Project Development Manager
Job Title:
Project Development Manager
Reports To:
Head of Project Development
Location:
Preferably based in Barcelona or Paris. Exceptional remote candidates may be considered if strongly aligned with project objectives.
About InSoil
InSoil is a climate finance company funding the transition to regenerative agriculture across Europe. With a strong emphasis on soil health and carbon sequestration, InSoil supports farmers through medium-term financing, expert agrotechnical guidance, and advanced soil and emissions monitoring technologies. This integrated approach enables farmers to adopt sustainable practices and generate high-integrity carbon credits, creating new revenue streams while building climate resilience in agriculture.
With a mission to sequester 1 gigaton of CO₂e by 2050, InSoil has financed over €83 million, enrolled 800,000 hectares of farmland, and supports farmers with technical agronomy, remote sensing, and educational programs. By combining capital, carbon certification, and agronomic expertise, InSoil enables investors and farmers to drive meaningful climate impact and financial returns.
Job Summary
The Project Development Manager will support the full lifecycle development of Improved Agricultural Land Management (IALM) projects under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), and other standards, within the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM). This role drives projects from early-stage feasibility through to environmental attributes issuance and post-issuance monitoring periods. Responsibilities include managing all phases of project development: scoping, feasibility, documentation (Project Descriptions, Monitoring Reports), validation, verification, and compliance with evolving methodologies.
The Manager will work coordinating across data science, agronomy, MMRV, farmer engagement, business development, scope 3 GHG accounting & reporting, and marketing teams, while supporting the engagement with external entities like validation/verification bodies and consultants. Success in this role requires strategic foresight, process leadership, and up-to-date knowledge of carbon market regulations and methodologies.
Key Responsibilities
Project Coordination & Management
- Support the day-to-day development of IALM carbon projects to ensure compliance with VCS, and other standards.
- Track progress against timelines, milestones, and KPIs; proactively adapt roadmaps where necessary.
- Manage and align cross-functional collaboration (data science, agronomy, farmer engagement, MMRV, business development).
- Facilitate recurring internal check-ins (daily/weekly) and milestone meetings with stakeholders.
Documentation & Compliance
- Conduct the preparation and construction of carbon project documentation: Project Descriptions (PDs), Monitoring Reports (MRs), and all supporting materials.
- Ensure full adherence to VCS methodologies, and other applicable standards.
- Address all findings from Validation and Verification Bodies, carbon standards, and other relevant entities promptly and satisfactorily.
- Maintain comprehensive, audit-ready documentation and project records.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Provide clear, timely responses to inquiries regarding project compliance, risks, and milestones.
Monitoring & Data Management
- Collaborate with data and agronomy teams to review field data, modeling outputs, and remote sensing insights.
- Ensure data quality and consistency for Monitoring Reports and baseline assessments.
- Track actual vs. forecasted carbon outcomes and flag anomalies early in the process.
Strategic Insight & Market Intelligence
- Continuously monitor changes in VCS/other methodologies, voluntary carbon market trends, agricultural decarbonization initiatives, and other emerging standards (e.g., CRCF).
- Share regulatory or strategic updates with internal teams for proactive alignment.
- Identify opportunities to optimize project design, scale, or impact based on new methodologies or innovations.
Candidate Profile
Experience & Background
- At least 4 years of experience managing land-based carbon projects under Verra, Gold Standard, Isometric, CCP and/or other global standards, from project documentation preparation and registration to issuance.
- Hands-on expertise in AFOLU project development. Experience in regenerative agriculture and soil carbon is considered a strong asset.
- Familiarity with GHG accounting and reporting, including removals and avoided emissions within a GHG inventory context would be a strong plus.
Education
- Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Agronomy, Sustainability, Climate Change, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
- Quantitative or technical training is a strong plus.
Technical Skills
- In-depth understanding of AFOLU methodologies, carbon MMRV systems.
- Strong documentation and reporting abilities, especially under Verra.
- Familiarity with digital monitoring technologies (i.e. digital soil mapping) and remote sensing, considered a strong plus.
- Experience in excel-based project modelling and tracking, as well as in AI-driven tools considered a plus.
Project Leadership
- Demonstrated ability to plan, manage, and deliver multi-stakeholder projects under defined timelines.
- Skilled at facilitating coordination across cross-functional teams and external validation partners.
- Capable of translating technical complexity into actionable workflows.
Soft Skills
- Proactive, solutions-oriented, and capable of navigating ambiguity.
- Strong leadership and communication abilities to align diverse stakeholders.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
Why Join Us?
Be part of a purpose-driven, high-impact team scaling agricultural climate solutions across global landscapes. You'll play a leading role in shaping carbon projects that drive measurable regenerative, environmental, economic, and social outcomes.