Logo
Conservation International

Senior Manager, Monitoring & Evaluation

Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, United States, 22201


Senior Manager, Monitoring & Evaluation

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Arlington, VA

Amid growing consensus that the protection, restoration, and improved management of ecosystems can provide at least 30% of the climate mitigation needed to limit warming to 1.5°C, Conservation International (CI) has set ambitious targets to realize the potential of NCS worldwide. CI's Carbon Finance (CF) unit within the Nature Finance Division (NFD) invests in Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) that help combat climate change by reducing deforestation and conserving critical ecosystem services. These NCS solutions include the protection, enhanced management, and restoration of forests, rangelands, wetlands, and other natural systems.

The CF team works across CI to source and finance a strong pipeline and portfolio of high-quality NCS carbon projects coupled with innovative financing meant to ensure long-term sustainability and private sector participation. The CF team focuses on results-based financing to develop early-stage NCS projects involving carbon crediting, a key instrument in driving quality NCS projects at the greatest scale possible to enable and scale results. The team taps the deep knowledge and technical expertise within CI to catalyze and improve the quality of gigatons of emission reductions in the voluntary and compliance carbon markets. The CF team prioritizes impact through community engagement, biodiversity, safeguards, and high-quality carbon credits.

The Senior Manager, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) position is an integral part of the dynamic and fast-moving CF team. The selected candidate will lead the work of implementing the monitoring and evaluation system for the CF team, spanning the breadth of the potential NCS activities in protection, restoration, and improved management. Following the latest trends and research in the field of evaluation, monitoring, and safeguards, this role has the opportunity to shape the conversation on how NCS activities can create maximum impact, and how that impact can be diligently and accurately reported on for key stakeholders.This position does not directly supervise staff.

RESPONSIBILITIESImplement the CF M&E system to demonstrate impact, coordinating with project managers, field staff, and other technical staff at CI.Serve as the team expert on M&E across its portfolio of activities, and support projects with their M&E implementation.Support projects in the design and implementation of their M&E systems to ensure alignment with the CF team's processes and tools, and carbon standard requirements.Track, monitor, and evaluate applicable metrics during the projects' implementation phase and through the project life.Manage and implement the M&E reporting framework to ensure a continual flow of data for internal learning and donor reporting.Ensure the proper monitoring of safeguards at the project level.Lead on the reporting of results which feed into the annual report, and other reporting required by donors.Develop Verification and QA processes to guarantee the quality and reliability of data collected and reported, including for verification purposes.Continuously strengthen M&E processes by developing appropriate guidance, databases, and analytical tools for the implementation of the M&E system, in collaboration with technical teams and considering carbon methodologies and standards requirements.Pilot, adjust, and manage the CF team's M&E database to ensure that data is properly stored, compiled, and readily available.Follow the latest trends and research in the field of monitoring, evaluation, and safeguards, especially as these relate to community, biodiversity, and climate impact-focused activities in the forestry and land use sector.Share results within and outside of CI and with relevant partners and donors.Network with external and internal partners to exchange experiences, promote learning, and achieve NCS M&E excellence.Perform related duties as assigned.WORKING CONDITIONS

This is a full-time position.Travel within the region will consist of approximately ~15% of the person's time, often this will entail travel to remote locations with rustic conditions.Flexibility with work schedule required in order to accommodate.This position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some remotely. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.QUALIFICATIONS

Required

Bachelor's Degree and 5 to 7 years of related work experience or a combination of education and experience.Experience with designing M&E frameworks within the field of climate, energy and/or Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU).Strong technical and analytical skills.Experience implementing and/or monitoring NCS activities in protection, restoration, and improved forest management preferred.Experience gathering, evaluating, and presenting outcomes that tell an accurate and compelling story.Strong organizational and time management skills.Team player and able to work effectively with diverse work groups in a multicultural environment.Experience with developing theories of change and advising at the project design phase.Some knowledge of safeguards and assuring compliance.Fluency in English required with excellent writing skillsPreferred

Ability to communicate in Spanish, Portuguese, or French.Familiarity with voluntary and/or compliance carbon markets, including analysis of carbon finance projects.Familiarity with the leading carbon and technical standards that are applied to emissions reductions and removals from agriculture, forests, and other land use activities.Experience with designing Quality Assurance protocols and processes.Experience with remote sensing systems and remote monitoring.

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.