Manager or Director of Forest Carbon Programs
Eastwood Forests, LLC is a forest investment manager that is focused on sustainable management of forests to provide forest products and climate solutions, while offering competitive financial returns to our investors. Eastwood is a partnership between Sumitomo Forestry of Japan and a US team with decades of experience and expertise in the management of forests and forest investments.
Eastwood Forests’ current focus is on North America, with ongoing domestic and international forest acquisition opportunities. Eastwood Forests will continue to operate in the Americas as it pursues new opportunities for growth in other regions around the world.
Position Title: Manager/Director of Forest Carbon Programs
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Travel: Some domestic and international travel is expected.
The Position: Eastwood Forests is seeking a candidate committed to delivering meaningful impact through nature-based solutions project implementation to join our expanding team. This position is being advertised as “open rank” at two levels, Manager or Director, depending on an applicant’s qualifications. The Manager/Director of Forest Carbon Programs will work as part of the Carbon Team to develop and implement operational facets of Eastwood Forests’ carbon program. The Manager/Director of Forest Carbon Programs will be an integral part of designing, developing, and implementing high-integrity carbon projects. This position requires a strong technical background, analytical abilities, and project management skills.
The Manager/Director of Forest Carbon Programs will lead technical support for carbon project feasibility and development and support monitoring, reporting, and verification of ongoing carbon projects. This position is expected to be an active contributor to system building that improves the efficiency and efficacy of Eastwood Forests’ carbon and forest management programs.
The Manager/Director of Forest Carbon Programs will work across all Eastwood teams and with external partners. This position will actively engage with members of the Transactions and Forest Management Teams to support their work and improve cross-team collaboration and efficacy. As part of a small team in a growing company with substantial financial backing, there is ample opportunity for meaningful contribution and strong potential for professional growth.
Responsibilities and Scope:Project Development & Implementation
- Drive carbon project development from planning through implementation, identifying critical pathways and innovative solutions that align with business and environmental goals
- Provide analytical support throughout all phases of carbon project development, implementation, reporting, monitoring, and verification
- Prepare technical documentation for project validation and verification, including reporting forms, support documentation, modeling explainers
- Conduct feasibility assessments and develop baseline scenarios using spatial, biophysical, and economic analyses to evaluate carbon project viability and integrity
Carbon Program Technical Infrastructure
- Develop and maintain scripts, tools, and automated workflows in R and/or Python to build a scalable project development tech-stack, including carbon accounting pipelines, data management systems, monitoring and reporting systems, and quality assurance protocols
- Design, build, and enhance geospatial and data systems that integrate advanced data analytics tools and process automation to streamline carbon project development and strengthen transparency in decision-making
- Document code, methodologies, and standard operating procedures while continuously identifying opportunities to improve efficiency through automation and technical innovation
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Coordinate with the Forest Management Team to ensure project development activities align with on-the-ground implementation and operational requirements
- Support the Transactions Team’s forestland deal evaluation and due diligence processes
- Collaborate with the Analytics Team to integrate data systems, share methodologies, and leverage advanced analytical tools with a focus on analytical systems development
Strategic Support & Program Development
- Support strategic planning efforts by providing technical analyses, synthesizing emerging research, and integrating market insights into Eastwood Forests’ carbon program design
- Contribute to the development of frameworks for project implementation, risk assessment, and portfolio evaluation for the organization's expanding carbon project portfolio
- Communicate forest carbon science and project value to investors, credit buyers, and other external stakeholders by preparing technical documents, delivering presentations, and supporting strategy development
Required:
- Undergraduate or graduate degree in forestry or closely related natural resources field
Preferred:
- Master's degree or higher in relevant field
- Coursework in GIS, remote sensing, harvest scheduling and/or forest biometrics
Required:
- Interest and experience in nature-based climate change solutions, forest conservation and management, and carbon markets
- Demonstrated commitment to high-integrity work, authentic communication, and continuous improvement
Preferred:
- 4+ years of professional experience in forest carbon project development, carbon accounting, MRV
- Experience in carbon credit transactions, deal evaluation, and market analysis
Required:
- Proficiency in R and/or Python for data manipulation, analysis, and workflow automation
- Proficiency in GIS and experience using software such as ArcGIS and QGIS
- Experience with spatial analysis and geospatial data processing
- Ability to structure quantitative analyses using large datasets
Preferred:
- Understanding of forest management and operations across diverse geographies
- Experience with remote sensing platforms and tools (e.g., Google Earth Engine, Planet, Landsat, Sentinel)
- Knowledge of version control systems (e.g., Git, GitHub) and collaborative coding practices
Required:
- Strong analytical mindset with demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems
- Experience with forest inventory methods, allometric equations, or carbon accounting methodologies
- Ability to conduct feasibility assessments using spatial, biophysical, and economic analyses
- Capacity to synthesize information from multiple sources and develop actionable insights
Preferred:
- Knowledge of carbon crediting standards and methodologies (e.g., ACR, VCS, CAR)
- Familiarity with carbon markets or nature-based climate solutions
- Experience conducting baseline analyses, additionality assessments, or project risk evaluation
- Background in statistics, biometrics, harvest scheduling, financial modeling, and/or spatial modeling
Required:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to convey technical concepts to diverse audiences
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities
- Self-motivated, with demonstrated ability to effectively work both independently and in collaboration with team members and cross-functional teams
Preferred:
- Experience in communicating with investors, clients, or other external stakeholders
- Experience preparing technical documentation for external review or validation/verification processes
- Track record of translating complex technical analyses into clear presentations or reports
To apply, please send a single document, with your name in the file name, that includes your cover letter and your resume to Mansfield Fisher at jobs@eastwoodforests.com. Feel free to use the same contact for any questions regarding the position.
References will be requested from finalists. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis through January 16, 2025, or until the position is filled. All applications will be treated with strict confidentiality.
Eastwood Forests is an equal opportunity employer and offers a competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with applicant skills and experience.