in complex social-ecological systems. Interns will support ongoing work in priority landscapes, including community-led conservation, restoration, wildlife monitoring, conservation agreements, and sustainable livelihood activities.
• Interns will benefit from on-site mentorship and participate in shared learning and reflection across sites. Successful candidates will demonstrate curiosity, adaptability, cultural competence, and a strong interest in conservation practice. This role is well-suited for students who are comfortable working in rural and remote environments, collaborating across cultures, and contributing meaningfully to landscape-scale conservation efforts.
• As part of the internship experience, interns will participate in a series of online courses offered through Arizona State University, designed to prepare them for field-based conservation work and deepen their understanding of place-based practice. These courses will be provided free of charge by the program and will be completed alongside field work. Interns who successfully complete the coursework and internship will receive a certificate from Arizona State University, recognizing their applied learning and professional preparation.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Intern responsibilities will vary by site and program needs, but may include the following:

Conservation Field Support

• Support day-to-day conservation activities alongside site teams, including land and wildlife management, restoration, and community-led initiatives.
• Assist with restoring degraded areas through activities such as planting, rangeland restoration interventions, site assessments, and basic ecological monitoring.
• Participate in wildlife and habitat observation, tracking, and data collection under the guidance of experienced staff.
• Support work with local landowners, community groups, livestock owners, or partners to develop shared approaches to protect nature while supporting local livelihoods and small enterprises.

Community Engagement and Learning

• Engage respectfully with local and Indigenous communities, leaders, and partners, following local protocols and guidance from site teams.
• Support community meetings, workshops, trainings, and outreach activities, including preparation, note-taking, and follow-up.
• Learn from and help document how conservation work connects to local priorities, knowledge, and well-being.

Research, Innovation, Communication, and Documentation

• Assist with basic data collection, organization, and synthesis.
• Help capture stories that highlight community perspectives, local leadership, and the realities of day-to-day conservation work, using photos, short written reflections, or other agreed formats.
• Contribute to learning products such as site summaries, presentations, or end-of-internship reflections that share insights and lessons learned.
• Work with staff and community leaders to support the development and application of innovative ideas that improve positive outcomes for both people and nature.

Professional Development and Cohort Learning

• Participate in regular check-ins with assigned mentors and supervisors to receive guidance and feedback.
• Engage actively in cohort learning activities and structure reflection.
• Build skills in working in field-based, cross-cultural environments while reflecting on personal and professional growth.
• Other duties assigned by site supervisors or program leadership

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Internship period: May 30—August 31, 2026 (exact dates may vary by site)
• Based in South Africa, near Acornhoek, Mpumalanga, close to the Kruger National Park.
• Accommodation will be provided close to the work site, and transport will be provided to and from work.
• Significant time spent outdoors and in community settings.
• Living and working conditions may be basic and require flexibility and resilience.
• Some local travel within the project area will be required, with transport being provided.

QUALIFICATIONS
Required

• Interns will be enrolled at Arizona State University to participate in this internship.
• Completed studies or currently studying in the following areas: conservation, environmental studies, community development, or related fields.
• Clear interest in learning how conservation works in real-world settings.
• Willingness and ability to live and work in rural or remote environments.
• Respect for different cultures, traditions, and ways of life.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills.
• Flexibility, initiative, and a positive attitude in unfamiliar or challenging settings.

Preferred

• Prior experience in fieldwork, community engagement, or volunteer work will be considered an advantage.
• Backgrounds in ecology, natural resource management, business, marketing, communications, or storytelling.
• Familiarity with Southern African cultures and other contexts or lived experience in the region.
• Interest in wildlife, habitat restoration, community livelihoods, or human-wildlife relationships.
• Passion for people – dedicated to working with people to improve livelihoods and well-being, while advancing positive outcomes for nature.