Technical Carbon Specialist

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, navigating the climate transition and designing and investing in breakthrough ideas that deliver financial returns. 

The Associate / Associate Director – Technical Carbon Specialist will sit within the Carbon Projects Team and play a key role in the technical development and execution of nature- and land-based carbon projects across multiple jurisdictions. The role requires deep technical expertise in carbon project methodologies, carbon modelling, and spatial analysis to support feasibility assessments, design and monitoring of carbon interventions, and the generation of high-quality carbon credits. 

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in developing carbon projects under major standards (e.g., VCS, Gold Standard, ACCU Scheme, ACR, JCM) and a robust understanding of geospatial data analysis, ecosystem processes, and baseline and project scenario modelling.  

Key responsibilities 

• 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 structuring 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: Develop and apply biophysical or carbon models to estimate project abatement potential, perform scenario and sensitivity analyses, and support validation and verification processes. 

• Geospatial assessment and land suitability analysis: Analyse spatial datasets (e.g., land cover, land use, vegetation) to assess project eligibility, leakage risk, and carbon potential; produce maps and inputs for feasibility and design. 

• 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. 

• 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. 

• Project development and management execution: oversight of on-the-ground activities, to ensure development and implementation milestones are met aligned with proposed project design  

• 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. 

• 3-5 years’
  experience in carbon project development, GHG quantification, or land-sector emissions modelling. 

• Applied knowledge of carbon methodologies (e.g. ARR, REDD+, IFM, savanna fire management, blue carbon) and associated frameworks or standards (e.g. VCS, Gold Standard, ACR, ACCU Scheme, JCM). 

• Proficient in geospatial tools (e.g. QGIS, ArcGIS) and carbon modelling platforms (e.g.
  FullCAM, SavBAT, CO2FIX, CBM-CFS3). 

• 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.  

• Working knowledge of emerging 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. 

You’ll love this role if…  

You thrive in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial and fluid environment and have exceptional attention to detail. You are adaptable and proactive, calm under pressure and a great communicator – able to prioritise and effectively manage the needs of diverse stakeholders. You have a ferocious intellectual curiosity, an appetite for solving complex problems and are comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty. You are excited to work in a purpose-driven organisation and share our ambition and commitment to tackle the climate and nature crisis.   

This is a permanent, full-time role with the flexibility to work outside of standard office hours when necessary. We work flexibly 50% minimum in office time across your working week.  

We are considering this role across two potential levels within our business;  Associate & Associate Director. The final level offered to the successful candidate will be determined based on their specific experience and skill set, and will be aligned with our internal leveling framework. 

You must hold the right to work in Australia.  

Applying with Pollination  

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, we encourage you to 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.  

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.