Senior Officer, Carbon Project Development

Based in Seoul, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote a model of economic growth known as "green growth" which targets key aspects of economic performance such as poverty reduction and job creation, as well as social inclusion and environmental sustainability. GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies and bankable projects that can impact the lives of millions. The organization partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and the private sector to help build economies that achieve strong growth and are less carbon intensive, more resilient to climate change, and more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources.

The Paris Agreement provides a comprehensive framework for signatory Parties to reach an ambitious commitment to limit the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C, and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C in a cooperative manner. This framework covers a number of instruments including cooperative approaches under Article 6 which allows signatory countries (and private sector entities authorized by these countries) to engage in international carbon transactions. The Carbon Finance Department (CFD) of GGGI is a global leader in Article 6 international carbon trading technical assistance, implementing several programs since 2019 related to preparing and supporting countries in trading, opening up international carbon markets. The resultant flow of transactions is envisaged to build a robust and reliable global price for carbon, something many areas of the private sector have long called for as a way to motivate the transformational change needed to achieve the ambitious goals of Paris.

The Carbon Transaction Facility (CTF), launched in October 2024, one of the primary mechanisms through GGGI supports its member and partner countries to achieve readiness to engage in the international carbon markets established under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The CTF is a collection of single and multi-donor funds that cover the full spectrum of Article 6 cooperation – from readiness to transactions of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs). As of May 2025, GGGI serves as fund manager for three funds, including the multi-donor “Readiness Facility,” a fund which targets four key strategic readiness outcomes: (1) Awareness raising and capacity building; (2) Article 6 governance framework development; (3) Mitigation activity (project) origination; and (4) Multi-directional knowledge exchange. serves as fund manager for CTF.

To achieve Outcome 3 “Mitigation activity origination” and build a strong pipeline of high-quality Article 6 mitigation activities, the CTF Readiness Facility implements both in-country readiness projects and through global projects. In-country origination activities include issuing national calls for expressions of interest, engagement with and capacity building of private sector project developers, screening of public investment pipelines, and more. These projects are managed by teams based in GGGI country offices globally. At the global level, the Global Incubator for Article 6 Mitigation Activities project is the flagship initiative of the CTF Readiness Facility. The Incubator supports the design and advancement of both early-stage mitigation activities and more developed mitigation activity idea noes (MAINs) that can access carbon finance through cooperative approaches under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The Incubator provides targeted technical assistance, capacity building, and a structured matchmaking process aimed at creating the best possible conditions for successful channeling of carbon finance to mitigation activities in GGGI Member and partner countries.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Officer, Carbon Project Development will serve as both project manager for the Incubator project and as technical lead for the mitigation activities coming out of the Readiness Facility ensuring that high quality, Article 6-aligned MAINs are sent to the CTF Carbon Funds for consideration via the matchmaking process. Reporting to the Readiness Facility Manager, the Senior Officer will develop and oversee global or regional calls for proposals, manage and coordinate a team of internal and external experts across multiple GGGI divisions and country programs to ensure the successful development of ideas into high-quality MAINs through the Incubator. They will also be involved in quality assurance activities for MAINs seeking to enter matchmaking process from in-country Readiness Projects.

As project manager, the Senior Officer will lead the day-to-day implementation of the Incubator project and hold overall responsibility for pipeline development, quality assurance, and technical assistance delivery under the project – including engagement with mitigation activity developers and technical experts supporting the development of their activities. The Senior Officer will also coordinate with project teams implementing in-country CTF Readiness projects to reflect and share lessons learned around Article 6 mitigation activity origination.

As technical focal point for the Readiness Facility, the role requires strong technical and operational understanding of carbon finance, particularly the development of mitigation activities under Article 6, combined with sound project management skills and the ability to manage complex review processes. The Senior Officer must be able to evaluate the quality and feasibility of mitigation activity proposals, ensuring alignment with the integrity requirements of Article 6, CTF’s Governing Principles, Carbon Fund requirements, and guiding project proponents and country teams through the origination and matchmaking process. The role involves both internal coordination and external engagement, with a focus on maintaining high-quality delivery standards while supporting knowledge capture and process improvements across the Facility.

PURPOSE

• Lead the effective design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting MAIN Incubator project. This includes detailed work and budget planning, team management, risk management, and quality assurance in line with GGGI’s project cycle.
• Develop and manage calls for proposals, shortlisting processes, and selection methodologies leading to the development and submission of high-quality mitigation activity idea notes for matchmaking to the CTF Carbon Funds.
• Evaluate and oversee the process of providing quality assurance for mitigation activities and MAINs from the Incubator project, ensuring alignment with CTF Readiness Facility requirements.
• Support the evaluation of MAINs generated by in-country readiness projects to ensure they meet quality standards for matchmaking.
• Design and oversee delivery of technical assistance and capacity building support for project proponents as required by the project.
• Promote adaptive management by documenting and integrating implementation lessons and course corrections.

