Conservation International (CI) works to implement Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) around the world. CI supports the generation and trading of high-quality carbon credits from nature by strengthening technical capacity at national and local levels and shaping the policy frameworks, incentives, and rules needed to unlock nature’s full potential for climate action.
The Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) Partnerships Senior Manager will lead CI’s efforts to build strategic corporate partnerships and raise financing to scale nature-based carbon credit generation that can supply the Japanese market. This involves engaging with private sector actors participating in the GX-League, and positioning NCS credits within both domestic regulatory systems (The Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) and Green Transformation Emissions Trading Scheme (GX-ETS)) and global voluntary markets. The role also supports identifying and raising financing for NCS credits designed for international compliance frameworks such as CORSIA, Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and within voluntary corporate climate commitments, including those aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). They will prioritize identifying and cultivating relationships with investors or buyers and work in close coordination with CI’s headquarters-based team responsible for the marketing and transacting of carbon credits from our broader portfolio of high-quality NCS initiatives.
In parallel, the Senior Manager will develop stakeholder relationships to inform developments in the JCM and GX-ETS in partnership with the Technical Director based in Tokyo and the Asia-based NCS Policy Director (to be hired). This includes market engagement with corporate partners to explore initiatives to raise interest in the nature-based solutions (NbS) within the GX-ETS and JCM. Additionally, the Sr. Manager will initiate and maintain light-touch relationships with key ministries such as the Ministry of the Environment (MoE), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Forestry Agency, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to serve as an advisor to CI teams on regulated and voluntary market opportunities in Japan. The Sr. Manager will liaise closely with CI’s NCS Policy Director based in Asia, to ensure alignment across government engagement strategies and technical inputs. These efforts will focus on laying the groundwork for future influence on policy development and market-building.