Program Manager Nature Based Carbon Projects

Terraviva; Dubai; On-site; AED 293,000 - 368,000; Full time

Job summary

An international environmental consulting firm in Dubai is seeking a full-time Program Manager for Nature Based Carbon Projects. This role involves overseeing the design, implementation, and monitoring of carbon projects. Key responsibilities include project planning, stakeholder coordination, and ensuring compliance with carbon standards. The ideal candidate will possess strong project management and analytical skills, along with a relevant educational background. Competitive expatriate salary and benefits are offered for this senior position.

Benefits

Competitive expatriate salary package

Insurance and generous annual leave

Opportunity in carbon project development

Qualifications

• Proficiency in climate strategy and carbon markets.
• Strong project management skills including planning and coordination.
• Excellent analytical skills related to carbon methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of ARR and AFOLU carbon projects.
• Coordinate with stakeholders and manage project timelines.
• Oversee establishment of field-level MRV systems.

Skills

Climate strategy

Project management

Analytical skills

Written communication skills

Verbal communication skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Environmental Science degree

Sustainability degree

Policy degree

Job description

Overview

Company Description

Terraviva is an international environmental policy advisory firm dedicated to transforming climate ambitions into actions. Specializing in climate strategy, carbon market regulation, and capacity building, Terraviva supports governments and organizations in navigating evolving policy frameworks and decarbonization strategies. With expertise in UNFCCC requirements, the firm delivers practical solutions to advance credible climate actions. Terraviva is committed to achieving real-world environmental impact through its partnerships and advisory services.

Role Description

This is a full-time on-site role for a Program Manager – Nature Based Carbon Projects, located in Harare, Zimbabwe. The Program Manager will oversee the design, implementation, and monitoring of several large-scale nature-based carbon projects. Key responsibilities include coordinating with stakeholders, managing project timelines, ensuring compliance with relevant standards, and conducting research on innovative carbon project methodologies. The role will also involve preparing detailed reports, maintaining project budgets, and contributing to client advisory services.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Planning & Execution
   • Lead implementation of ARR and AFOLU carbon projects from post-feasibility to operational phase.
   • Develop and manage project execution plans, timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
   • Coordinate nursery development, plantation activities, survival management, and maintenance plans.
   • Ensure timely achievement of project milestones aligned with crediting schedules.
2. Carbon Standards & Technical Compliance
   • Ensure project implementation aligns with VCS / Gold Standard AFOLU methodologies.
   • Support development and execution readiness for PDD, monitoring plans, and verification cycles.
   • Maintain defensible implementation records to support baseline, additionality, permanence, and leakage requirements.
   • Coordinate with technical consultants, validators, and verifiers as required.
3. Monitoring, Reporting & Data Management
   • Oversee establishment of field-level MRV systems, including:
   • Survival rate monitoring
   • Biomass growth tracking
   • Geo-referenced plantation records
   • Ensure high-quality data collection to support carbon credit issuance and audits.
   • Manage documentation and data archiving in line with registry requirements.
4. Stakeholder & Community Engagement
   • Manage relationships with local communities, landholders, contractors, and field teams.
   • Ensure community engagement, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and grievance redressal processes are implemented.
   • Support capacity building and training of local teams for long-term project sustainability.
5. Financial & Risk Management
   • Monitor project costs and operational efficiency against approved financial models.
   • Identify and manage key project risks, particularly operational and delivery risks.
   • Support integration of cultivation revenues and carbon revenues where applicable.
   • Provide inputs for periodic financial and performance reviews.
6. Reporting & Management Support
   • Prepare regular progress reports for internal management and investors.
   • Flag deviations, risks, and mitigation measures proactively.
   • Support scale-up planning for multi-site or large-area AFOLU portfolios.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in climate strategy, carbon markets, and nature-based solutions
• Project management skills, including planning, coordination, and timeline management
• Strong analytical and research skills related to carbon offset methodologies
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for stakeholder engagement and reporting
• Ability to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams and manage client relationships
• Educational background in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Policy, or a related discipline
• Field in experience in Southern Africa Strongly Preferred

Benefits

• Competitive, experience based expatriate salary package commensurate with senior role.
• Insurance and generous annual leave
• Exciting opportunity to be on the forefront of carbon project development in Southern Africa