Overview
Professional Profile
Root Capital seeks an experienced professional in the development and/or implementation of agricultural carbon projects to manage the daily operations of a new initiative exploring the potential of carbon payments for smallholder farmers and enterprises. Under the guidance of the Director, Climate Resilience Initiative, the Carbon Projects Adviser will identify, diligence, and manage partnerships with carbon service providers, with a focus on carbon credit project developers; oversee the identification of carbon credit pilots within Root Capital’s network of agricultural businesses; and lead pilot monitoring and learning, including contributing to learning reports for internal and external audiences.
Duration:
Part-time (32 hours per week) for twelve months.
Primary Objectives:
Partnership identification and management. Identify, diligence, and manage partnerships with carbon credit project developers interested in launching projects with agricultural businesses within Root Capital’s network. More broadly, evaluate potential of “NatureTech” service providers to support Root Capital’s work via enhanced monitoring and measurement of environmental risks and benefits. Project identification. Identify businesses in Root Capital’s network eligible for carbon credit projects managed by partners; broker introductions between partners and interested businesses. Monitoring, evaluation and learning. Working with partners, monitor project progress; lead problem resolution as needed. Compile project learning from internal and external stakeholders, and contribute to learning knowledge products for internal and external use. Required Skills & Experience
Bachelor’s degree.
At least seven years of professional experience, including in the development and/or implementation of carbon credit projects or related standards programs with at least some experience specific to agriculture.
Expertise in GHG accounting and methodologies for agricultural carbon credit projects, including key topics such as non-permanence risk and community engagement. Preference for experience in GHG accounting within perennial cropping systems.
Proven experience cultivating and/or managing external partnerships, or equivalent experience via internal stakeholder management in a larger organization.
Proven project management experience and skills; attention to detail.
Working proficiency (ability to read, write, and speak with internal and external stakeholders) in English is required. Working proficiency in Spanish, French, or Swahili would be an asset.
Self-starter with ability to flexibly manage and prioritize multiple competing tasks; solutions-oriented approach. Ability to thrive in a dynamic and entrepreneurial team environment.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with diverse audiences, including Root Capital staff across our global offices and external partners.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, or equivalents. Experience using Salesforce preferred.
Willingness to occasionally (1-2 times per year) travel in Africa or Latin America, often in remote areas.
Commitment to Root Capital’s mission.
Selection Process
1st Stage: Receipt of resume or curriculum vitae, accompanied by a cover letter.
2nd Stage: Virtual interview
3rd Stage: Review of work sample and references
To Apply:
To apply, candidate should send 1) a resume and 2) a cover letter that describes your interest in and qualifications for the position, noting language abilities and salary expectations, to Elizabeth Teague at eteague@rootcapital.org. Please title your email: “Carbon Projects Adviser application – [Your name].”
Finalist candidates will be asked to provide a work sample and at least two work-related references. Applications will be accepted until February 15, 2023 and reviewed on a rolling basis.
About Root Capital
Root Capital provides credit and capacity building to small-and-growing agricultural businesses across the Global South that serve as engines of impact in their communities. Together, we are building a more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient future for rural communities.
A resilient future requires resilience to climate change, an existential threat to many rural communities around the world. Under our climate action strategy, Root Capital partners with small-and-growing agricultural businesses to mitigate and adapt to climate change. A critical component of our approach is increasing climate finance for vulnerable rural communities by designing and piloting new climate finance models and products, including carbon payment models.
In 2023, Root Capital is pursuing an action and learning agenda related to the potential of carbon payment models to benefit smallholder farmers and enterprises. Our agenda will evaluate both carbon credit schemes and other models, such as insetting, via a combination of direct Root Capital interventions and partnerships with complementary actors.