Vacancies at South Pole

Your Main Tasks:

• Directly reporting to a Regional Head of Nature-based Solutions, you will be responsible for leading comprehensive Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing (GIS&RS) analyses to support the timely evaluation of NBS and biodiversity projects, adhering to the company's procedures.

(Technical) Analytics, Project Management and Quality Assurance (60%)

• Take the lead in performing GIS & RS analyses on satellite data, and developing/implementing spatial solutions for GIS & RS components in support of evaluation of project opportunities, project development, Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) process. Examples include: geo-referencing, calibration, image processing and analysis, feature extraction, and the production of land cover/land use maps; change detection, modelling, and simulation for Land Cover/Land Use analysis. Ensure technical excellence and innovation in approach.
• Provide expert support and recommendations for the adoption GIS&RS best practices across projects’ life cycle. Ensure methodologies are up-to-date, efficient, and aligned with project goals.
• Draft new and revise existing GIS & RS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring that SOPs reflect current best practices, technological advancements, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in technical plans and reports writing in English when GIS & RS data components are included, and coordinate technical reviews of all GIS & RS project and GIS deliverables, including spreadsheets, maps, reference documentation, and the entire package submitted for project certification. This responsibility includes supervising auditing processes to validate and verify NBS projects.
• Ensure the timely and high-quality delivery of GIS & RS projects Perform site visits in different regional (e.g., African) ecosystems to carry out and/or supervise data collections for feasibility studies and MRV site visits.
• Design and draft educational and workshop material and deliver training sessions to train the local community and/or other stakeholders in GPS/mapping/navigation techniques

Team Leadership and Management (20%)

• Technically supervise, mentor and people-manage a team of GIS specialists
• Support the NBS Technical Head on managing the team’s structure and implementing strategies for attracting, developing and retaining talent
• Co-lead the GIS & RS team workload / tasks prioritization and allocation, in alignment with regional NBS priorities ad global business line needs

Strategic Networking, Business Development and Operational Integration (20%)

• Take the lead in facilitating transparent and effective communication between the GIS & RS team and all its internal and external stakeholders; ensure visibility and impact of GIS & RS projects, strategic and operational alignment with the organization's common goals
• Support and coordinate knowledge sharing, provide technical expertise, and facilitate capacity building on GIS & RS across regions.
• Stay informed and communicate about technological, market, research and industry trends in the GIS & RS domain.
• Provide technical advice to the continuous development of the business line GIS & RS innovation strategy

Requirements:
Essential 

• Academic background / University degree in geospatial information processing, software engineering, computer science, environmental science, natural resource management, ecology, forestry engineering, geography, or any other related field.
• At least 5 years (ideally 7y) of experience in GIS analysis in the natural resource sector, particularly Land-Use and Land-Cover Change (LUCC) analysis, and in the field of natural resources management; experience with the varied African ecosystems is a pre’.
• Knowledge of forest mapping and monitoring; knowledge of REDD+ and ARR mapping using GIS required.
• Very good knowledge and hands-on experience in geospatial information systems, data analysis and analytical tools. GIS and remote sensing analytical skills using open-source or proprietary software (e.g., QGIS, Esri suite, ENVI, etc.) for image processing and analysis.
• Experience with programming and Cloud environments (GEE, etc.)
• Highly organised with the ability to work unsupervised, including prioritizing and working effectively under deadlines, as well as developing independently their approach to solutions
• Very good capacity for setting priorities and managing the workload of a team; proven experience in leading numerous (multi-disciplinary) teams, and providing process-oriented and technical input to guide the work of others, providing technical expert-level guidance
• Very good capacity to draft and prepare concise documents (proposal and deliverables), as well as prioritise assigned tasks.
• Capacity to work effectively within multicultural, interdisciplinary and remote teams, to increase work efficiency and share necessities and opinions on projects.
• Business-quality fluency in spoken and written English is required; knowledge of one of the other major African languages such as French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, etc. will be considered a plus
• National or holder of a valid work visa in the country of application

Desirable -

• Knowledge of forest carbon and carbon standards like VERRA, GS, CDM, and Plan Vivo among others.
• Hands-on experience in forestry data collection inventory and/or any other ecological data collection (wildlife census, etc.)
• Experience with GIS data pipelines; experience with programming and Cloud environment; experience with GIS software development is a pre’
• Experience or willingness to acquire technical project management and/or Agile skills
• Experience or willingness to work on designing and implementing technology strategies and roadmaps
• Ability to work under little supervision on diverse assignments, apply company policies, processes, and procedures, and identify critical routes to resolve various issues/problems on time.
• Understand and be sensitive to the social contexts, risks, and demands that can emerge in the context of carbon project development

go to method of application »

Main tasks & responsibilities:

• Act as the project manager for carbon projects and/or consultancies. This includes but is not limited to :
• Conduct technical assessments for feasibility studies, develop baseline and project scenarios, estimate ex ante emission reductions.
• Author and oversee the preparation of Project Design Documents (PDDs), Monitoring Reports (MRs), and other essential supporting documentation, ensuring all deliverables meet South Pole's quality standards and client expectations.
• Lead projects through audit, validation, verification and issuance processes under standards such as Verra and Gold Standard or other internationally recognized standards.
• Plan and manage schedules, budgets and invoicing.
• Support partners in the design and implementation of field activities.
• Provide technical inputs for business development efforts
• Serve as a primary contact, fostering strong relationships with internal team members, project owners, clients, and validation and verification bodies.
• Ensure compliance with internal procedures for project and consultancy management.
• Maintain and update project information and proposals in the project management tool, ensuring all relevant documents are readily accessible on the institutional drive.

Requirements:
Essential 

• Proven experience (3-5 years +) in the development of carbon projects preferably with well-known standards such as Gold Standard and Verra , experience in African Carbon Market is an asset
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, ability to work under little supervision on diverse assignments, ability to manage targets and priorities and develop own goals
• Bachelors/Masters in any of the following fields: Sustainable development, Engineering, Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Data Analysis
• Fluency in Microsoft Office
• National or holder of a valid work visa in the country of application.

Desirable 

• Active knowledge of voluntary and compliance carbon markets, understanding of general market trends
• Proficiency in French is an asset