Climate Projects Practice Leader

South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all continents across the globe, we strive to create a sustainable society and economy that positively impacts our climate, ecosystems and developing communities. With our solutions, we inspire and enable our customers to create value from sustainability-related activities.

Our Project Sourcing team works hand in hand with project owners and developers, active in the carbon markets and renewable energy space, to identify, negotiate and contract new emission reduction projects. By acquiring new projects within our portfolio, we ensure that South Pole always has the right mix of carbon credits available to meet the demands of our clients. If you’re an ambitious and dynamic sustainability professional with a strong passion to make a real difference in the fight against climate change, this position may be right for you

**Introduction**

Biodiversity decline is a key concern for South Pole. The good news is that in recent years we are seeing a sharp increase in global biodiversity ambitions, initiatives and the development of biodiversity markets. Biodiversity credits are expected as a logical next step. South Pole aims to help develop this field and become a market leader, creating impact and commercial opportunities as an early mover. South Pole has important strengths to build on, including our position as a VCS market leader; our global network of clients and projects; and our strong track record in biodiversity consulting.

**Job summary**:
This role aims to lead the South Pole's Biodiversity Global practice within the Climate Projects Strategy unit.

The Biodiversity practice includes projects in the area of conservation, restoration and agriculture, to develop and commercialise Biodiversity credits.

Reporting to the Climate Projects Technology Strategy Director Agriculture, this role is responsible for active participation in the development of a global biodiversity credit market, while securing a commercial fit for South Pole. To achieve this goal will require the assumption of a significant leadership role in the company.

The global strategies for the Biodiversity Practice will be coordinated with the Technology Strategy Director-NBS, the Technology Strategy Director-Agriculture, regional directors, the AVC director and local experts to ensure strategic alignment with all the business lines within South Pole.

In addition, the job will shape and continually update South Pole's Biodiversity Strategies, to ensure continued alignment with the Climate Projects business line. Through strategic vision, expertise and leadership, this position will inspire our multifaceted teams worldwide to source and secure high quality biodiversity projects.

**Main tasks & responsibilities**:

- Develop the Biodiversity Practice Roadmap for the company including a business case, supporting the Technology Strategy Team in the approval process
- Define, own, communicate and deliver on the global strategy for Biodiversity credits aligned with the company’s global goals, objectives and KPIs
- Serve as an expert advisor on Biodiversity market and project-related activities within the Climate Projects team, both in the global South and in emerging biodiversity markets like the US, EU and Australia
- Establish business performance targets and metrics and be accountable to assist the regions implementing the practices
- Contribute to the global annual strategy and collaborate with Technology Strategy Directors NBS to achieve results and targets
- Work with the Global Partnership unit to lead and structure long-term, complex, and strategic partnerships and deal with different stakeholders to position South Pole in the new global biodiversity market
- Maintain and develop a network of partners, companies, standards, methodology developers, investors, businesses, and communities active in the sectors
- Manage the ongoing biodiversity pilot projects
- Partner closely with other functions, particularly with the Regions, the climate project strategy lab, the Technical team (PDME-Project Design, Management & Evaluation), Biodiversity consultancy team, and Partnership & Expansion, to optimise and align the strategy
- Lead the collaboration for biodiversity work with other business lines such as Climate Solutions and Climate investment
- Gather market intelligence and identify industry trends in biodiversity conservation, restoration, identify and understand the market players and competitors
- Drive innovation and entrepreneurship through leadership and decisive action within the global strategy team, including assessing potential projects/companies-related equity investments for consideration by the investment board and proposing potential corporate innovations to the investment board or to the South Pole regions
- Work closely with colleagues across the organisation to empower matrixed teams that delive