Carbon Projects Manager

About the organisation

ActionRenewables,foundedin2003,isoneofthelongestestablishedrenewableenergyorganisationsin NorthernIreland.ItisaregisteredcharitysupportedbyActionRenewablesEnergyTradingLtdandworkswithmore than 7,000 customers.

Theorganisationfocusesontacklingclimatechangebypromotingrenewableenergyandsupportingcommunityprojects.

Carbon Projects Manager

We are recruiting for a Carbon Projects Manager within our Project Delivery team.

The role:

The Carbon Projects Manager will identify, originate and develop carbon reduction and removal projects, and manage them through to successful accreditation and issuance of Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) with a recognised certification body such as Verra (VCS) or Gold Standard. The role holds responsibility for building and maintaining partnerships with landowners, project developers, communities and other stakeholders, and for managing projects through the full lifecycle from feasibility and origination, through documentation and validation, to verification and credit issuance.

This is a mid-level position within Action Renewables, suited to someone with hands-on experience of the voluntary (or compliance) carbon market who can operate with a good degree of autonomy while working closely with technical, legal, finance and commercial colleagues.

Hours of work

• 37.5hoursperweek
• Dailyhoursofworkare09:0017:00,MondaytoFriday
• Opportunitytoworkfromhomeuptotwodaysperweek(non-contractual)

Location

ActionRenewables,BoucherBusinessStudios,GlenmachanPlace,Belfast

Reporting Line

Reporting to Business Development Manager

Key responsibilities:

ProjectIdentification&Development

• Identify,screenandoriginatenewcarbonprojectopportunitiesacrossrelevantprojecttypes(e.g.afforestation/reforestation,REDD+,soilcarbon,bluecarbon,renewableenergy, cookstoves,orothernature-basedandengineeredremovals/reductions).
• Conduct feasibility assessments and due diligence on prospective projects, including additionality, baseline scenarios, land/legal status and risk screening.
• Selecttheappropriatemethodologyandcertificationstandardforeachproject,anddevelop robust project design and structuring plans.

Partnerships and stakeholder Management

• Buildandmanagerelationshipswithlandowners,projectdevelopers,localcommunities,government bodies, NGOs and technical partners.
• Negotiateandstructurepartnershipagreements,carbonrightsagreementsandrevenue-shareorofftakearrangements,workingwithlegalandcommercialcolleagues.
• Act as a trusted point of contact for stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle, managing expectations and resolving issues as they arise.

Accreditation & Certification

• Prepareandmanagedocuments,monitoringplansandsupportingtechnicaldocumentationrequiredforprojectlisting,validation,verificationandcertificateissuanceandretirementasrequired.
• Coordinate independent Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) and manage the validation andverificationprocessthroughtosuccessfulregistration.
• OverseeListingandMonitoring,ReportingandVerification(MRV)activities,ensuringdataintegrity,methodological compliance and readiness for audit.
• Manage the end-to-end process required to achieve issuance of Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) or equivalent credits from certification bodies such as CDM, Verra or Gold Standard.

Portfolio&ComplianceManagement

• Trackprojectpipelineandportfolioperformanceagainstscopeandqualitytargets,budgets,riskregistersanddeliverytimelines,reportingregularlytoseniormanagement.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with environmental and social safeguards (e.g. CCB Standards, SDVISta)andmonitorevolvingregulatoryandmarketframeworks,includingArticle6oftheParis Agreement, the ICVCM's Core Carbon Principles and country specific registries.
• Support financial modelling and forecasting of carbon revenue in collaboration with the finance team.
• Representtheorganisationatindustryevents,conferencesandindirectengagementwithcertification bodies and market participants.
• Keep up to date with developments in voluntary and compliance carbon markets, new methodologies and sector best practice, sharing insight across the business.

Essential Criteria:

• Degreeinenvironmentalscience,forestry,sustainability,naturalresourcemanagement,economics or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Demonstrable experience working on carbon offset/credit projects, ideally including directinvolvementinprojectregistrationandvalidationunderVerra(VCS)and/orGold Standard.
• Strong understanding of the carbon project lifecycle: origination, feasibility, PDD development, validation, verification and credit issuance/retirement.
• Workingknowledgeofcarbonmethodologies,andcoreconceptssuchasadditionality,baseline-setting and permanence.
• Proventrackrecordofbuildingandmanagingrelationshipswithexternalstakeholders,suchaslandowners,developers,communities,governmentbodiesorNGOs.
• Strongprojectmanagementskills,withtheabilitytomanagemultipleprojects,timelinesand budgets concurrently.
• Excellentwrittenandverbalcommunicationskills,includingexperiencedraftingtechnicalor regulatory documentation.
• Goodanalyticalandproblem-solvingskills,comfortableworkingwithquantitativedataand GHG/carbon accounting concepts.
• Willingness and ability to travel to project sites, domestically and/or internationally, as required.

Desirable Criteria:

• Direct experience with specific project types, such as ARR, REDD+, blue carbon, soil carbon, renewable energy, cookstoves, biochar or direct air capture.
• Established relationships with Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) and/or certification bodies (Verra,GoldStandard,ACR,CAR,
• Knowledge of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, the ICVCM Core Carbon Principles, CORSIA or other emerging market governance frameworks.
• ExperienceusingGIS,remotesensingorcarbonaccounting/MRVsoftwareandKLMtools.
• Experienceofusingagileprojectmanagementmethodologies.
• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field (e.g. MSc in Environmental Management, Climate Change, Forestry).
• Anexistingnetworkofcontactsamonglandowners,forestry,agriculturalorrenewableenergyorganisations.
• Experiencenegotiatingcarbonrights,offtakeorrevenue-shareagreements.
• Understandingofvoluntarycarbonmarketpricingdynamics,buyerrequirementsandcorporatenet-zero commitments.
• Fluencyinadditional languages relevant to the organisation'sproject geographies.

Why join Action Renewables:

• Opportunitytocontributetoworkthat addressesclimatechange
• Opportunity to help shape the future development of the UK-wide Energy Learning Network and grow community services including energy audits, feasibility studies and decarbonisation support
• Chancetoshapeandgrowaconsultancyservice
• Variedrolecombiningtechnicalwork,clientengagementandbusiness development
• Supportive and collaborative working environment
• Self-motivatedandcomfortableoperatingwithautonomy,whilecollaboratingeffectively acrosstechnical,legal,financeandcommercialteams.
• Commerciallyminded,withagenuinecommitmenttoenvironmentalintegrityandthe credibility of the carbon projects delivered.
• Resilientandadaptable,abletomanagelongprojecttimelinesandnavigatetheevolvingregulatory landscape of carbon markets.
• Strong attention to detail, particularly where documentation will be subject to independent audit.

Salary

The post is permanent and offers a salary of £42,000 per annum.

Pension

3% employer contribution, rising to 8% after 2 years of service.

All Action Renewable Staff Members enjoy:

• 25daysannualleaveperyear
• 12 daysbankholidaysperyear
• Careerprogressionopportunitiesandprofessionaldevelopmentwithplus additional identified and agreed training opportunities
• Annualsalaryreview
• HealthCashPlan
• OnsiteCarParking
• Regular team building and Away Days

How to Apply

Please read the job description and person specification carefully as these outline the responsibilities and expectations of the role.

To apply, submit your application online by completing the 4 competency questions, uploading your CV, Equal Opportunities Form and optional cover letter by clicking in the apply button below.

Action Renewables is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

ApplicantsmusthavetherighttoworkintheUK.

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