Job Title:
Project Development Director
Reports To:
Head of Carbon
Location:
Preferably based in Barcelona or Paris. Exceptional remote candidates may be considered if strongly aligned with project objectives.
About InSoil
InSoil is a climate finance company funding the transition to regenerative agriculture across Europe. With a strong emphasis on soil health and carbon sequestration, InSoil supports farmers through medium-term financing, expert agrotechnical guidance, and advanced soil and emissions monitoring technologies. This integrated approach enables farmers to adopt sustainable practices and generate high-integrity carbon credits, creating new revenue streams while building climate resilience in agriculture.
With a mission to sequester 1 gigaton of CO₂e by 2050, InSoil has financed over €83 million, enrolled 800,000 hectares of farmland, and supports farmers with technical agronomy, remote sensing, and educational programs. By combining capital, carbon certification, and agronomic expertise, InSoil enables investors and farmers to drive meaningful climate impact and financial returns.
Job Summary
The Project Development Director will lead the full lifecycle development of Improved Agricultural Land Management (IALM) projects under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) standards, within the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) .
This role drives projects from early-stage feasibility through to carbon credit issuance and monitoring periods. Responsibilities include managing all phases of project development—scoping, feasibility, documentation (Project Descriptions, Monitoring Reports), validation, verification, and compliance with evolving methodologies.
The Director will work coordinating across data science, agronomy, MMRV, farmer engagement, business development, and marketing teams, while engaging externally with validation/verification bodies, consultants, and executive stakeholders. Success in this role requires strategic foresight, process leadership, and up-to-date knowledge of carbon market regulations and methodologies.
Key Responsibilities
Project Coordination & Management
Lead the day-to-day development of IALM carbon projects to ensure compliance with VCS and CCB standards.
Track progress against timelines, milestones, and KPIs; proactively adapt roadmaps where necessary.
Manage and align cross-functional collaboration (data science, agronomy, farmer engagement, MMRV, business development).
Facilitate recurring internal check-ins (daily/weekly) and milestone meetings with stakeholders.
Documentation & Compliance
Oversee preparation of carbon project documentation: Project Descriptions (PDs), Monitoring Reports (MRs), and all supporting materials.
Ensure full adherence to VCS methodologies, CCB criteria, and other applicable standards.
Maintain comprehensive, audit-ready documentation and project records.
Stakeholder Engagement
Act as the main point of contact between internal teams and external partners, consultants, and carbon registries.
Communicate project updates to C-level stakeholders, steering committees, and investors.
Provide clear, timely responses to inquiries regarding project compliance, risks, and milestones.
Monitoring & Data Management
Collaborate with data and agronomy teams to review field data, modeling outputs, and remote sensing insights.
Ensure data quality and consistency for Monitoring Reports and baseline assessments.
Track actual vs. forecasted carbon outcomes and flag anomalies early in the process.
Strategic Insight & Market Intelligence
Continuously monitor changes in VCS/CCB methodologies, voluntary carbon market trends, and other emerging standards (e.g., CRCF).
Share regulatory or strategic updates with internal teams for proactive alignment.
Identify opportunities to optimize project design, scale, or impact based on new methodologies or innovations.
️ Team Development & Process Optimization
Assist in onboarding new team members and supporting cross-functional collaboration.
Improve internal systems, templates, and workflows for streamlined project development and documentation.
Contribute to internal knowledge-building on AFOLU, carbon markets, and best practices.
Candidate Profile
✅ Experience & Background
Proven track record of managing 3–5+ land-based carbon projects under VCS, from feasibility to issuance.
Hands-on expertise in AFOLU project development, preferably within agriculture and soil carbon domains.
Familiarity with carbon accounting, including removals and avoided emissions.
Direct experience with VCS, Gold Standard, CCB, or CRCF methodologies and documentation.
Education
Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Agronomy, Sustainability, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
Quantitative or technical training is a strong plus.
Technical Skills
In-depth understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting frameworks and carbon MMRV systems.
Strong documentation and reporting abilities, especially under VCS/CCB standards.
Familiarity with digital monitoring technologies, remote sensing, and project management tools.
Project Leadership
Demonstrated ability to plan, manage, and deliver multi-stakeholder projects under tight timelines.
Skilled at facilitating coordination across cross-functional teams and external validation partners.
Capable of translating technical complexity into actionable workflows.
Soft Skills
Proactive, solutions-oriented, and capable of navigating ambiguity.
Strong leadership and communication abilities to align diverse stakeholders.
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
Why Join Us?
Be part of a purpose-driven, high-impact team scaling agricultural climate solutions across regional landscapes. You'll play a leading role in shaping carbon projects that drive measurable environmental, economic, and social outcomes.