Head of Restoration

Summary

Join Terraformation as the Head of Restoration to lead ambitious native forest restoration projects worldwide, leading a team of experts and partners to design and implement biodiversity-focused carbon projects. This cross-functional role will work closely with leaders across teams at Terraformation to build capacity, uphold best practices, and ensure successful project outcomes.

Requirements

• 10+ years of management experience, building and improving processes to lead diverse global teams and execute complex projects
• Experience managing ecosystem restoration projects, as well as on-the-ground experience carrying out biodiversity and restoration practices
• Strong knowledge of principles and practices in wild plant material sourcing to optimize the balance of genetic diversity, sustainable sourcing, and resilience in restoration
• Working knowledge of nursery propagation, field planting practices, and research on seed-based restoration ecology (theory and practice)
• Experience with biodiversity monitoring and evaluation best practices, including knowledge of related indicators, indices, data management, and data analysis
• Ability to manage multiple partners with varying and complex project needs while engaging and tracking effective collaboration and trust with local communities
• Extremely strong communication skills used both internally and externally
• Strong emotional intelligence and ability to act with humility and respect
• Ability to travel internationally, often to remote locations (estimated 25% travel)
• Master’s degree in ecology, restoration, sustainable forestry, or related field

Responsibilities

• Lead capacity building for successful, biodiversity-focused restoration projects
• Manage the Restoration Team of experts in Colombia, Italy, the UK, and the US
• Ensure successful restoration outcomes of a portfolio of projects by coordinating and overseeing the Restoration Team’s: Evaluations of early-stage partners’ capacities and needs
• Streamlined delivery of a comprehensive restoration training/support program for numerous partners and regions simultaneously
• Delivering in collaboration with our implementing partners the ‘Restoration Plan’ section of the Project Management Plans of our projects
• Writing of Project Description chapters on biodiversity impacts
• Support projects in monitoring the results and impacts of forest restoration
• Uphold science-based practices for biodiversity and forest restoration in Terraformation’s Seed to Forest Carbon Accelerator
• Ensure consistency and best practices in restoration across projects and countries through the implementation of efficient internal processes
• Lead the development of biodiversity monitoring standards, protocols, and practices, ensuring they meet requirements for carbon verification bodies and investors and for the emerging biodiversity certificate market
• Advocate for and effectively communicate the value of restoration best practices across diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Lead and implement a strategy for scaling up the Accelerator
• Build a network of strong local experts in our operating countries, and manage local contractors
• Oversee the global strategy of the Regional/National Hub Program, building effective collaborations aligned with local needs and ways of operating
• Support the development of strategic partnerships outside the Accelerator

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of the nature-based carbon market sector (strongly preferred)
• Experience working in multiple countries and ecosystems, including mangroves
• Experience developing and/or working in sustainable agroforestry systems
• Experience with advanced biodiversity monitoring techniques (e.g., bioacoustics, eDNA)
• Proficiency with biodiversity/ecological data analysis in R software
• Experience working with Indigenous peoples and/or local communities