Director of Carbon Programmes

About Us

Space for Giants is an international conservation organisation that protects Africa’s remaining natural ecosystems and the large wild animals they contain, while bringing major social and economic value to local communities and national governments. We have three thematic pillars of work to achieve our mission which are: 1) The protection and management of natural ecosystems and associated value creation for local citizens; 2) Combating the illegal wildlife trade; and 3) Promoting Human-Wildlife Coexistence. We pride ourselves on our highly collaborative approach with national governments, recognising the importance of being relevant to elected leaders and their constituents, striving to ensure that our conservation work is aligned with their priorities. Grounded in world class science, we bring high quality technical expertise and experience to inform and deliver our conservation programmes, wherever we work. Learn more about our work on our website: www.spaceforgiants.org

Green14: A for profit initiative between Space for Giants and Bacchus Capital designed to deliver carbon finance to fund Africa’s protected areas that act as vital carbon pool required to fight climate change.

Role Summary

The Director of Carbon Programmes will oversee the development of all of Space for Giants’ nature-based carbon programmes across the countries in which we work. From identifying and conducting high level assessments of project viability for developing certified carbon credit projects for diverse and varied landscapes, to overseeing their validation and periodical verification. The Carbon Director will come with demonstrated experience delivering carbon projects from inception to verification and will be well versed on carbon standards and methodologies relevant to the generation of carbon credits from NBS projects, such as the Verified Carbon Standard. The Director of Carbon Programmes will interact with both Space for Giants and third-party landscape managers to advise on the implementation of projects, required interventions, monitoring and evaluation, risk mitigation etc. In addition he/she will coordinate relevant stakeholders that are party to a carbon project to ensure compliance and alignment with both local, regional and national strategies.

Job Description

1. Project Development:

• Lead the design, development and implementation of carbon projects encompassing multiple programs within the Africa region, which may include regular field work and travel to project areas.
• Engage with third party landscape managers, perform due diligence and assess suitability and capacity to be included in the Green14 pipeline.
• Work with the SFG Conservation and technical carbon team to carry out high level carbon scoping assessments of prospective SFG landscapes.
• Engage and maintain a network of ‘best in class’ technical carbon developers, specialised in a range of different ecosystems and carbon methodologies to provide feasibility studies and PDD development (Inc. climate impact modelling, project baseline assessment, project financial models and analysis of regional and global carbon datasets).
• Develop, negotiate and agree with partner landscapes: Term Sheets, Voluntary Emission Reduction Purchase Agreements (VERPA’s) and landscape management mandates.
• Build internal capacity within Space for Giants to grow the Carbon/Nature Based Solutions Department with motivated, competent staff members;

2. Project Oversight

• Ensure landscape managers and carbon projects are compliant with terms of the VERPA and take necessary corrective actions where required, which may include regular field work and travel to project areas.
• Ensure carbon projects and the planned interventions are being implemented according to the carbon methodology; take appropriate corrective actions where necessary.
• Design and implement monitoring and evaluation framework appropriate for the carbon framework and to meet the terms of VERPA.

3. Green14

• Act as the principle point of contact between Space for Giants and Green14.
• Ensure the terms of the contractual agreements between Green14 and 1) Space for Giants and 2) 3d party landscapes are being met and adhered to by the parties and initiate corrective actions where required.
• Assists in developing reports, presentations, and assessments on related topics providing technical carbon content.

4. Government Engagement

• Work closely with national protected area management authorities including:
  • Provide trainings/workshop on the fundamentals of carbon financing as a way of funding a national protected area portfolio.
  • Provide advice on ‘best practice’ in structuring carbon offtake agreements.
• Keep abreast of changes to or developments in national carbon frameworks/regulations (REDD+ Framework, Art6 implementation, REDD+ nesting requirements).
• Obtain approvals/Letters of No Objection for new carbon credit offset projects, including preparing and submitting necessary proposals and documentation.
• Ensure compliance with annual/regular government reporting requirements.

5. People Management

5.1 Capacity Building.

• Build technical carbon capacity:
  • Within the Central Space for Giants organisation and;
  • At landscape level within the field teams of Space for Giants’ and 3d party managed landscape.
• Highlight capacity building requirements/needs to the Managing Director of Conservation and CEO.
• Encourage team members to strive to advance and build capacity.

5.2 Staff Engagement.

• Provide assistance and collaborate professionally with interns/scholars as required.
• Engage with team members collaboratively to achieve the objectives of the unit.
• Respect team members and foster a good team spirit and compliance to the cultural contract of SFG

6. General

• Represent Space for Giants in external events and meetings and uphold the organisation’s values.
• Manage a complex workload and communications within Space for Giants and externally with partners.
• Educate, clarify and re-iterate the carbon development process to partners and internally.
• Make strategic decisions based on analysis, experience, and context.
• Provide input as per special assignments requested by the Executive Director, CEO and the Conservation Managing Director
• Provide inputs to fundraising strategies and initiatives

7. Culture and Values

• Drive the Organizational Culture to internal and external Stakeholders
• Conduct oneself and encourage team behavior to create awareness and reinforce Organizational Vision, Values and the Culture Contract

Any other relevant tasks related to the role as directed by the Supervisor

Person Specification

Key Skills: Experienced in Project management and people management, Efficient, Hard-Working, Driven, Innovative and Organized.

Uphold the cultural values and code of conduct of Space for Giants: Passion, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability, and Innovation.

Experience, Knowledge & Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences or environmental economics or a related field.
• At least 5 years of senior management experience in conservation or a related field
• And preferably up to 3 years of carbon project or nature-based solutions development experience.
• Strong technical understanding of the voluntary carbon standards, especially Verra’s VCS.
• Experience in building technical carbon capacity, both internally and by providing training and workshops to conservation partners and governments.
• Proven ability to work in multidimensional environments
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal (English Required, French & Portuguese an added advantage)
• Self-motivated and self-sufficient
• GIS skills an advantage

Additional Information

• This is a full-time position. You may be required to work long hours beyond the traditional 8:00am to 5:00pm as and when submission deadlines require. Additional work hours may be required on occasion so as to fulfil responsibilities.
• Flexible & Negotiable location-Remote working preferably in UK, Kenya, Uganda
• You must be ready to travel regionally across our projects in Africa.
• You must be willing to work in variable conditions, including when in the field.
• The position will start immediately when the successful applicant has been selected and is available to take up the position.