ENGAGEMENT

The Senior Officer will report to the Head of Readiness, and serve as project manager for the Global Incubator project, and play an important role as technical expert in the CTF Readiness Facility’s quality assurance process for mitigation activities. Key points of engagement include:

• Serve as the primary external focal point for the Incubator project, engaging with project developers and proponents for pre-transaction advisory and capacity building.
• Maintain working-level relationships with Carbon Fund managers, following established processes for matchmaking in coordination with the Project Coordinator responsible for matchmaking.
• Coordinate across GGGI readiness projects and engage with in-country teams on mitigation activity origination best practices, reflecting lessons learned and adapting for continuous improvement.
• Work with and coordinate GGGI technical specialists (e.g., GESI, energy, transport, waste) and external experts to ensure high quality technical assistance and capacity building is delivered to project proponents seeking support from the Incubator.
• Supervise and mentor at least two core project team staff, and serve as dotted-line supervisor to others
• Provide technical guidance to country teams and consultants/firms involved in supporting mitigation activity screening and development under the Readiness Facility.
• Serving as primary focal point and representative of the Incubator project for any outreach activities.

DELIVERY

• Lead detailed work planning, budgeting, risk management, monitoring and reporting on the progress of the Incubator project, ensuring that project implementation is aligned with GGGI’s project cycle requirements and donor agreements.

• Design and launch global, regional or other thematic calls for proposals, ensuring clear criteria, transparent processes, and broad outreach to eligible project proponents.
• Oversee the screening, longlisting, and shortlisting of proposals, ensuring adherence to Incubator standards.
• Work closely with the Readiness Facility Manager and Carbon Fund Managers to establish and continuously refine selection methodologies to reflect evolving best practices and market requirements and the needs of the CTF Carbon Funds.

• Direct the provision of targeted technical assistance to shortlisted proponents, including feasibility studies, training, and drafting of MAINs.
• Provide technical review and quality assurance of MAINs to ensure they meet the quality and integrity standards of Article 6 and CTF.

• Lead the preparation of MAINs for matchmaking, including final technical review and quality control.
• Coordinate with Carbon Fund managers to understand Carbon Fund participant needs and preferences.
• Ensure proponents are well-prepared for buyer engagement and follow-up discussions.

• Establish and apply quality control systems for all outputs under the Incubator.
• Document lessons learned from each proposal cycle and matchmaking round, ensuring structured knowledge flows into the Readiness Facility and Carbon Funds.
• Promote adaptive management by integrating lessons into future calls and processes.

• Provide regular feedback and periodic performance evaluation for staff under supervision, ensuring effective delegation and mentoring.
• Provide technical guidance to consultants/firms, in-country teams and other GGGI technical experts contributing to the Incubator pipeline.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in environmental economics, finance, business, engineering, climate policy, sustainable development, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in project management, carbon markets, climate finance, or development cooperation preferred.
• Minimum of two years of international experience. Defined as living and working outside of home country.
• Strong understanding of carbon market mechanisms, especially Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and related readiness and implementation frameworks required.
• Proven experience developing carbon projects/mitigation activities under Article 6, the Clean Development Mechanism, voluntary carbon markets or other international market mechanisms a strong advantage.
• Familiarity with feasibility studies, safeguards, MRV systems, and related technical documentation for carbon market projects preferred.
• Ability to demonstrate familiarity with methodologies, standards, technologies and other key issues and risks associated with development, finance and implementation of carbon projects preferred.
• Experience effectively managing large and/or complex projects with many stakeholders, preferably for an international development organization a strong advantage.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and coordination skills, with demonstrated ability to work across cultures and institutions.
• Experience supervising junior staff and managing multi-disciplinary teams and external experts.
• Fluency in English required; additional languages (especially French or Spanish) are an asset.

FUNCTIONAL

• Exceptional project management skills, including planning, budgeting, and reporting.
• Understanding and/or experience with carbon project development and supporting carbon project proponents and developers, particularly in developing and emerging economies.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership management abilities, and ability to represent the project, CTF and GGGI when needed.
• Ability to oversee, manage and prioritize tasks in a complex processes in an organized manner, with strong deadline orientation and attention to detail.
• Capacity to think strategically and adaptively in a fast-evolving environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES

• Team leadership and staff development skills.
• Ability to mentor and supervise junior and mid-level staff.
• Strategic thinker and solutions-oriented, with good ability to multitask and work in a matrix environment.

CORPORATE

• Understand and actively support GGGI's mission, vision and values.
• Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership.
• Excel at problem solving, ask questions and seek support when needed, share easily information and knowledge with others both internally as externally.
• Manage emotions and stress positively, build rapport and resolves conflict easily.
• Strong ability to work independently and/or remotely, while maintaining productivity.
• Be able to lead and manage a project independently, while knowing when to seek advice and liaise closely with colleagues in the Carbon Finance Department.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Senior Officer is a X9 grade level in GGGI's international salary scale, with a starting salary of USD 77,904; details of which can be found in the GGGI Staff Regulations on GGGI’s website. In addition, GGGI provides 27 days of annual leave, flexible work arrangements and contribution towards private health insurance that covers dental and vision. . GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work commitments and personal and family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity and well-being of Staff members.