Carbon Investment Director, Australia
South Pole
Carbon Investment Director, Australia
South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all continents across the globe, we strive to create a sustainable society and economy that positively impacts our climate, ecosystems and developing communities. With our solutions, we inspire and enable our customers to create value from sustainability-related activities.
Job summary:
South Pole has been a prominent player in the Australian market for over 10 years and as a global leader in carbon markets and climate advisory for 18 years, South Pole is well-positioned to drive substantial growth and impact. This role focuses on executing our long-term growth strategy within the Australian carbon market, leveraging opportunities under the ERF scheme and this Director will be key in developing partnerships, raising third-party capital, and deploying South Pole's investments into the market.
Collaborating closely with the Certificates business line and global teams, this Director will bring a regional and international perspective to climate finance and project development. This externally focused role demands deep expertise in Australian carbon markets, financial investments, and strong leadership.
Main tasks & responsibilities:
- Strategy: Refine and lead the execution of the Australian growth strategy in the Australian carbon market and third-party offerings, enhancing buyer and investor relationships to drive impactful and scalable results.
- Projects: Oversee the sourcing, development and management of a high-quality, diverse pipeline of carbon projects under the ERF scheme.
- Management: Manage interdisciplinary teams, including commercial and technical leads, ensuring seamless project execution and downstream sales.
- Partnerships: Forge and expand partnerships to grow South Pole's market presence in Australia.
- Commercial: Oversee all phases of transactions—from origination and structuring to negotiation and closing for long-term offtake or investment agreements, including project finance/sourcing.
- Cross Functional collaboration: Work closely with global functional and regional leaders in order to leverage South Pole global technical expertise and network to drive the related business development activities
- Leadership: Actively contribute to the regional leadership team, driving strategic decision-making and spearheading new opportunities for the region.
- Representation: Represent South Pole at regional events and supporting all South Pole’s business activities, maintaining satisfaction of client and relevant stakeholders, engagement with local governments, related public sectors as well as NGOs in Australia
Requirements:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Environmental Science, Business, or a related field; MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred.
- Experience: Minimum of 10 years of experience in investment management, with a focus on carbon markets or sustainability investments.
- Carbon market expertise: Proven experience in the Australian carbon market, with a strong understanding of the ERF scheme and carbon finance.
- Capital raising & investment: Demonstrated success in attracting third-party capital and deploying it into carbon projects.
- Project finance skills: Strong financial modelling and forecasting abilities, ideally in project finance or similar fields.
- Strategic leadership: Ability to develop and execute growth strategies, exceed financial targets, and lead teams effectively.
- Relationship management: Strong skills in building and managing partnerships with key stakeholders and investors.
- Deal execution: Experience in structuring and closing complex investment and offtake agreements.
- Communication: Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to represent South Pole at industry events.
What we offer:
At South Pole, we care about our employees as much as we care about the planet. South Pole is not just an employer, we are a Team. South Pole does not just offer people a job, we offer you a career. By joining our team, you will find strong purpose and deep meaning in everything you do. You will have the chance to make a real difference for our clients and for the planet, working alongside a passionate team of like-minded colleagues, while building your knowledge/skills and developing your career in a fun, dynamic, international and fast-growing organisation.
We’re a planet of 7.5 billion unique and different people. We all have a contribution to make; South Pole is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status or disability. Our recruitment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.
- Locations
- Sydney
- Remote status
- Hybrid Remote
Sydney
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Work-life balance
From flexible working hours to flexible workplace (home office), with above-average vacation allowances, we strive to make the work and family life puzzle an easy one for our employees.
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Flexible Vacation Benefits
Options to buy up to 5 extra days of time off.
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Life Insurance
Available to all employees across the world.
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Care for your Wellbeing
Access to mental, physical and financial wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Program (TELUS Health).
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Parental leave
Should any of our employees need to take time off the Iceberg as a result of a new addition to their household, we are happy to be able to offer competitive Paid Parental leave to support them during this time.
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Compassionate Leave
Sometimes life is unpredictable, and when unfortunate events occur, we want to give you peace of mind so you feel fully supported during this time.
What makes us unique
At South Pole, we are first and foremost a purpose-driven Company. People join us because they believe in our mission and want to be part of a community that fights together for our shared values and beliefs. But that is not the only reason why working at South Pole is such a rewarding experience.
- We know that our vision to help create a greener world is both bold and challenging. To achieve it, we settle for nothing less than the absolute best. We form a Community that is stronger than the sum of its parts.
- Entrepreneurial at heart. It’s not just our founders who are entrepreneurs. We actively promote an innovative mindset at all levels of the organisation, where each and every employee is encouraged to challenge the status quo and empowered to make decisions.
- Growing employees in a growing company. With a team of smart, passionate and engaged colleagues, as well as increasing demand from our clients, opportunities to learn, develop our skills and grow our careers are endless.
- All for one, and one for all! Above all other things, what truly drives our dedication and commitment to our purpose is our colleagues. We learn from each other and grow together. Because that is who Penguins are.
About South Pole
Our story began in Zurich, with 5 friends* in 2002. They had a belief and a vision to shape and change the future of the world through climate empowerment, education and projects with their non-profit organisation; MyClimate. These ‘social entrepreneurs’ went on to pioneer climate change with the introduction of South Pole in 2006*. More than 20 years on, with the support of some of the most passionate and talented entrepreneurs around them, who are empowered to all play their part and with their founding belief in aligning purpose with passion, people and profit, they have created South Pole, an organisation that has gone onto positively impact the lives of over 20 million people across the world through its projects, saving over 20,000 km2 of forests from deforestation.
*Patrick Bürgi, Thomas Camerata, Renat Heuberger, Ingo Puhl, and Christoph Sutter
*2006 Joined by Marco Hirsbrunner and Christoph Grobel
Carbon Investment Director, Australia
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