Carbon Development Director

• Join a mission-driven, dynamic team working alongside senior leaders in the climate space
• Gain hands-on investment and project development experience, working across multiple nature-based solutions projects
• Shape your career at the intersection of finance, climate and innovation
• Open to candidates in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney
• Full time perm role, but we're also open to contractors who can join the team sooner

About us:

Pollination is a specialist climate change investment and advisory firm, accelerating the transition to a net zero, nature positive future.

Our people are the key to unlocking change. Brought together from across industries, we are global leaders in finance, investment, technology, business, law and policy.

We combine our diverse expertise to connect dots and see around corners where others can't. With strong relationships at the highest levels of government and the private sector, we shift barriers and catalyse transformative partnerships.

Our clients span governments, businesses and public and private capital. Using our broad experience, we help navigate the climate transition and design and invest in breakthrough ideas that deliver financial returns.

The opportunity:

Pollination is seeking an Associate Director or Director, to join our Carbon & Nature Projects team to play a key role in leading project development and execution of nature- and land-based carbon projects across the Asia Pacific.

You'll work at the intersection of technical design, investment and climate innovation, contributing to projects that generate measurable environmental and community outcomes. This role connects scientific rigour with commercial insight, a balance that defines Pollination's approach to nature-based solutions.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in developing carbon projects under major standards (e.g. VCS, Gold Standard, ACCU Scheme, and JCM) and a robust understanding of geospatial data analysis, ecosystem processes, and baseline and project scenario modelling.
T
he role requires expertise in carbon project development processes, including standards and methodologies, carbon modelling, feasibility assessments, design and monitoring of carbon interventions, and the generation of high-quality carbon credits.

Responsibilities
:

Project orientation and development

• Project opportunity due diligence: Conduct technical feasibility assessments and risk evaluations to inform project selection and investment decisions; collaborate with commercial teams on integration of technical inputs into financial models and investment papers.
• Carbon project development and methodology application: Lead or support technical design of nature-based and land-sector carbon projects, including methodology selection, baseline setting, emissions quantification, community engagement, benefit sharing, and MRV planning.
• Carbon modelling and technical risk analysis: apply biophysical or carbon models to estimate project abatement potential, perform scenario and sensitivity analyses, and support validation and verification processes.
• Project development and management execution: oversight of on-the-ground activities, to ensure development and implementation milestones are met aligned with proposed project design.

Stakeholder and project management

• Technical documentation and stakeholder engagement: Prepare and review technical deliverables such as PDDs, monitoring reports, and geospatial annexes; liaise with standards bodies and third-party auditors.

Innovation and knowledge

• Cross-functional collaboration and knowledge development: Work with internal teams across investment, legal, and commercial to align project assumptions; contribute to internal tools, methodology innovation, and technical training.

Capital raising and commercial alignment

• Capital Raising and Investor Engagement: Support in capital raising processes at the project and business unit level including responding to technical due diligence and building out investment-related materials.

What we are looking for:

• Degree in environmental science, forestry, geospatial science, carbon accounting, or a related field.
• 5+ years' experience in carbon project development, GHG quantification, or land-sector project delivery.
• Strong knowledge of carbon methodologies (e.g. ARR, REDD+, IFM, savanna fire management, blue carbon) and associated frameworks or standards (e.g. VCS, Gold Standard, ACCU Scheme, JCM).
• Strong technical writing and communication skills, with experience preparing PDDs or similar documents.
• Comfortable working across interdisciplinary teams and diverse geographies.

Highly desirable:

• Experience with remote sensing, ground-truthing, or ecosystem monitoring.
• Familiarity with biodiversity and natural capital accounting frameworks, such as the UN SEEA, Accounting for Nature (AFN), the HCV approach and/or the TNFD.
• Experience integrating climate and nature data into project development or investment decision-making.
• Familiarity with scripting or data analysis tools (e.g. Python, R).
• Ideally, the candidate will have experience with fundraising for carbon projects, including supporting philanthropic, debt, equity and/or offtake transactions.

Qualities:

• Thrive in an entrepreneurial environment through curiosity and a problem-solving approach.
• Display clear understanding of the project development process.
• Support the implementation of creative solutions that are market leading and demonstrates Pollination's ability to 'see around corners'.
• Collaborate generously across teams, disciplines and geographies.

Location/Eligibility:

Location:
Sydney, Melbourne or Perth. (Singapore considered for exceptional candidates)

Eligibility:
Must hold the right to work in Australia.

How to apply:

Please apply by submitting a cover letter and CV.

We are managing this recruitment process internally and will not be engaging agency support. We kindly ask that recruitment agencies refrain from contacting us regarding this role.

Applying with Pollination:

At Pollination we believe solving climate change is the greatest economic and social opportunity of our time.

Pollination is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. If you have any support or access requirements, please advise us at the time of application. We will then work with you to identify the best way to assist you through the recruitment process.

Ways of working:

We love to come together in person where possible. We have a 50% in office hybrid working policy and have flexibility to accommodate our global workforce.