Senior Project Manager (SPM)

Based at: Bristol, United Kingdom on a hybrid basis with 4 days a week expected in the office and occasional travel to project areas when required.

Position reports to: Programme Manager

Salary: £45,000

Contract Type: Full time, Permanent

About CO2balance

CO2balance is a carbon management consultancy and project developer, specialising in delivering high-impact, community-based projects for climate change mitigation. We work directly with local communities, NGOs and businesses to provide climate change solutions in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Through continuous innovation and strong partnerships, our work remains at the forefront of a rapidly evolving carbon market. Our end-to-end support ensures that these projects continue to deliver lasting benefits for communities and our clients. Together with our clients and partners, we have enabled the reduction of more than 15 million tCO₂e.

Why work for CO2balance?

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a senior project management role at CO2balance as the organisation adapts to evolving carbon market regulations and grows its engagement with corporate partners. As Senior Project Manager, you will lead high-quality community-based programmes, ensuring strong delivery, compliance, and measurable impact, with a particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. The role involves meaningful engagement with international project implementers, government officials, and carbon accreditation experts. You will work closely with partners and internal teams to navigate complex situations, support effective delivery, and adapt to new ways of working, while upholding CO2balance’s commitment to deliver lasting benefits for communities and clients.

About you

You are an experienced project management professional with a strong track record of managing complex, multi-country or high-value programmes, with experience managing projects across the full project lifecycle. You bring strong organisational and reporting skills, new ways of thinking, and the confidence to lead partner relationships, negotiate contracts, and resolve delivery challenges in partnership with country offices and stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated with the ability to work with minimal supervision. They should have a background in carbon markets, the development or environment sector, strong data management and analytical skills, excellent communication skills, a good attention to detail, and a strong commercial mindset.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities

• Project Management

• Provide technical oversight and input into our growing improved cookstove programme, including recommendations on FPIC processes, community inclusion and dMRV.
• Oversee and be accountable for the current and future development of carbon assets (PDDs, ex ante calculations etc.) under carbon standards (VERRA, Gold Standard, PACM) with a primary focus on improved cookstoves.
• Accountable for coordinating the delivery of predominantly improved cookstove and safe water projects, providing oversight across the full project lifecycle and ensuring standards of quality, compliance and risk management are met.
• Management responsibility for a small team of Project Managers and Carbon Project Officers, delivering strong leadership to ensure the team are productive and achieving pre-agreed targets.
• Responsible for tracking and reporting project progress, taking corrective action and notifying the Programme Manager as required.
• Accountable for the standardisation of project documentation and collateral (SOPs) across our improved cookstove programme, providing support to in-country delivery partners, to ensure projects are delivered on time, in budget and to the highest standard and integrity achievable.
• Accountable for team strategy, planning, reporting, risk management and achieving individual project deliverables, advising on corrective action as required.
• Responsible for account management and stakeholder relationships, leading on negotiations and contract discussions, successfully troubleshooting, and reporting in a clear and timely manner.
• Manage complex and competing priorities, whilst confidently working independently and escalating risks appropriately.
• Work with other Senior Project Managers to ensure that project activities and reporting processes are consistent across the company portfolio.
• Close collaboration with country offices, partners, and internal teams, including the Programme Manager to ensure timely reporting to clients and that carbon credit delivery timelines are met and volumes are accurate.

• Work with Head of Finance to set annual project budgets, manage budgetary oversight and continuously assess project spend throughout the lifecycle.
• Accountable for the management and reporting on project budgets and cashflows.

• Work with commercial and sales teams to develop proposals, schedules and contracts for existing and new consultancy clients.
• Accountable for guiding team in the development of new project ideas and technologies, liaising closely with the Programme Manager and Senior Management Team.
• Oversee and lead working groups on researching new project technologies and methodologies.
• Prepare cashflows and board papers for prospective projects as requested by management.

• Be accountable for the approval of all expenses, holiday entitlement, sick leave, training plans, and Personal Development Reviews for your team.
• Attend project site visits, relevant events, and conferences as required on behalf of the company.
• Keep abreast with developments in the carbon management sector including methodology or regulatory updates.
• Support the Programme Manager and Sales and Marketing team in the development of client proposals, reports, and marketing collateral as required.

Requirements

Essential

• At least 3 years demonstrable experience of developing and delivering carbon projects or community-based activity projects, specifically cookstove projects that are accredited under a carbon methodology.
• Technical knowledge of clean cooking, WASH, renewable energy or other climate mitigation technologies.
• Demonstrable experience of developing carbon assets such as PDDs, baselines, ex-ante calcs and VER profiles.
• Demonstrable experience in FPIC, community engagement and stakeholder management including grievance processes.
• Proven ability to lead and manage team members, including performance management.
• Proven skills in budgeting, financial oversight and cashflow management.
• Proven experience managing partner relationships, including negotiations, contract management, and resolving delivery challenges.
• Excellent communication, reporting and documentation skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and data management abilities for monitoring progress and assessing project performance.
• Ability to manage complex workloads independently, prioritise effectively, and work under pressure.
• Willingness to travel internationally as required.
• Alignment with organisational values and a commitment to sustainability, climate action, and locally led approaches.

Desirable

• A degree, or equivalent, in Environmental Science, Climate Change, Development Studies or a related field.
• Consideration for a combination of relevant academic qualifications and substantial work experience is also possible.
• Experience working directly in Sub-Saharan Africa or managing field-based community projects.
• Experience with dMRV tools and systems.
• Training or certification in project management methodologies (e.g., PRINCE2, PMQ).
• Fluency or working proficiency in relevant languages (e.g., French, Portuguese).

Application Information

To apply, please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter in an email to enquiries@co2balance.com. It is recommended that you save a copy of the role profile as it will no longer be available after the advert closes. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the job advert may be closed earlier than advertised subject to the volume of suitable applicants. Please submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

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