Regional NbS Project Manager

at  CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL ASIAPACIFIC LTD

SUMMARY

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.
CI is one of the global leaders in using natural climate solutions (NCS) and nature-based solutions (NbS) to address issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, water security, food security, and disaster risk climate adaptation. 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 and technical assistance to carbon policy initiatives to meet this demand. The Asia Pacific NCS Team provides regional support for CI Asia Pacific (CIAP) NCS project origination, scoping, and development, as well as technical support for regional Nature-based Solutions initiatives. To this end, the AP NCS Team manages the Asia Pacific Technical Assistance Facility (TAF), launched by CIAP in 2022. This is a multi-donor facility established to provide technical support and invest in NCS projects and enabling conditions. Currently, projects include REDD+, landscape restoration and management, and blue carbon mechanisms. This work includes significant policy engagement with regional governments to support program implementation and the development of policy instruments that allow inclusion of NCS within emerging national and international compliance carbon markets.
CIAP is seeking an outgoing and dynamic Regional NbS Project Manager to work closely with the Senior Director Asia Pacific NCS to support the scoping, feasibility, development, and implementation of NbS projects across the Asia-Pacific region, including terrestrial and blue carbon NbS projects. As a member of the AP NCS Team, the Regional NbS Project Manager will provide technical support and project management to ensure high quality NbS project outcomes. S/he will support both the AP NCS Portfolio and Technical Teams to facilitate efficient and timely delivery of NCS project outputs such as Project Rapid Assessments (PRA), Project Idea Notes (PIN), Project Design Documents (PDD) and Monitoring Reports (MR). The Regional NbS Project Manager will also support the Asia-Pacific Policy Team with NCS policy analysis to influence the design of policy frameworks to facilitate the demand and supply of NCS, including Jurisdictional REDD+ nesting frameworks.
The Regional NbS Project Manager will oversee small to moderate size conservation projects or components/phases of larger projects. S/he will oversee all aspects of the project over the entire project cycle. This includes project design, planning, implementation, tracking and reporting on deliverables and project status. S/he establishes the project work plan including staffing and capacity building needs. Not responsible for directly supervising others but may lead small ad-hoc teams and act as a technical resource to others.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in conservation science, natural resource management, climate change or other relevant fields.
• 4 - 6 years of work experience in topics related to international conservation, climate change, forest carbon, and/or blue carbon.
• Experience in voluntary NbS carbon project feasibility, development and implementation.
• Familiarity with voluntary market standards and NCS carbon methodologies.
• Strong technical and analytical skills.
• Strong organization and time management skills.
• Ability to diagnose problems and identify solutions.
• Team player and able to work effectively with diverse works groups in a multicultural environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Proficient in written and spoken English.
• Ability to work well under pressure, multitask, set priorities, and deliver quality results.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and under general supervision.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to function well in a multicultural, diverse, and fast-paced work team environment.
• Comfortable managing multiple duties and adapting to changing priorities.
• Ability to work under general supervision and take initiative to solve problems under supervisor direction.
• Familiar and comfortable with Microsoft Office.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide technical and project management support to the Portfolio and Technical Teams during the development and implementation stages of NbS projects. Responsibilities include monitoring project progress, conducting technical research, evaluating project opportunities, assessing NbS Standards and Methodologies, and conducting project feasibility studies. Additionally, support includes the preparation, review, and technical editing of project outputs such as PRAs, PINs, PDDs, and MRs.
• Liaise with the NCS Blue Carbon Team, Center for Oceans, and International Blue Carbon Institute to facilitate regional blue carbon capacity development and blue carbon project delivery.
• Provide technical assistance and project management for key partners to guide project implementation and execution of NbS projects primarily in Asia-Pacific, including the review and assessment of materials provided by applicants applying for TAF support.
• Working closely with the NCS Policy Senior Manager, provide support to the Asia-Pacific Policy Team with policy analysis, research, and recommendations to influence the design of policy frameworks to facilitate the demand and supply of NCS, including REDD+ nesting frameworks, and policy enabling conditions. Support the identification of stakeholder capacity gaps, design of capacity building efforts, and the development of policy and technical workplans to facilitate regional carbon market development and international trading.
• Work with key project stakeholders to evaluate project activities for compliance with voluntary/compliance methodologies and standards as well as to ensure these meet CI’s climate, biodiversity, social, financial, and governance safeguard requirements.
• Function as a key project information source and advisor. Represent CI and ensure effective communications and information sharing between all partners and stakeholders.
• Identify capacity-building needs and corrective actions to address capacity gaps and ensure future project efficiencies. Help identify tools, resources and training that will facilitate project success.
• Manage the preparation of reporting summaries and project narratives. Collaborate with HQ and Program finance and operations staff on project financial reporting.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Research current and emerging standards, methodologies, and approaches to facilitate capacity development, knowledge sharing and implementation of NbS opportunities.
• Work closely with the Director of Climate Projects and implementing/technical partners to support the development of workplans and budgets for carbon development components of NbS projects.
• Coordinate with the Climate Finance Division including the Carbon Finance and Sustainable Finance Teams to identify funding opportunities, develop finance mechanisms, and contribute to financial modeling/analysis to help assess project economics, including revenue streams, costs, and returns on investment.
• Provide technical assistance to the NCS Technical team, including scoping and delivery of required geospatial analyses, field protocols, and technical reports.
• Develop and foster collaborative relationships with governments, scientists, NGOs, and local communities to promote NbS knowledge-sharing and support capacity-building efforts.
• Gather, develop and share project information, actions plans and deliverables with internal and external project stakeholders. Support project bids and proposals as assigned.
• Ensure partner/stakeholder standards and interests are represented and incorporated into project deliverables. Review for compliance with partner/donor agreements.

PEOPLE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Does not have direct supervisory authority but provides feedback on team member and/or contract/partner staff and support personnel performance.
• Act as a technical or subject matter expert to peers and other staff.
• Manages an individual budget but decisions that bind or commit CI are approved by immediate supervisor.
• Responsible for managing some public or private funds, monitoring results, and recommending follow-up action. Reviews for understanding and compliance with donor agreements.