Program Manager – AFOLU

Job Description:
Program Manager - AFOLU / Nature-Based Carbon Project

Location: Harare, Zimbabwe (with field travel)

Reporting to: General Manager

Engagement: Full-time

The Program Manager – Nature Based Carbon Projects will be responsible for the end-to-end management of portfolio of nature based carbon projects in Zimbabwe.

The role requires strong capability across project execution, stakeholder coordination, monitoring systems, and alignment with international carbon standards (VCS, Gold Standard, Social carbon. Plan Vivo etc).

The Program Manager will ensure projects are technically compliant, operationally efficient, financially viable, and delivery-ready from implementation through long-term monitoring.

• Project Planning & Execution:
• Lead implementation of ARR and AFOLU carbon projects from post-feasibility to operational phase.
• Develop and manage project execution plans, timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Coordinate nursery development, plantation activities, survival management, and maintenance plans.
• Ensure timely achievement of project milestones aligned with crediting schedules.

• Carbon Standards & Technical Compliance:
• Ensure project implementation aligns with VCS / Gold Standard AFOLU methodologies.
• Support development and execution readiness for PDD, monitoring plans, and verification cycles.
• Maintain defensible implementation records to support baseline, additionality, permanence, and leakage requirements.
• Coordinate with technical consultants, validators, and verifiers as required.

• Monitoring, Reporting & Data Management:
• Oversee establishment of field-level MRV systems, including:
• Survival rate monitoring
• Biomass growth tracking
• Geo-referenced plantation records
• Ensure high-quality data collection to support carbon credit issuance and audits.
• Manage documentation and data archiving in line with registry requirements.

• Stakeholder & Community Engagement:
• Manage relationships with local communities, landholders, contractors, and field teams.
• Ensure community engagement, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and grievance redressal processes are implemented.
• Support capacity building and training of local teams for long-term project sustainability.

• Financial &
  
  Risk Management:
  
  
• Monitor project costs and operational efficiency against approved financial models.
• Identify and manage key project risks, particularly operational and delivery risks.
• Support integration of cultivation revenues and carbon revenues where applicable.
• Provide inputs for periodic financial and performance reviews.

• Reporting & Management Support:
• Prepare regular progress reports for internal management and investors.
• Flag deviations, risks, and mitigation measures proactively.
• Support scale-up planning for multi-site or large-area AFOLU portfolios.

Education:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in:
  Forestry, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management , Climate Change or related fields with relevant Certifications..

Experience:

• 5–8 years of experience in AFOLU, forestry, agriculture, or nature-based projects.
• Working knowledge of carbon standards (VCS, Gold Standard preferred).
• Experience managing field teams and multi-stakeholder projects in Africa preferred.