Accelerator Coordinator

The Role

The Plan Vivo Foundation is seeking a highly motivated individual with a keen interest in the nexus of climate change, biodiversity conservation/restoration and international development. This role will report directly to the Development Manager. The main focus will be to coordinate the successful delivery of the second Cohort of the Plan Vivo Accelerator Programme to time, cost and quality targets. Key responsibilities include supplier management, project management, delivery of capacity building programmes, coordinating the delivery of training. Key competencies include experience in carbon project development and an understanding of financing community-led, biodiverse NbS projects. There are also significant development opportunities in terms of partnerships and external representation.

Context and Background 

The Plan Vivo Carbon Standard (PV Climate) is a certification framework for forestry and land use carbon projects, which focuses primarily on rural smallholders and community groups on the frontlines of climate change. PV Climate is administered by the Plan Vivo Foundation (PVF) and is designed to ensure that certified projects deliver climate and livelihood benefits, enhance ecosystems and protect biodiversity. At the heart of the Plan Vivo approach is the equitable transaction of ecosystem services which allow rural communities to access a range of funding sources and environmental markets, primarily the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM).

Through over 25 years of administering a Standard in the Voluntary Carbon Market, we have identified the main barriers to community projects becoming fully established and accessing the market as:

• access to upfront finance for project development and piloting,
• access to technical expertise,
• lack of project / financial management, leadership and governance capacity, and
• high ongoing costs of monitoring, validation and verification.

To address this bottleneck in project development and reduce time and costs invested in the process, PVF has developed an Accelerator programme.

The Accelerator is a targeted programme modelled on approaches used in the tech industry (e.g. Y Combinator). The Accelerator aims to facilitate and accelerate the project development process and access to finance through bespoke training, technical assistance and mentorship. The Accelerator supports project developers that have submitted an approved project concept (project idea note or PIN) under PV Climate to develop their project design documents (PDDs) required to become Plan Vivo certified, and access finance through providing training, mentorship and direct project development support.

Specific Responsibilities of the role

The following tasks form the core responsibilities of the role.

Accelerator Programme Design (Cohort 2)

• Review of accelerator design
  • Review accelerator design proposed by PV.
  • Work with the PV team and the selected supplier to refine accelerator design and structure as needed.
• Project selection
  • Work with the Accelerator supplier to refine the project selection criteria and application process.
  • Work with the Accelerator supplier to advertise, assess project applications and identify, interview and select successful candidates to join cohort 2 of the accelerator.

 Accelerator Programme Delivery – Cohort 2 

• Manage the supplier(s) for cohort 2 to ensure they deliver the Accelerator programme, including:
  • Technical Assistance – based on a needs assessment for the projects selected for cohort 2.
  • Investment readiness assistance – support project developers to develop a business plan, cash flow forecasts, pitch decks and other relevant financial documentation.
  • Peer to peer learning facilitation – as required.
• Coordination and Communication
  • Coordinate monthly project management calls with supplier(s), and other partners as required.
  • Ensure that suppliers and projects are collaborating openly and proactively with partner organisations involved in delivering PVF’s accelerator.
  • Coordinate the running of quarterly meetings with the Steering Committee.
  • Work with the Accelerator Officer to develop and implement a communications plan for the Accelerator.
• Manage the projects’ experience of the Accelerator
  • Be a key point of contact for the projects on the Accelerator, follow up with them regularly and ensure they are progressing through the programme.
• Budget responsibility
  • Ensure Accelerator activities are delivered on budget, and report regularly to PV management and finance teams.
• Management of Accelerator Officer
  • Work closely with Accelerator Officer, whose main responsibilities include general support of the Accelerator and implementation of the Accelerator communications plan. Feed into line management of Accelerator Officer.
• Collaboration with PV Climate Projects team.
  • Provide feedback to PV Climate projects team from projects on the accelerator. Collaborate with PV Climate projects team to provide clarity on PV requirements and project development process to Accelerator suppliers and projects.

Business Model / Next Steps

• Coordinate an evaluation of cohort 2 of the accelerator.
• Work with the supplier(s) to produce a short report or workshop with PVF team detailing the work done over the course of the accelerator and any recommendations for improvement in the future
• Support and feed into PV’s workstream on developing a business plan for the accelerator (this is envisaged to be a separate, parallel piece of work).

Please see the full job description on our website for further information on the role and required qualifications, experience and skills.

Plan Vivo is an equal opportunity employer, and ensures positions are accessible to all, regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, age, disability, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation or identity, religion, marital or parental status.