Job Mission
As the Head of Restoration, you will empower the success of Terraformation’s ambitious native forest restoration projects worldwide, leading a team of restoration ecology and forestry experts, contractors, and global partners to design and implement biodiversity-focused carbon projects throughout Africa, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. This cross-functional role will work closely with leaders across teams at Terraformation to build the capacity of on-the-ground project implementer partners, uphold best practices to scale up positive biodiversity impacts and ensure projects are supported from planning through implementation and monitoring.
Location: Remote; United States preferred (UTC +/-6)
Salary: $110,000 - $150,000, plus equity (depending on location and experience)
Responsibilities
Lead capacity building for successful, biodiversity-focused restoration projects
• Manage the Restoration Team of experts in Colombia, Italy, the UK, and the US
• Ensure successful restoration outcomes of a portfolio of projects by coordinating and overseeing the Restoration Team’s:
Evaluations of early-stage partners’ capacities and needs
• Streamlined delivery of a comprehensive restoration training/support program for numerous partners and regions simultaneously
• Delivering in collaboration with our implementing partners the ‘Restoration Plan’ section of the Project Management Plans of our projects
• Writing of Project Description chapters on biodiversity impacts.
• Support projects in monitoring the results and impacts of forest restoration.
Uphold science-based practices for biodiversity and forest restoration in Terraformation’s Seed to Forest Carbon Accelerator
• Ensure consistency and best practices in restoration across projects and countries through the implementation of efficient internal processes
• Lead the development of biodiversity monitoring standards, protocols, and practices, ensuring they meet requirements for carbon verification bodies and investors and for the emerging biodiversity certificate market
• Advocate for and effectively communicate the value of restoration best practices across diverse internal and external stakeholders
Lead and implement a strategy for scaling up the Accelerator
• Build a network of strong local experts in our operating countries, and manage local contractors
• Oversee the global strategy of the Regional/National Hub Program, building effective collaborations aligned with local needs and ways of operating
Support the development of strategic partnerships outside the Accelerator
• Respond to requests from strategic partners and clients, potentially including contract work on restoration/biodiversity initiatives
Minimum Qualifications
• 10+ years of management experience, building and improving processes to lead diverse global teams and execute complex projects
• Experience managing ecosystem restoration projects, as well as on-the-ground experience carrying out biodiversity and restoration practices
• Strong knowledge of principles and practices in wild plant material sourcing to optimize the balance of genetic diversity, sustainable sourcing, and resilience in restoration
• Working knowledge of nursery propagation, field planting practices, and research on seed-based restoration ecology (theory and practice)
• Experience with biodiversity monitoring and evaluation best practices, including knowledge of related indicators, indices, data management, and data analysis
• Ability to manage multiple partners with varying and complex project needs while engaging and tracking effective collaboration and trust with local communities
• Extremely strong communication skills used both internally and externally
• Strong emotional intelligence and ability to act with humility and respect
• Ability to travel internationally, often to remote locations (estimated 25% travel)
• Master’s degree in ecology, restoration, sustainable forestry, or related field
Preferred Qualifications
• Working knowledge of the nature-based carbon market sector (strongly preferred)
• Experience working in multiple countries and ecosystems, including mangroves
• Experience developing and/or working in sustainable agroforestry systems
• Experience with advanced biodiversity monitoring techniques (e.g., bioacoustics, eDNA)
• Proficiency with biodiversity/ecological data analysis in R software
• Experience working with Indigenous peoples and/or local communities
About Terraformation
Terraformation is committed to addressing climate change through the power of native forest restoration. Our portfolio of high-quality projects is designed to restore forests that will remove high quantities of carbon, renew ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and create sustainable long-term community income and benefits. Our project teams have planted over one million biodiverse and native trees, stored 131 million seeds, supported 19 forestry projects, and created over 700 jobs through reforestation efforts worldwide.
Our innovative approach not only equips local forestry teams with training, technology, and access to capital, but also empowers businesses to be a part of the solution to climate change. By investing in our projects, businesses can directly address climate change, offset carbon emissions, meet net zero commitments, and enhance corporate sustainability initiatives.
Terraformation’s mission-driven global team, which includes experts in forest science, carbon markets, operations management, and business development, demonstrates how diverse backgrounds drive innovation and create significant impact.
We are an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, where relevant.
