Restoration Projects Manager

With growing consensus that nature can provide at least 30% of the climate mitigation needed to limit warming to 1.5 °C and recognition that carbon removals from reforestation and restoration are the only scalable ‘technologies’ we have today to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, many global initiatives have enabled political commitments for restoration. But without models and demonstrations of effective restoration at scale, a majority of these commitments have not generated substantial impact.

As a core component of its Climate Strategy, Conservation International has set ambitious targets for scaling restoration globally as a climate solution. The Restoration Projects Manager works with the Global Restoration Lead to orchestrate a range of approaches to achieve these targets. These include managing multi-country restoration programs, supporting portfolio expansion via project identification and development, building restoration capacity, and coordinating targeted actions to reduce barriers to the implementation of new and more effective restoration actions.

The Restoration Projects Manager fosters the implementation of CI’s existing global strategy for restoration through coordinating with other CI staff and partners to strengthen creative projects and portfolios to advance restoration. They organize meetings and engagements to deliver action and impact and works with Conservation International’s country teams and partners to translate global strategy into successful restoration projects on the ground. The successful candidate may also lead and support other projects involving Conservation International's mission and fill other roles as needed for the team's success.

To be successful, the Restoration Projects Manager needs extensive knowledge and experience in ecosystem restoration project management, as well as demonstrated experience working productively with external partners in the private sector, government, and civil society. They must have interest in working with multiple collaborators simultaneously to successfully fulfill CI’s strategy for implementing restoration at scale through coordination worldwide.

The Restoration Projects Manager works closely with Center for Natural Climate Solutions members and with Conservation International programs and partners around the world. They report directly to the Global Restoration Lead in the Center for Natural Climate Solutions.

Project Management:

• Provide technical restoration expertise on the management of Conservation International’s multi-country and large-scale restoration programs and portfolios.
• Lead and review restoration project scoping, design, work plans, budgets, rollout, activity descriptions across CI programs to inform progress towards CI’s restoration goal in line with the highest standards of quality and ambitious impact towards climate, community and biodiversity goals.
• Refine and implement clear criteria for restoration project identification, feasibility assessment, and project design.
• Support the tracking, monitoring, and reporting of restoration activities from the country level to the institutional level.
• Proactively scope and design restoration projects to place CI as the partner of choice for restoration project supply and investment.
• Participate actively in the internal co-creation and collaboration on a shared institutional approach to restoration.
• Manage investment-ready restoration projects focusing on sites with high climate mitigation value and co-benefits, identifying and overcoming barriers to scaling and success.
• Raise internal awareness of CI’s restoration work and research through written communication, webinars, and other platforms as appropriate.
• Build and maintain key relationships aligned with CI’s restoration goals including with peer organizations and coalitions.
• Organize events and meetings collaboratively with partners to advance progress towards CI’s restoration and Climate Strategy.
• Attend relevant external events on behalf of CI.

Research:

• Research and author technical restoration reports and products to advance CI’s restoration strategy.
• Develop strategies and tools for successful implementation and monitoring of CI restoration projects, in collaboration with country programs and other CI staff.
• Develop innovative research products and multilateral partnerships that shape restoration as a global climate solution, drive enhanced funding and resources towards restoration, and contribute to the advancement of CI’s expertise and credibility on restoration issues.

Capacity Building:

• Provide targeted restoration capacity building support and trainings to country programs.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships between country restoration teams, the Center for Natural Climate Solutions, and other CI staff and partners.
• Support country restoration teams in accessing the resources necessary for successful implementation of CI’s restoration strategy.
• Coordinate communication and resource-sharing among country programs working to advance the restoration strategy, including but not limited to support on country specific restoration strategy development, monitoring and evaluation, staff and partner trainings, and in-field progress assessments.