Agroforestry Operations Manager - Climate Impact Partners

ABOUT US:

Climate Impact Partners delivers solutions for climate action. We are carbon market specialists and a go-to partner for every stage of the net zero journey.

With over 25 years of industry experience and fueled by a relentless drive for rapid action and results, we have made it our mission to urgently ensure a thriving future for all life on earth.

We do this by providing an end-to-end service that delivers high-quality, thoroughly vetted climate projects which reduce carbon emissions, improve health and livelihoods, and enhance biodiversity.

Together with our clients and project partners we have been responsible for the reduction or removal of more than 144 million tCO2e.

Check out our Impact Report to learn more about us and some of the work you could help us drive forward.

What sets us apart:

• Boundless, urgent ambition. We are accountable, relentless, resilient.

• Courage to innovate. We are courageous, creative, curious.

• Integrity without compromise. We are trustworthy, credible, committed.

• Empowered to serve. We are respectful, inclusive, collaborative.

YOUR IMPACT:

As Agroforestry Operations Manager, you will be CIP’s senior forestry lead for the Panna Afforestation Project. This role provides specialist silvicultural and operational expertise to ensure plantations are resilient, high-quality, and verifiable.

Working closely with the Senior Project Manager and field teams, you will serve as CIP’s operational “fixer”: visiting sites frequently, coaching field staff, enforcing quality standards, and solving problems quickly before they escalate. You will ensure that implementation partners deliver consistently and to the highest standards across districts, driving the success of one of India’s most ambitious afforestation efforts.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Nursery & Species Management

• Manage large-scale nurseries with diverse native and agroforestry species, ensuring soil preparation, seed sourcing, processing and treatment, watering regimes, and pest/disease control produce robust, disease-free saplings.

• Conduct ecological assessments (soil depth, rainfall, topography) to determine appropriate species-site matching.

Plantation Operations

• Design and supervise site preparation (ploughing, trenching, fencing, fire lines), planting densities, and seasonal planting methods across multiple districts.

• Coordinate seasonal mobilisation of labour, tools, and logistics to meet tight monsoon planting windows.

Aftercare & Monitoring

• Track survival rates through frequent site inspections and geo-tagged monitoring.

• Implement corrective measures (replanting, mulching, irrigation) rapidly where discrepancies are identified.

• Support biomass inventories for tracking and monitoring growth

Risk Management & Quality Assurance

• Anticipate threats (fire, grazing, pests, disengagement) and implement preventive and adaptive responses.

• Lead internal audits of nurseries and planting sites.

• Apply defined escalation pathways when operational standards are not met.

Team Development & Coaching

• Mentor and guide Field Officers and partner staff, embedding strong silvicultural skills, SOP compliance, and accountability.

• Build durable in-country expertise by training community groups and field staff.

Partner Oversight & Problem-Solving

• Regularly visit and review partner sites, ensuring consistency across organisations and geographies.

• Act as first point of escalation for operational or technical challenges, identifying solutions quickly and escalating only when necessary.

• Foster strong relationships with partner leadership to ensure delivery against agreed outcomes.

Adaptive Management

• Use monitoring data and field feedback to refine species selection, planting methods, and maintenance regimes, ensuring continuous improvement in survival and growth rates.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

Experience & Expertise

• Minimum of 12 years’ professional experience in forestry, agroforestry, plantation management, or silviculture, with at least 5 years in a senior operational role.

• Proven success managing large-scale afforestation/reforestation projects in India or comparable geographies.

• Strong track record in nursery establishment, plantation operations, and survival monitoring.

• Experience working with community-based implementation partners and rural stakeholders.

• Familiarity with carbon projects (ARR/AFOLU, Verra) is strongly preferred but not essential.

• Master’s degree in Forestry, Agroforestry, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or related field (Bachelor’s with significant experience may be considered).

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Strong coaching and mentoring skills, with experience building capacity in diverse, field-based teams.

• Hands-on problem solver with the ability to identify and fix issues in real time.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to work across cultures and organisations.

• Comfortable with extensive travel and extended periods in rural field locations.

Behavioural Skills & Competencies

• Highly organised, resilient, and solution-oriented.

• Ability to manage multiple objectives simultaneously and prioritise appropriately.

• Strong integrity, with commitment to high-quality delivery and continuous improvement.

• Alignment with CIP’s values: ambition, innovation, service, and integrity.

For more information please check the Link