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 Sourcing team works hand in hand with project owners and developers, active in the carbon markets and renewable energy space, to identify, negotiate and contract new emission reduction projects. By acquiring new projects within our portfolio, we ensure that South Pole always has the right mix of carbon credits available to meet the demands of our clients. If you’re an ambitious and dynamic sustainability professional with a strong passion to make a real difference in the fight against climate change, this position may be right for you!

Job summary:

As part of the Climate Projects business line within the Global Sourcing team, the Senior Sourcing Specialist, Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), will primarily focus on Nature-based emission reduction project leads and opportunities in the Latin American region, mainly in Mexico and the Caribbean countries. 

Reporting to a senior NBS team member in the Latin American NBS Sourcing team, you will actively also support business development and emission reduction project sourcing related activities in the region – especially related to forestry such as REDD+, afforestation, reforestation, rehabilitation, improved forest management, and NBS topics such as blue carbon and agriculture-based emission reduction projects. In this exciting role, you will work closely with other teams within the Climate Projects business line, allowing you a global perspective on climate finance and sustainability. 

This externally facing position will require strong networking and communication skills. You will be dealing directly with many project owners and sustainability-related actors to help collaborate and source emission reduction projects for South Pole’s global portfolio.

Main tasks & responsibilities:

• Support Latin American project sourcing operations activities for carbon credits and possibly other environmental market products

• Ensure sourcing flows and processes (including documentation, interaction with other teams, and interaction with Projects Partner) are in line with company guidelines

• Manage and maintain our global sourcing database, ensuring that information regarding project leads and opportunities are well recorded and updated

• Support coordination and collaboration with other teams within South Pole globally, in regard to project leads and opportunities

• Source new project leads and opportunities for the Latin American region, especially for Mexico and the Caribbean, aligned to Sourcing strategies and mandates

• Draft contracts, commercial proposals, and investment proposals

• Conduct research relevant to new lead projects, project developers, project owners, and relevant regulatory regimes/policies in the Latin America region, especially for Mexico and the Caribbean

• Perform proper follow-up with project partners and their projects, until the conclusion of the ERPA signature and issuance of carbon credits

• Collect data from project owners or third parties for due diligence, financing plans, investment plans, budgets, and technical, financial, and legal documentation

• When relevant, attend meetings/seminars/workshops/events that are strategic for sourcing team activities.

Requirements:

Essential -

• University degree in Forestry, Agriculture, Economics, Environmental Sustainability, Business Development, and Law or similar

• Several years of experience in carbon markets (compliance/voluntary), experience in environmental project evaluation/development/Investment in impact projects, ideally in an international environment

• Good understanding of climate change mitigation actions and frameworks such as Net-Zero

• Good understanding of commercial terms and ideally experience in commercial negotiations and impact project investment

• Existing networks in NBS areas such as forestry, conservation, reforestation, or agriculture

• Native or fluent in Spanish, Professional proficiency in English is a must and Portuguese is desirable

Desirable - 

• Experience and interest in engagements and networking — people skills

• Experience in project screening and budgeting/financing/investments

• Knowledge of project development in the Latin American region, specifically Mexico and the Caribbean, of NBS projects

• Knowledge of carbon credits, standards, and project development

• Comfortable working with an international and multicultural team

• Proficiency with MS Office, especially MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, Salesforce, and Google Suite

• Adaptability and versatility

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 and 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.