About Carbon Positive Australia:

Carbon Positive Australia is a leading environmental charity committed to taking tangible climate action through large-scale land restoration and tree-planting projects. Since our inception, we have empowered individuals, communities, and organisations to make positive environmental changes by sequestering carbon, restoring biodiversity, and regenerating ecosystems across Australia.

Our projects go beyond carbon offsetting. We focus on holistic land restoration by partnering with landholders, Indigenous rangers, community groups, industry experts, and volunteers to rejuvenate landscapes, create habitats, and foster resilient ecosystems. We aim to leave a legacy of restored landscapes that benefit people and the planet.

ROLE OVERVIEW:

As the CEO of Carbon Positive Australia, you will steer the organisation from its strong foundation in conducting smaller-scale rural landscape restoration and funding community groups towards becoming a leader in ecosystem nature repair (with a significant focus in Western Australia) and urban pocket forest advocacy and funding across Australia.

The role entails building and establishing long-term funding relationships that align with evolving market mechanisms locally and internationally while continuing to secure traditional funding sources, such as individual and business donations. You will leverage a robust network of project delivery partners and secure our reputation for quality, community-focused projects that pioneer innovative approaches to ecosystem restoration.

Our overarching goal is to have a positive and demonstrable impact on climate change and the biodiversity crisis through our restoration efforts. Operating as a charity with a commercial lens, we understand that economic viability is essential for attracting funding to continue our impactful work. We prioritise quality over quantity, providing exceptional value to project owners and funders.

transition and vision:

• From: 

  • Multiple successful smaller-scale rural restoration projects
  • An advocate and funder of Community Pocket Forest projects in urban settings across Australia.
  • Funded through a combination of individual and business donations and sales of unverified carbon credits.
  • Strong reputation for the quality of projects (multi-species, community engagement, biodiversity outcomes, and habitat creation) 
  • Robust stakeholder network for project delivery - nursery, tree and biodiversity experts and funding partners.
  • Innovative approach to investment in climate tools such as Individual and Business Carbon Calculators.

• To: 

  • Becoming a leading ecosystem nature repair organisation and urban pocket forest creator with a major focus in WA. 
  • Transitioning to longer-term funding relationships and structures aligning to market mechanisms and organisations locally, nationally and internationally that share the vision for ecosystem restoration.

CURRENT LANDSCAPE:

• Significant changes and evolution within the carbon and nature repair markets, regulated and unregulated, create uncertainties but also opportunities to accelerate the type and scale of projects.
• This impacts the projects organisations want to fund, and the skills needed to deliver and maintain them.
• Carbon Positive Australia is ready to transition to the next wave of innovative land restoration and funding practices. 
• The organisation is transitioning into a nascent Nature Repair market with ambiguous funding streams.
• The focus is now on repairing ecosystems holistically and creating sustainable urban forests, providing urban stakeholders with tangible outcomes and exposing them to broader opportunities to effect change.
• We want to leverage innovative funding approaches previously developed for landscape projects.

role purpose: 

• Develop this strategic framework into actionable outcomes
• Lead the organisation’s strategic transition and operational execution towards ecosystem restoration and urban forestry.
• Navigate through the complexities of a developing market with uncertain financial pathways.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership and Innovation:

  • To steer the organisation through this transformation phase, from conceptualising to implementing new business models centred around nature repair and urban forestry.

  • Innovate and explore new sustainable funding models in a market where pathways are still being defined.

• Funding and Financial Strategy:

  • Identify, develop, and nurture funding streams and financial partnerships, including long term major philanthropic gifts.

  • Manage financial uncertainties effectively, ensuring the organisation's sustainability and growth.

• Change Management:

  • Guide the organisation through significant changes, ensuring that strategic objectives are met with robust change management processes.

  • Cultivate an adaptive organisational culture that embraces continuous learning and flexibility.

• Team Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement:

  • Mould and build a cohesive internal team equipped to meet new challenges.

  • To support ecosystem projects and foster strong relationships with various external stakeholders, including environmental groups, government agencies, and community leaders.

• Market Leadership:

  • Position the organisation as a leader in ecosystem repair and urban forestry.
  • Represent the organisation in public forums, enhancing its visibility and thought leadership in ecological innovation.

Required Qualities and Skills:

• Leadership Skills: Exceptional ability to lead, inspire, and manage teams through transformative periods.

• Funding Connections: Strong network in financial and philanthropic communities that can be leveraged to secure funding.

• Change Management: Proven experience guiding organisations through significant transitions; comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty.

• Collaborative Spirit: Ability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders, building consensus and driving collective action.
  

Why This Role?:

• This position offers an unparalleled opportunity to influence and lead innovative projects in the evolving field of ecosystem repair and urban forestry.

• It’s designed for visionary leaders who thrive in pioneering spaces and are passionate about driving significant environmental impact.
  

Ideal Candidate:

• Someone eager to navigate a changing landscape, enthusiastic about establishing new norms and practices in environmental restoration.

• A proactive innovator and strategic thinker who is excited by the challenge of shaping the future of ecosystem management and urban forestry.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a dedicated and mission-driven organisation at the forefront of climate action in Australia. As CEO, you will shape leading-edge land restoration projects, working with a committed team and diverse stakeholders to achieve lasting environmental impact.

This is an exciting time for Carbon Positive Australia as the organisation begins to leverage its recognised experience in large-scale land restoration and tree-planting to take advantage of new and emerging market instruments and government policies designed to address nature and climate decline globally and nationally.

We encourage you to apply if you are passionate about the environment, have strong leadership capabilities, and are ready to take Carbon Positive Australia into its next growth stage.

Please reach out for a confidential chat with Richard Pearce, our Chair on 1300 857 970, or by email to [email protected] using the subject line: Chief Executive Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Carbon Positive Australia is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.