Director, Carbon Finance Origination

Overview Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, CI spotlights and secures important places in nature for climate, biodiversity, and people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than countries, CI 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 South Africa or Kenya and is open to candidates authorized to work in the listed locations. Amid growing evidence that protecting, restoring, and better managing ecosystems can provide a substantial portion of climate mitigation, CI has set ambitious targets to realize natural climate solutions worldwide. The Carbon Finance (CF) team within CI's Nature Finance Group (NFG) sources and finances high-quality NCS projects, building partnerships with the private sector and CI field programs to deliver climate and conservation targets. The CF team prioritizes impact through community engagement, biodiversity safeguards, and high-quality carbon credits, including projects located in Irrecoverable Carbon and biodiversity hotspots. Each member of this team plays a critical role in this mission. This position is an integral part of the CF team. The Director, Carbon Finance Origination & Deal Lead for the Africa region manages all commercial elements of NCS carbon finance projects. The role originates high-quality, large-scale landscape restoration opportunities and steers projects through the CI project cycle, aligning upstream value with CI's carbon credit buyers and investor partners. The role supports the Africa Field Division in developing a carbon strategy that elevates field objectives while ensuring a diversified, high-quality portfolio, and contributes to fundraising efforts with Africa Field Division and the global CF team. Strong PowerPoint, financial modeling, and relationship-management skills are essential. Responsibilities Origination Identify and evaluate potential carbon project opportunities aligned with CI's strategic objectives. Build a high-quality project pipeline with 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 Division, CI regional country offices, and the Global Carbon Origination lead. Track 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 early-stage design and submit for internal review and approval. Collaborate with CI teams to gather inputs for feasibility phase budgets. Ensure alignment between Africa Field Division goals and CI's Carbon Finance priorities. Stay up-to-date with market trends, regulatory changes, and industry developments in carbon finance and project development. Represent CI at industry conferences, seminars, and events to promote CI's expertise and build partnerships. Deal Lead Perform financial modeling and analysis of pipeline and portfolio projects to assess economics, including revenue streams, costs, and ROI. Negotiate commercial terms with project partners to enable cost recovery for CI while ensuring high-quality implementation and community benefits. Coordinate implementation budgets with stakeholders as feasibility work progresses. Develop and maintain strong relationships with upstream project development partners as the primary point of contact for communications and negotiations. Collaborate with legal, finance, and technical teams to ensure a robust business case for projects. Prepare and present carbon finance business cases to potential investors. Collaborate with sales and marketing on materials for potential credit buyers. Manage transaction timelines and deliverables, ensuring milestones are met. Build and maintain data rooms for projects. Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree in finance or business, environmental science, or other relevant field. 7+ years of relevant experience. Experience with Natural Climate Solutions or conservation projects and long-term success drivers (financial and non-financial). Experience working with countries in Africa and with carbon transactions. Knowledge of environmental markets, especially voluntary carbon markets; experience with analysis, structuring, and valuation of natural resources and related investments. Strong business acumen with ability to structure and negotiate profitable deals. Experience working with local partners in Africa and understanding on-the-ground realities of project development and delivery. Excellent project management, coordination, and attention to detail; proven ability to work across cultures and organizations. Excellent written and verbal English communication skills; proficiency in MS PowerPoint and Excel. Demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to build on existing knowledge to develop new approaches. Preferred Graduate degree. Fluency in French and Portuguese. Experience in climate and NCS issues in the private sector. Experience working with Indigenous peoples and traditional communities. Experience communicating NCS and carbon finance concepts to technical and non-technical audiences. Citizenship or work authorization in Africa. To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter. See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE Equal employment opportunity - Conservation International is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We hire based on merit and qualifications, ensuring a fair and inclusive hiring process for everyone. #J-18808-Ljbffr