ABOUT US

Climate Impact Partners is the trusted partner for organizations taking ambitious climate action. With 27+ years of experience, we’ve helped leading businesses reduce more than 150 million tonnes of CO₂e, turning climate ambition into measurable results. We deliver high-quality carbon market solutions: developing and financing impactful projects, managing carbon credit and energy attribute certificate portfolios, and helping companies put a price on carbon to drive change. By connecting corporates, governments, innovators, and project partners, we accelerate investment in climate solutions that deliver verified impact and advance progress toward net-zero goals.

What sets us apart:

• Boundless, urgent ambition. We are accountable, relentless, resilient.

• Courage to innovate. We are courageous, creative, curious.

• Integrity without compromise. We are trustworthy, credible, committed.

• Empowered to serve. We are respectful, inclusive, collaborative.

YOUR IMPACT

We are seeking a Senior Project Manager based in Colombia to oversee a large-scale afforestation project developed under the Verra VCS methodology VM0047 (ARR). The role has two core responsibilities: first, to manage, advise and hold accountable the implementing partner leading on-ground delivery, ensuring performance against contractual milestones, planting targets, safeguards, budget, and quality standards; and second, to ensure the project is fully operationalised and implemented in strict alignment with VM0047 requirements, including baseline establishment, leakage management, permanence risk assessment, MRV systems, and preparation for validation and verification. The Senior Project Manager will act as the primary point of contact for the funder and key stakeholders, ensuring robust governance, high-quality reporting, and methodological integrity throughout the project lifecycle. The role demands deep silvicultural knowledge, strong carbon accounting capability, and disciplined programme management to safeguard both ecological integrity and carbon credibility.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Implementing Partner Management

• Act as the primary manager of the Implementing Partner responsible for on-the-ground delivery.

Oversee and manage contractor performance against:

• Implementation workplans

• Planting targets and survival rates

• Safeguards and compliance requirement

• Budget and milestone delivery

• Review and approve technical deliverables, reports, and invoices.

• Identify risks to delivery and proactively implement mitigation measures.

• Ensure robust documentation and audit trails to support future validation and verification.

2. Carbon Compliance to VM0047

• Lead the operational alignment of the afforestation project with VM0047 methodology requirements, ensuring compliance across implementation, monitoring, and reporting phases.

Working closely with CIP’s Technical Team, review and oversee:

• Baseline establishment and stratification

• Leakage risk management

• Permanence and buffer pool risk assessment

• Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems

• Ensure readiness for validation and verification audits.

• Coordinate technical inputs across carbon, GIS, forestry, and safeguards specialists.

3. Technical Forestry Oversight & Audit

• Independently review and audit the technical forestry implementation led by the implementing partner to ensure alignment with approved project design and VM0047 requirements under the Verra VCS framework.

• Conduct regular field visits to assess planting quality, species selection, site preparation, spacing, survival rates, maintenance practices, and adherence to silvicultural plans.

• Verify that stratification, sampling design, and permanent sample plot establishment are consistent with the Project Description and monitoring plan.

• Review contractor data collection systems to ensure accuracy, traceability, and robustness of MRV inputs.

• Identify technical delivery gaps or risks that could affect carbon performance, permanence, or verification outcomes, and require corrective action where necessary.

• Ensure forestry activities align with ecological integrity, biodiversity considerations, and long-term sustainability objectives.

• Provide technical assurance prior to validation and verification audits, ensuring documentation and field implementation are audit-ready

4. Funder Reporting & Stakeholder Management

• Lead preparation of high-quality narrative and financial reports to the project funder.

Ensure clear communication of:

• Project progress and KPIs

• Carbon issuance timelines

• Risks and mitigation strategies

• Financial status and forecasts

• Serve as the primary point of contact for the funder and represent the project in meetings and reviews.

• Maintain strong relationships with local authorities, contractors and technical partners.

5. Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Establish and maintain effective project governance structures.

• Monitor delivery against budget, timelines, and contractual obligations.

• Lead preparation for validation and verification audits.

Ensure compliance with:

• National Colombian forestry and environmental regulations

• Land tenure requirements

• Safeguards and FPIC processes

• VCS/VM0047 and registry requirements

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Experience

• Significant experience managing large-scale forestry projects

• Demonstrated experience with Verra VCS methodologies, ideally VM0047 (ARR)

• Strong contractor and grant/funder management experience

• Experience working in Colombia or Latin America

• Experience working with rural communities and landholders

Skills

• Understanding of tropical silviculture, ecological restoration, and species-site suitability

• Strong knowledge of ARR carbon accounting principles (baseline, leakage, permanence, buffer pool)

• Fluent in Spanish & English

• Excellent project management skills (budget control, scheduling, risk management)

• Strong analytical and reporting capabilities

• Ability to translate technical carbon requirements into operational delivery plans

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinker with strong operational execution capability

• High attention to detail and compliance orientation

• Strong leadership and influencing skills

• Ability to work effectively across cultures and sectors

Desirable

• Experience with Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards.

• Knowledge of Colombian forestry regulations and land tenure systems.

• GIS or data systems familiarity

VALUES ALIGNMENT

• Passionate about Climate Impact Partners’ mission to deliver climate action and make a measurable difference for people and the planet.

• Alignment with company values of ambition, integrity, innovation, and service, with a demonstrated commitment to leveraging your role to drive positive impact and meaningful change.

WHAT WE OFFER

• An opportunity to work in an exciting, fast-paced team

• Hands-on experience in the sustainability sector