M+E GIS Coordinator

Entasekera (Olokeri Landscape Project Office), Narok, Kenya

Reports to: MEAL Manager 
Department: MEAL
Position classification: Full-time
Location: Olokeri Landscape Project office, with regular travel to implementation sites
Employment type: LOCAL NATIONALS ONLY; employment is through Compassionate Carbon Africa (Kenyan-registered affiliate 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. 

Compassionate Carbon Africa (CC) works in developing regions of the world to facilitate landscape restoration and community development through nature-based solutions. CC'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
The Monitoring + Evaluation (M+E) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Coordinator is the primary focal point for all geospatial and technical data aspects of the project’s MEAL and MRV systems, ensuring a strong link between field data and remote sensing analysis. This role delivers accurate audit-ready datasets on forest cover, carbon, ecosystem health, and land tenure, ownership, adjudication, and parcel information at a GIS level while strengthening data systems for reliable monitoring and reporting. In close collaboration with the M+E Social Coordinator the role integrates technical and social data to provide a complete picture of project impact. Ultimately, the Coordinator enables clear, data-driven decisions and ensures compliance with international carbon standards. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Geospatial + Technical Data: Coordinate and maintain the project’s GIS and remote sensing systems within the MEAL/MRV framework. Develop and oversee spatial data infrastructure (e.g., GIS databases, remote sensing platforms, GPS tools) to capture land cover and carbon data. Ensure integration with social monitoring data alongside the M+E Social Coordinator to support holistic analysis and audit readiness.
  • Carbon + Environmental Monitoring: Serve as the primary implementer carbon and ecological MRV activities, including forest inventories, ecological surveys, and remote-sensing analysis. Ensure all data collection follows approved methodologies and SOPs. Analyze trends in deforestation, regrowth, carbon stocks, and biodiversity, producing technical outputs to inform project performance.  
  • Data Quality Assurance + Management: Maintain high-quality technical datasets through rigorous QA/QC processes. Validate and reconcile spatial, field, and remote-sensing data, ensuring traceability and version control. Implement strong data governance practices (e.g., metadata, naming conventions, backups) and align standards across technical and social datasets.  
  • Analytics + Reporting: Analyze environmental data to generate actionable insights. Produce clear maps, visuals, and technical reports for internal teams, partners, and verifiers. Lead on technical sections of monitoring and verification reports, ensuring accuracy and compliance with required standards, and link findings to social context in collaboration with the Social Coordinator.  
  • Technology + Innovation in Monitoring: Continuously improve monitoring systems by adopting new GIS, remote sensing, and data tools (e.g., satellite sources, drones, mobile apps). Train field teams on data collection tools and protocols to ensure consistent, high-quality data capture.  
  • