Junior Carbon & Impact Analyst - South African Restoration Project

About Us

Imperative is a global infrastructure grade nature restoration company that aims to be in the top decile for quality in the carbon projects market. We have a build-own-operate model and specialise in the design, development and operation of carbon credit projects that help combat climate change while promoting biodiversity conservation, economic growth and social development in the countries in which we operate. With a strong commitment to environmental and social responsibility, we are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Nursery Manager to join our dynamic team.

Position Purpose 

Reporting to the Carbon and Impact Manager (South Africa), the Junior Carbon & Impact Analyst provides analytical, technical and organisational support across the carbon and impact portfolio, which is delivered under the Verra Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) using methodology VM0047 (Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation).  

The successful candidate will combine a foundational interest in carbon markets and nature-based solutions with strong analytical, research and project-administration skills. She/He will support PDD writing, MRV cycles, GIS and remote-sensing analysis, protocol revisions, and stakeholder engagement—developing rapidly into a future carbon-project specialist under the mentorship of the Carbon & Impact Manager. 

Key Responsibilities  

• Carbon Project Management Support 
  • Support the Carbon and Impact Asset Manager in preparing, updating and maintaining Project Design Documents (PDDs), monitoring reports, monitoring protocols and supporting documentation for the Spekboom ARR Project. 
  • Support the planification of MRV cycles under VM0047, including leakage quantification and mitigation monitoring and reporting, baseline maintenance, preparation of audit packages, and tracking of validator/verifier queries through to issuance. 
  • Maintain organised carbon-project documentation, version control and archives across the carbon and impact workstream. 
  • Analyse technical outputs, data, charts and maps. 
  • Support the revision of project-level carbon models, including growth curves and allometric equations. 
• Desk Research, Reporting and Compliance 
  • Conduct structured literature reviews and benchmark analyses to improve Spekboom Restoration Project protocols. 
  • Contribute to internal and external VCS/CCB monitoring reports, progress reports and project dashboards. 
  • Apply the project’s documented  quality-assurance & quality-control framework to all deliverables and proactively flag risks, gaps and improvement opportunities across the carbon and impact workstream. 
• Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination 
  • Provide organisational and logistical support for site visits, technical workshops and stakeholder meetings convened by the Carbon and Impact team. 
  • Support note-taking, meeting follow-ups and action tracking across project partners, consultants, validators and verifiers. 
• GIS Analyses 
  • Provide hands-on support to the project’s GIS Analyst on the Spekboom Project, including data preparation, layer maintenance, map production and quality assurance of spatial outputs. 
  • Assist the GIS Analyst with the integration of remote-sensing data into MRV deliverables, PDD updates and stratification work as required by the Carbon & Impact Manager. 

Essential Skills And Attributes  

Key skills and attributes required for the role are:  

• Foundational understanding of carbon standards & markets, climate change mitigation and nature-based solutions, with a willingness to deepen technical expertise rapidly on the job. 
• Analytical, detail-oriented, organised and structured, with strong instincts for project administration and document management. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, SharePoint and PowerPoint, and comfort working with data, technical content and producing clear written outputs. 
• Motivated team player able to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and update on progress independently. 
• Demonstrated proficiency in oral and written English, with the ability to synthesise technical content for varied audiences. 
• Working knowledge of GIS / remote-sensing tools (e.g. QGIS, ArcGIS, Google Earth Engine) or basic statistical analysis (R, Python or equivalent) is an asset. 

Qualifications and Required Experience    

• The position requires at least 1–3 years’ relevant work or internship experience in carbon project development, environmental management, sustainability, ecology, forestry, agricultural science, GIS/remote sensing or a closely related field,  
• A relevant Bachelor with Honours degree (Master’s degree preferred) from a recognised university.  
• Strong candidates with demonstrated potential and a clear interest in carbon markets will be considered.  
• Candidates without prior carbon-project experience will be considered where they can demonstrate (i) a strong academic record in a quantitative or environmental discipline, and (ii) prior research-assistant, internship or fieldwork experience involving data collection or spatial analysis. 

Position Location   

Walmer, Gqeberha, South Africa.  

Values

At Imperative, we are passionate about our values are encourage all team members to embrace them.

• Integrity: We act honourably and are guided by a strong moral compass. If things go wrong, we put our hand up, admit it and adapt.
• Momentum: Speed matters. We have a bias to action. We think quick, we plan tirelessly, we mitigate risks but above all, we take action.
• Purpose: We are driven by our desire to make the world better, with every interaction, process and project.
• Accountability: We do what we say, and we deliver. We seek to be the best at what we do.
• Collaboration: We celebrate diversity of thought, values and backgrounds and seek to harness the strength of our people and partners to achieve more than we individually can, through teamwork and creativity.
• Tenacity: We are highly ambitious, driven and hardworking. We persist until we deliver impact.