At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and scale impactful climate projects across Africa, driving operational excellence and sustainable growth.
- Company: Community Climate Solutions AG, a leader in community-led climate initiatives.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, international travel, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and meaningful impact.
- Why this job: Shape the future of climate action while empowering local communities and restoring nature.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in complex programs, with expertise in carbon markets and project implementation.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
About Community Climate Solutions AG
Headquartered in Baar, Switzerland, Community Climate Solutions AG develops high‑integrity, community‑led climate and nature protection projects, with a strong focus on carbon reduction, nature restoration, and positive social impact in developing regions across Africa. Working in close partnership with local communities in Zambia, we support over 35,000 smallholder farmers to restore nature and reduce emissions on their own land. In doing so, we generate verified carbon credits that enable organizations to offset emissions responsibly while ensuring transparency, traceability, and meaningful benefits for local communities. We believe the voluntary carbon market represents one of the greatest opportunities to permanently alleviate poverty in rural Sub‑Saharan Africa. With our farmers‑first approach, we aim to set new standards for the market: maximizing social impact while delivering high‑quality, fully traceable carbon credits.
About the role
As Chief Operating Officer (COO), you will play a pivotal role in shaping and scaling our organization. Reporting directly to the Global CEO, you will translate strategy into execution by building high-performing teams, strengthening operational excellence, and driving sustainable growth. This role drives CCS's evolution into a high-performing, data-driven organization — bridging strategy and execution across operations, digital systems, intervention design, and carbon project delivery as we scale across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Key Responsibilities
- Carbon project rollout & intervention design: Lead the operational design and execution of carbon projects with interventions ranging from fire management, cattle management, FMNR to agroforestry — including managing continued operations of the existing 2m hectares of Zambian assisted natural regeneration projects.
- Organizational development: Professionalize CCS's management systems, governance structures, operating procedures and accountability mechanisms — removing bottlenecks and building scalable solutions across departments.
- Digital transformation & data: Lead CCS's digital operating environment, including the FieldForce platform. Partner with the IT team to complete the development of the in-house digital operations and MRV platform.
- Voluntary carbon market compliance: Ensure carbon projects meet VCM standards and certification requirements (e.g. Verra VCS, Gold Standard). Execute on intervention and MRV frameworks according to standard and buyer requirements.
- Expansion & new country readiness: Design new carbon projects, operational models and organizational structures for new geographies, ensuring lessons from Zambia inform CCS's next stage of growth across Africa.
About You
- Program & operations leadership: Proven track record managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs in international development, conservation, agriculture or climate.
- Voluntary carbon market expertise: Solid understanding of VCM standards, certification pathways, MRV methodologies and the commercial and regulatory landscape for nature-based carbon credits. Candidates without direct VCM experience but with strong hands-on NGO project development experience in an African context are equally encouraged to apply.
- Carbon project rollout experience: Hands-on experience taking carbon, environmental or social impact projects from design to implementation, including field operations, community engagement and third-party verification.
- Systems-building mindset: Experience designing and improving operational systems, SOPs, KPIs and digital workflows in fast-moving or resource-constrained environments.
- Sub-Saharan Africa experience: Familiarity with operating contexts across the region, with a willingness to travel regularly to Zambia and future expansion countries.
Please submit your application in English including CV, cover letter, references and degree certificates.
Contact Details:
Community Climate Solutions Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Operating Officer in London
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Community Climate Solutions.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Community Climate Solutions.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Community Climate Solutions.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Community Climate Solutions. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Operating Officer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Community Climate Solutions. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Chief Operating Officer, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Community Climate Solutions
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Community Climate Solutions. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
