South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all continents across the globe, we strive to create a sustainable society and economy that positively impacts our climate, ecosystems and developing communities. With our solutions, we inspire and enable our customers to create value from sustainability-related activities.

Our Project Development team is at the forefront of developing and managing climate mitigation activities. By working closely with project owners and developers as well as their local communities, we manage the complete registration, verification and evaluation of carbon projects to enable the issuance of emission-reduction certificates, in line with official carbon standards. If you are a smart, ambitious and dynamic sustainability professional with a strong passion to make a real difference in the fight against climate change, the below position may be right for you!

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 

What we offer:

At South Pole, we care about our employees as much as we care about the planet. South Pole is not just an employer, we are a Team. South Pole does not just offer people a job, we offer you a career. By joining our team, you will find strong purpose and deep meaning in everything you do. You will have the chance to make a real difference for our clients and for the planet, working alongside a passionate team of like-minded colleagues, while building your knowledge/skills and developing your career in a fun, dynamic, international and fast-growing organisation. 

We’re a planet of 7.5 billion unique and different people. We all have a contribution to make; South Pole is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status or disability. Our recruitment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.