Carbon Project Manager - Kenya

Burn Manufacturing • Full-time • Nairobi, Nairobi • 3w ago

About the role
The Carbon Project Manager - Kenya A6.2 is responsible for managing BURN's Article 6.2 bilateral carbon projects in Kenya through their full certification cycles - from project inception through to field execution, audit management and the issuance of carbon credits. Reporting to the Senior Carbon Project Manager, Carbon Operations, this role owns project planning and execution and ensures that every stage of the certification cycle is planned, coordinated and completed to the required standard.

The successful candidate brings proven project management experience and the practical ability to manage Article 6.2 project requirements on the ground in Kenya, working closely with the Carbon Technical Team and other internal specialists who handle the technical and authorization aspects of the programme. In addition to the Kenya portfolio, the role provides Article 6.2 compliance support to Carbon Operations PMs managing bilateral carbon projects in other markets – ensuring consistent execution standards and programme compliance across BURN's full Article 6.2 portfolio. The role may also be required to directly manage Article 6.2 projects in other markets, working out of Kenya.

Duties and Responsibilities
Programme Cycle Management (MADD, MAIN, LONO, FVR & Related Submissions).

Support the coordination of Field Verification Reports (FVR) for Kenya Article 6.2 projects – organizing field access, household logistics and all project-side inputs required to meet FVR milestones.
Maintain submission trackers and all associated project documentation across the Kenya Article 6.2 portfolio; escalate delays or risks to the Senior Carbon Project Manager with proposed mitigations.
Support Carbon Operations PMs in other markets with the programme cycle requirements for their respective Article 6.2 projects – including submission documentation standards, FVR coordination protocols and tracker maintenance – to ensure consistent execution across BURN's cross-market Article 6.2 portfolio.
Carry out specific one-off Article 6.2 programme assignments as directed by the Senior Carbon Project Manager, Carbon

Field Research, Data Collection Quality Assurance & Compliance

Drive quality assurance across all data collection stages for Kenya Article 6.2 projects, working closely with the MRV Coordinator to:

Support project location selection by integrating quality and risk considerations through PDG activities.
Oversee distribution quality audits conducted through IPV activities, ensuring field teams adhere to approved standards and protocols.
Track and monitor project compliance against internal controls, bilateral programme requirements and applicable verification standards.
Proactively identify, escalate and support the mitigation of quality and compliance risks at each project stage.

Manage quarterly monitoring cycles for Kenya Article 6.2 projects – covering monitoring surveys, Kitchen Performance Tests (KPT), Water Boiling Tests (WBT) – in accordance with the applicable bilateral programme methodology and BURN SOP.
Plan, coordinate, lead and report on Baseline Surveys and Baseline Kitchen Performance Tests per guidelines set by the Carbon Technical Team, including:

Designing field survey logistics across Kenya.
Onboarding and training of data collectors and enumerators using tools such as ODK, KoboToolbox or SurveyCTO.
Close oversight during data collection activities.

Plan, coordinate, lead and report on Annual Monitoring Surveys, Project Kitchen Performance Tests and Water Boiling Tests, including:

Full timeline planning and coordination of experienced research enumerators and consultants.
Real-time risk assessment and problem-solving during fieldwork, ensuring data quality and integrity throughout.

Develop and maintain a solid working knowledge of applicable bilateral carbon standard requirements at each lifecycle stage, enabling effective management of certification milestones and audit readiness.

Stakeholder Management & Community Engagement

Lead and manage Local Stakeholder Consultations (LSCs) in Kenya per guidelines set by the Carbon Technical Team, including:

Country-level budget preparation, timeline planning and identification and onboarding of local facilitation partners.
Preparing and distributing invitations across appropriate channels (newspaper and radio advertisements, emails and direct outreach), hosting meetings and compiling all required supporting documentation for submission to the relevant programme body.

