Natural Climate Solutions Partnerships Senior Manager - Japan

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Tokyo, Japan

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 (NCS) 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.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Pipeline & Partnerships

• Identify and support the development of high-integrity JCM/NCS projects for Japanese partners globally.
• Develop a strategy for how CI should engage with Japanese corporates in order to increase the flow of finance to high-quality NBS carbon projects
• Lead Japanese corporate engagement to channel investment into CI’s global pipeline of high-integrity JCM/NCS projects.
• Cultivate strong relationships with Japanese buyers/offtakers of carbon credits, working in close collaboration with CI’s headquarters-based marketing and transaction team, in part to systematically track these prospects, and with a range of Japanese investors of NCS projects.
• Coordinate and align on credit supply strategies with CI teams, especially origination, deal, marketing, and transaction teams, to support project origination and credit sales in voluntary and compliance (Article 6 and CORSIA) markets.
• Influence GX-League and GX-ETS developments to create opportunities for NCS credits in Japan’s voluntary and regulated carbon markets.
• Work closely with the Nature Finance Group’s headquarters-based marketing and transaction Team to develop a joint strategy for attracting Japanese corporate buyer and investor interest in CI’s pipeline of NCS projects.

Stakeholders Engagement

• Maintain strong relationships with Japanese stakeholders (trading houses, leading global Japanese companies, financial institutions)
• Build understanding of developments of JCM expansion to identify the strategic opportunities and constraints for NCS development, and communicate opportunities for influencing future JCM direction across CI teams.
• Represent CI at key NCS and JCM events in Japan and Article 6 forums.

Internal Coordination & Planning

• Support alignment of strategies and priorities across CI teams (Nature Finance Group, Asia Carbon Team, Moore Center for Science, Center for Policy and Incentives, Center for Oceans, and Field Management Units).
• Support integrated planning across policy, technical, and partnership goals.
• Support development of project origination and fundraising strategies

Technical Oversight & Capacity Building

• Support the Technical Director for Carbon (Japan-based), in addition to the Asia Carbon Team, in communicating guidance on jurisdictional and nested REDD+ systems and other technical aspects of JCM implementation.
• Share best practices and build capacity among CI staff, partners, and government stakeholders.
• Contribute to project scoping and proposal development through coordination with policy and technical leads.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• The position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some days remotely. This is a fast-paced work environment that will require regular early morning or evening work for phone calls with CI programs in other time zones. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.
• The position requires up to 25% of domestic and international travel.
• This role is expected to be able to independently arrange and manage meetings, presentations, and partnership discussions with Japanese corporates.
• The position is offered on an annual renewable contract basis, with eligibility for conversion to regular employment in accordance with company policy.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with 5 to 7 years of specialized experience in climate change, nature-based solutions, REDD+, carbon finance, or carbon project development.
• Fluency in Japanese and English.
• 5 to 7 years of relevant experience, including work with the Japanese government and cross-sector exposure to policy and sustainability.
• Proven ability to develop strategies, manage projects, and collaborate across cultures and teams.
• Excellent communication, time management, and attention to detail.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Established network in Japan’s climate and conservation community.
• Proven ability to work effectively in multicultural, matrixed organizations, including remote teams across time zones.
• Self-directed and proactive, with sound judgment under general supervision.
• Adaptable and organized, able to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced environments.

To apply for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter.

Application Deadline: January 16, 2026  (11:49 PM EST)

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