Carbon Finance Origination & Deal Lead Africa job at Conservation International

Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

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.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Angola, Liberia, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Botswana or Madagasca

Amid growing consensus that the protection, restoration, and improved management of ecosystems can provide at least 30% of the climate mitigation needed to limit warming to 1.5°C, Conservation International (CI) has set ambitious targets to realize the potential of natural climate solutions (NCS) worldwide. The Carbon Finance (CF) team within CI’s Nature Finance Group (NFG) is working across CI to source and finance a portfolio of high-quality NCS carbon projects, creating industry-leading partnerships with the private sector and connections with CI field programs to ensure delivery of ambitious climate and conservation targets.

The CF team prioritizes impact through community engagement, biodiversity, safeguards, and high-quality carbon credits, as well as through projects that are located in “Irrecoverable Carbon” and Biodiversity hotspots. Each member of this team plays a critical role in making this impact mission a success.

This position is an integral part of the CF team. The Carbon Finance Origination & Deal Lead for the Africa region manages all commercial elements of an NCS carbon finance project. The role will originate high quality and integrity, large-scale landscape restoration projects utilizing CI’s presence and experience along with their own cultivated network. CI is looking for a self-determined and motivated candidate who is able to navigate complex environments in various countries within the Africa region. This position will be the lead for carbon transactions, both on the “upstream” origination side, as well as the “downstream” commercial side. In addition to originating new carbon opportunities for CI, this position will usher projects through our project cycle, ensuring that the upstream project partner understands the value that CI brings to the project while also contextualizing and understanding the interests of CI’s carbon credit buyer and investor partners, and support management of the broader Africa carbon portfolio. The candidate will work with the Africa Field Management Unit to develop a carbon strategy that supports and elevates the Field Unit strategy, while also ensuring the development of a high-quality and diversified portfolio. The candidate will support fundraising efforts – working with both the Africa Field Management Unit and the global CF team to help generate more investment at the project and portfolio level, including the preparation of investment materials. The candidate should have strong PowerPoint presentation skills and be familiar with financial models, while also being a natural relationship manager and a clear communicator.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Origination

• Identify and evaluate potential carbon project opportunities in line with CI’s strategic objectives. Build a high-quality project pipeline with key external partners, including NGOs, governments, local communities, and private developers.
• Lead the development of the regional carbon finance strategy in coordination with Africa’s Field Management Unit, CI regional country offices, and the Global Carbon Origination lead.
• Keep track of the pipeline and portfolio of all NFG Carbon Finance projects in the region and report to the Carbon Portfolio Delivery and Global Origination leads.
• Lead the coordination and preparation of Project Idea Notes (PINs) summarizing the project's early-stage design and submit for internal review and approval.
• Work with the various project stakeholders and CI teams to gather inputs for the feasibility phase budgets.
• Work closely with CI’s Africa Field Management Unit to ensure that the goals of the Africa Field Management Unit and the priorities of CI’s.
• Carbon Finance Team is aligned and complementary
• Stay up-to-date with market trends, regulatory changes, and industry developments related to carbon finance and project development.
• Represent CI at industry conferences, seminars, and events to promote the organization's expertise and build relationships with potential partners and investors.

Deal Lead

• Financial modeling and analysis of pipeline and portfolio projects to assess project economics, including revenue streams, costs, and returns on investment.
• Negotiate commercial terms with project development partners and key stakeholders that enable cost recovery for CI, while ensuring high-quality project implementation and maximizing community return.
• Work with the various project stakeholders to gather inputs for the implementation budget, while feasibility work is underway.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with the upstream project development partners, serving as the primary point of contact and managing ongoing communications and negotiations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including legal, finance, and technical experts, to ensure all commercial aspects of the project are thoroughly understood and that a strong business case is constructed.
• Prepare and present carbon finance business cases to potential investors.
• Work with the sales and marketing team on materials to present to potential credit buyers.
• Manage timelines and deliverables of the transaction, ensuring adherence to established milestones and deadlines.
• Build and maintain data rooms for various projects.

