Director, Carbon Finance

**Director, Carbon Finance (CF) Deal Lead**

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 Lima, Peru**

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 Conservation Finance Division (CFD) 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 the 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 which are located in “Irrecoverable Carbon” and Biodiversity hotspots. Each member of this team plays a critical role in making this impact mission a success.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**

Deal Lead Duties/Responsibilities
- Work with the regional origination lead at the early development stage of carbon finance projects, identifying and evaluating potential project opportunities in line with CI’s strategic objectives.
- Manage project timelines and deliverables of the transaction, ensuring adherence to established milestones and deadlines.
- Work with the Investment Design lead on financial modeling and analysis to assess project economics, including revenue streams, costs, and returns on investment.
- Assess, track and understand the commercial and financial viability of carbon finance projects.
- Work with the Technical Project Manager to ensure that the commercial terms reflect the ongoing feasibility, carbon technical analysis, and safeguards, and ESMF workstreams.
- Work with the various project stakeholders to develop first the feasibility budget and then while the feasibility work is underway, implementation budget.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with upstream/project development clients or partner organizations, 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.
- Stay up-to-date with market trends, regulatory changes, and industry developments related to carbon finance and project development.
- Contribute to thought leadership and advocacy related to enabling conditions for the NCS sector.
- Build and maintain data rooms for various programs.
- Participate in industry conferences, seminars, and events to promote the organization's expertise and build relationships with potential partners and investors.
- Work with the various project stakeholders and CI teams to gather inputs for feasibility and implementation phase budgets.

Project Management
- Oversee the overall implementation of assigned projects.
- Lead the project management of NCS carbon projects as they transition from pipeline concepts to portfolio projects, including but not limited to managing internal and external project processes, workflows, budgets, and teams, working with service providers and project partners to complete the development of feasibility assessments and coordinating feedback and recommendations to advance projects to implementation phase.
- Harmonize technical deliverables to spending through the development of robust work plans and budgets.
- Ensure timely completion of various stages and elements of NCS carbon projects including deliverables and milestones from internal and external contracts and agreements.
- Work closely with CI’s Senior M&E Manager to monitor and measure project progress and provide periodic progress and metric reports.
- Perform related duties as assigned.

Supervisory responsibilities/authority allocated
- Does not have direct supervisory authority.
- 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.
- Travel within the region will consist o