**Carbon Manager**
Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.
** - This position is based in Mexico City, Mexico**
Conservation International is one of the global leaders in implementing natural climate solutions (NCS) and international voluntary markets to combat climate change. There is significant growth in the demand for high-quality conservation projects that can access the voluntary and compliance carbon markets and CI is rapidly expanding its portfolio of high-quality carbon projects to meet this demand. Projects include landscape restoration, climate-smart improved forestry and agricultural management, and Blue Carbon. These initiatives go beyond protecting forests and other ecosystems by integrating sustainable production and focusing on improving human well-being - to assist in originating, evaluating, and developing a project pipeline of new bankable avoided deforestation, restoration, improved forest management, and other NCS projects
- and jurisdictional-scale initiatives, both internally within CI and externally with outside partners.
Lastly, the Manager will coordinate efforts with CI Mexico technical teams to identify local partners to develop NCS project proposals led by CI Mexico. This proposal must be technically, socially, and financially viable, must preferably be in CI's Mexico priority locations, and comply with CFD conditions to seek for funding. The Senior Manager will lead these efforts, work on the technical documentation needed for this, and conduct the proper field visits.
To be successful, the Manager needs to be fully conversant with developments and trends in nature conservation in Mexico, national and international NCS carbon markets, climate policy, carbon/climate, and social and environmental safeguards certification standards, and have experience working on conservation carbon project, coastal and marine ecosystems, and/or climate-smart agriculture, forestry, and agroforestry. Having worked previously with NCS carbon methodologies (Verra VCS and CCBS, and Climate Action Reserve in particular) is highly required. Demonstrated knowledge or experience in the role and development of conservation finance and forestry carbon finance transactions is desirable. The Manager must be able to work across a broad range of stakeholders including external partners in the private sector, development finance institutions, project developers, government, and civil society. Must have previous technical experience in carbon projects, preferably in forestry and agroforestry activities, as well as experience working with communities on-the-field activities.
The Manager will work in close collaboration with external partners, project developers/consultants, and key personnel across CI's Global Programs and Centers (such as the Conservation Finance Division and the Center for Natural Climate Solutions) to ensure alignment between country, regional and institutional strategies as well as efficient implementation of CI's carbon origination and project development processes.
The position will report directly to the CI Mexico Sr. Technical Director with joint and indirect reporting to the Americas Carbon Finance Lead.
**RESPONSIBILITIES**
- In close collaboration with the CI Mexico, the Americas Carbon Origination team, the Conservation Finance Division, and key external partners, including NGOs, local communities, project developers, investors, and financial institutions; help develop a quality NCS carbon finance project lead by the CI Mexico Office and that meets CI's quality criteria and Safeguards; based on desk-top analysis and interviews, site visits where applicable, and prepare a Project Information Note (PINs) for internal review. Manage project origination and evaluation workflow through identification, scoping, and due diligence stages including working closely with implementing partners, creating workplans and budgets for projects that have the potential to be funded by one of CI's financing vehicles. As the carbon focal point for the CI Mexico, office, assist the local teams in any carbon-related issue, including providing guidance, training, orientation, data, etc.
- Lead the coordination, and development of feasibility assessments for selected REDD+, ARR, and IFM opportunities with relevant stakeholders highlighting key recommendations to advance them towards full development and implementation. The feasibility assessment might include aspects such as assessing the agents and drivers of deforestation, key carbon finance eligibility concepts, reviewing pot