Supervisory responsibilities

• Will involve staff supervision.
• Act as a technical or subject matter expert to peers and other staff across CI Africa and global teams.
• Will be responsible for managing project-related budgets, consultants, and vendors, but decisions that bind or commit CI are approved by the immediate supervisor.
• May lead project teams.

Working Conditions

• This is a full-time position
• Ability to work outside the normal work schedule to meet project deadlines.
• This position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some days remotely. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.

Additional Information: Re-advertisement Notice & Dual-Level Consideration:

This position has been re‑advertised to widen the candidate pool and better reflect the range of expertise required for this role. Conservation International is considering candidates at both the Senior Manager and Director levels. While most of the core responsibilities of the Carbon Finance Origination & Deal Lead remain the same, the selected candidate’s final level will depend on their demonstrated experience, technical depth in carbon finance, leadership capabilities, and ability to independently lead complex origination and transaction processes. Further details regarding expectations at each level will be discussed during the interview process. Strong candidates

• Identify and evaluate potential carbon project opportunities in line with CI’s strategic objectives. Build a high-quality project pipeline with key external partners, including NGOs, governments, local communities, and private developers.
• Lead the development of the regional carbon finance strategy in coordination with Africa’s Field Management Unit, CI regional country offices, and the Global Carbon Origination lead.
• Keep track of the pipeline and portfolio of all NFG Carbon Finance projects in the region and report to the Carbon Portfolio Delivery and Global Origination leads.
• Lead the coordination and preparation of Project Idea Notes (PINs) summarizing the project's early-stage design and submit for internal review and approval.
• Work with the various project stakeholders and CI teams to gather inputs for the feasibility phase budgets.
• Work closely with CI’s Africa Field Management Unit to ensure that the goals of the Africa Field Management Unit and the priorities of CI’s Carbon Finance Team is aligned and complementary
• Stay up-to-date with market trends, regulatory changes, and industry developments related to carbon finance and project development.
• Represent CI at industry conferences, seminars, and events to promote the organization's expertise and build relationships with potential partners and investors.
• Financial modeling and analysis of pipeline and portfolio projects to assess project economics, including revenue streams, costs, and returns on investment.
• Negotiate commercial terms with project development partners and key stakeholders that enable cost recovery for CI, while ensuring high-quality project implementation and maximizing community return.
• Work with the various project stakeholders to gather inputs for the implementation budget, while feasibility work is underway.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with the upstream project development partners, serving as the primary point of contact and managing ongoing communications and negotiations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including legal, finance, and technical experts, to ensure all commercial aspects of the project are thoroughly understood and that a strong business case is constructed.
• Prepare and present carbon finance business cases to potential investors.
• Work with the sales and marketing team on materials to present to potential credit buyers.
• Manage timelines and deliverables of the transaction, ensuring adherence to established milestones and deadlines.
• Build and maintain data rooms for various projects.
• Will involve staff supervision.
• Act as a technical or subject matter expert to peers and other staff across CI Africa and global teams.
• Will be responsible for managing project-related budgets, consultants, and vendors, but decisions that bind or commit CI are approved by the immediate supervisor.
• May lead project teams.

• Strong PowerPoint presentation skills
• Familiarity with financial models
• Natural relationship manager
• Clear communicator

• Bachelor's degree in finance or business, environmental science field, or another relevant discipline.
• Experience and understanding of Natural Climate Solutions or conservation projects, and long-term success drivers, both financial and non-financial.
• Experience working with countries in the Africa region.
• Hands-on experience with carbon transactions (origination, structuring, valuation, buyer engagement).
• Knowledge and expertise in environmental markets, especially in voluntary carbon markets.
• Experience with analysis, structuring, and valuation of natural resources and/or other investment