Build and maintain productive working relationships with BURN country representatives in Kenya across the project lifecycle, ensuring a shared understanding of carbon requirements and timely delivery of inputs at each stage.
Ensure all end-user awareness campaigns and community benefit obligations stipulated in contractual deliverables are planned, executed and documented on schedule.

Audit & Verification Management

Manage all logistics and coordination required for Carbon Audits during Validation and Verification cycles for Kenya Article 6.2 projects, including:
- Identifying and booking households for audit site visits, ensuring they meet the standards set by the Carbon Technical Team.
- Accompanying auditors during field interviews and managing all related scheduling and coordination.
- Planning transport and accommodation logistics for all parties involved in audit visits.
Maintain audit readiness across all active Kenya Article 6.2 projects throughout the certification cycle, ensuring documentation and household records are complete and up to standard ahead of verification windows.
These activities will require regular travel both locally and out of the country, as required by the role.

Documentation & Reporting

Prepare, compile and maintain all supporting documents required at each stage of the carbon project certification cycle, providing timely inputs to the Carbon Technical Officer and the Senior Carbon Project Manager, Carbon Operations.
Maintain version-controlled project records aligned with audit and verification requirements across all active Kenya Article 6.2 projects.
Ensure all documentation meets the requirements of applicable bilateral programme standards, internal controls and programme guidelines.
Own and maintain detailed project Gantt charts covering all tasks from Project Inception to Issuance of Carbon Credits, ensuring each certification milestone is clearly planned, owned, tracked and delivered on time and within scope.
Prepare full project budgets and associated expense reports for all assigned projects, submitting for first-pass review by the Lead Carbon PM and final approval by the Senior Carbon Project Manager.
Provide regular project status updates to the Senior Carbon Project Manager, Carbon Operations, flagging risks and dependencies as they arise.

Vendor & Contractor Management

Source, onboard and manage field vendors, consultants and service providers required across the full project lifecycle in Kenya – including field operations, logistics, data collection and audit support.
Ensure all procurement is conducted in line with BURN's policies and that contractors consistently meet required quality and delivery standards.

Skills and Experience

Proven experience managing high frequency multiple projects concurrently (at least 4 years).
Strong skills in project planning, scheduling, risk management and budgeting, including ownership of full project budgets.
Proficiency in project management and reporting tools – Smartsheet, Excel or similar.
Ability to effectively manage field-level stakeholders including enumerators, field vendors, local authorities and community representatives.
Ability to work collaboratively with BURN's Kenya country teams, the Carbon Technical Team and other internal teams to ensure timely delivery of project-side inputs at each stage.
Strong communication skills including reporting, negotiation and conflict resolution.
Experience recruiting, leading cross-functional field data collection teams, enumerators or research consultants.
Ability to manage time effectively and prioritise tasks to meet issuance timelines.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to make decisions quickly in dynamic field environments.
Capable of adapting to changing project scopes, timelines and resources.
Open to new technologies, methodologies and feedback.
Right to live and work in Kenya.
May be required to manage other A6.2 projects in other markets, working out of Kenya.
Open to travel both locally and out of the country, as required by the role.
Industry-Specific Knowledge
Familiarity with the carbon project lifecycle and certification cycle.
Experience managing field MRV activities – including monitoring surveys, KPT/WBT coordination and verifier engagement.
Direct experience with Article 6.2 / bilateral carbon programmes (e.g. KliK/Switzerland, Japanese JCM or equivalent).
Understanding of key regulatory carbon requirements or standards (e.g. Verra/VCS, Gold Standard).
Familiarity with BURN Manufacturing's stove product range or Kenya's clean cooking sector.
Experience with institutional or commercial-scale cookstove carbon projects.
Prior experience working in Kenya or in rural field settings in East Africa.
PMP / PRINCE2 certification or equivalent.
Minimum 4 years' project management experience, preferably in a field-operations or programme delivery context.
University degree in a relevant field (environmental science, development, project management, engineering or similar). .

Qualified Female Candidates encouraged to Apply

BURN does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or any other fees).