Reforestation + Restoration Lead

Department: Compassionate Carbon Tanzania
Position classification: Full-time *LOCAL NATIONALS ONLY *
Location: Tanzania, preferred locations of Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Morogoro
Employment type: through Compassionate Carbon Tanzania Ltd (Tanzanian-registered subsidiary of Eden: People+Planet)

Company Information
We believe the social foundation of basic human needs can be met for all people within the Earth’s ecological limits. By collaborating with communities to restore degraded environments and protect essential ecosystems, we foster a resilient foundation that supports both people and planet, recognizing the health of both are inseparable and interdependent. Our work de-risks the future by designing and implementing holistic systems that address the foundational needs of people, restores essential biodiversity, and directly impacts the effects of climate change through collaboration with local stakeholders, regional authorities, and global partners.

Eden: People+Planet works in developing regions of the world to facilitate landscape restoration and community development through nature-based solutions. Eden’s mission is to foster healthy relationships between communities and the land on which we all depend through landscape restoration and conservation. We envision a world where communities thrive in healthy and restored environments.

Position Summary
Compassionate Carbon Tanzania Ltd is a mission-driven organization launched by Compassionate Carbon LLC and Eden: People+Planet (Eden). Specializing in developing and implementing landscape-scale forest carbon projects through Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), we collaborate with local communities to restore landscapes, create jobs, protect ecosystems, and mitigate climate change.

Our projects integrate nature-based solutions to help meet global emissions targets while ensuring community ownership and long-term sustainability. The Rubeho Mountains Carbon Project, a significant initiative in Tanzania, focuses on native forest restoration and community-based conservation efforts.

The Reforestation + Restoration Lead designs, implements, and manages Compassionate Carbon Tanzania’s restoration strategy, plans, programming, as well as ongoing planting operations in collaboration with the relevant Project Manager. Other aspects of project responsibility include speaking into strategy development, donor engagement, program design and delivery, community engagement, and risk management

Essential Responsibilities

• Work with Compassionate Carbon Tanzania’s leadership to identify, explore, and secure restoration access to new sites throughout the country based on established targets and priorities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop reforestation strategies that optimize carbon sequestration while also considering species selection, planting techniques, ecosystem diversity, and long-term maintenance.
• Conduct landscape assessments and stakeholder consultations to inform strategy development.
• Contextualize Eden’s restoration strategies and nursery planning processes to match the relevant ecosystems included in the operating areas.
• Ensure planting meets organizational SOPs for species selection criteria, including the management of and ensuring compliance with the approved species list.
• Establish program workplans, implementation plans, and relevant budgets.
• Oversee establishment and management of large-scale tree nurseries to support restoration work, ensuring appropriate timelines for seed collection, propagation, and planting.
• Work with nursery and planting teams to troubleshoot propagation, germination, or survival issues in restoration project areas.
• Ensure effective coordination of planting schedules and seed/seedling supply chain for effective and timely planting efforts.
• Represent the restoration team to internal stakeholders across the organization, including MEAL / MRV, marketing, technical, and other regional and global stakeholders, to ensure effective communication and coordination.
• Collaborate with other NGOs, CBOs, and other agencies within the landscape to implement restoration-related programs.
• Keep abreast of local and regional restoration and community initiatives to inform Country Director and Senior Leadership Team as needed.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with existing and potential partners—both in-country and internationally.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and support to team members, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and fostering a collaborative and productive work environment. This includes overseeing performance management, problem-solving, addressing challenges proactively, and promoting open communication within the team, and may include hiring and employment-related decision-making.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education + Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Horticulture, Botany, Environmental Sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation, Project Management, or relevant international development field required; Masters Degree preferred.
• At least 5 years relevant experience in hands-on forest restoration or commercial timber or tree-crop production, specifically in project management.
• Practical understanding and experience implementing environmental restoration approaches and ecological processes, especially forestry and land resource management, forest succession, environmental goods and services, and biodiversity conservation.
• Practical understanding of forest ecosystems within Tanzania and utilizing or mitigating landscape-scale factors that affect ecosystems.
• Experience delivering projects on time and within budget, especially in complex and cross-cultural contexts.
• Experience managing project operations, including planning, reporting, and compliance.

Skills + Abilities

• Models the Eden Ethos in all professional interactions, demonstrating a commitment to the organization’s values, vision, and conduct standards.
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills, including the ability to positively and productively lead others in achieving goals and target objectives.
• Ability to learn and adapt as context and priorities need.
• Strong project management skills, including proficiency with project management tools and software.
• Exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills; including ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Kiswahili, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, engaging others from various cultural contexts, and encouraging trust.
• Knowledge of best practices and current trends in large-scale landscape restoration and approaches.
• Experience developing and implementing collaborative work and project plans to meet planned objectives plans and targets.
• Ability to implement, develop, and troubleshoot a wide range of plant propagation and horticultural techniques for woody tropical plants.
• Knowledge of native tree species and an understanding of forest ecology and the landscape-scale factors that impact the ecology.
• A firm understanding of local customary practices and community engagement processes in natural resource management and restoration.

Work Environment + Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and using a computer are required, as role involves digital communication and document management.
• Regular field visits to project sites, including remote and outdoor settings, with exposure to varying weather conditions. Required to move about in project sites, must have sufficient balance to navigate rugged terrain, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and grabbing with the hands. Overall mobility is essential.
• Extended or irregular work hours may be required during critical project phases or deadlines.
• May involve travel within Tanzania and internationally to represent Compassionate Carbon at relevant forums.
• Legal authorization to live and work in Tanzania, and ability to travel internationally, when required.

Eden: People + Planet is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

Disclaimer: This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with it. Responsibilities may evolve and change over time based on organizational needs, programmatic priorities, and/or reasonable accommodation.

Safeguarding: Eden: People+Planet holds strict safeguarding principles and does not tolerate behaviors that harm others, including sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and other injustices. Employees are expected to abide by Eden’s Safeguarding and compliance policies. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection, and hiring criteria, subject to a thorough background, police clearance, and reference check process.

Compensation: Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Compassionate Carbon provides a competitive benefits package including annual leave, health insurance, and contributions to statutory funds.