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Head of Climate

Natural Resources

Berlin, Germany

Hybrid

Acre is supporting KAYA in their search for a talented Head of Climate to lead a technical team focused on the design, development, and management of NbS carbon projects across Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The Company

KAYA is a Germany and Angola-based organisation that came to life in 2023. It was started by purpose-driven professionals with different cultural backgrounds and with several years of experience in nature conservation, clean energy, and rural development. KAYA’s vision is to mitigate climate change by working with nature. In doing so, it also aspires to support the impacted communities and societies in accessing new livelihoods and becoming more resilient. KAYA's mission is to develop multi-year landscape-scale conservation and restoration projects in terrestrial ecosystems. It will bring the developed projects upon maturity to carbon and other natural markets.

The Role

This is a leadership role in KAYA, which heads the Climate Department consisting of technical specialists. This role will lead the conceptualisation and design of a portfolio of large-scale nature conservation and landscape restoration projects in forest, grassland and arable ecosystems in tropical and sub-tropical climatic regions. They will be accountable for the climate integrity and process adherence in the development of the projects. They will report to the Chief Executive Officer and be an active contributor to the development of the organisation and the business. Extensive travel will be an integral part of this role.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities for large-scale terrestrial conservation and restoration work in sub–Saharan Africa
• Realise strategic partnerships relevant to the development and implementation of the projects
• Select suitable technology and technical services for project development together with the Climate Department Staff and Enterprise Technology Specialist
• Build and execute a learning and development program for the Climate Department Staff, keeping in view both the organisational and personal aspirations
• Be the organisation’s scientific ambassador and spokesperson with due support from the Climate Department Staff

Operational Responsibilities

• Conceptualise implementable and viable conservation and restoration projects from the identified opportunities
• Build the project financial plans together with the Head of Finance and the Project Development Specialist
• Peer review of the work of the Climate Department Staff
• Maintain project development course consistent with market and regulatory development
• Ensure synchrony in the activities, delivery, and knowledge development between the Climate Department and the Country Offices
• Lead the Climate Department Staff mindfully
• Perform the management functions, such as but not limited to department budget, staff selection, resource allocation, and performance appraisal

Key Requirements

• Over eight years’ experience in designing, developing, and managing NbS carbon projects with the potential to show samples of work done
• Over five years of experience in leading a team of specialised staff
• Deep understanding of forest, grassland, and arable ecosystems in tropical and sub-tropical climatic regions
• Education in environment, agriculture, forestry, and/or landscape management is desirable
• Knowledge of relevant scientific tools and methods is desirable
• Experience in a start-up environment would be advantageous
• Willingness to live and work in Berlin
• Willingness to commit to a full-time (40-hours per week) role
• Willingness to travel extensively and overseas for work, especially to sub–Saharan Africa
• Deep knowledge of nature conservation and landscape restoration work in sub-Saharan African countries is a plus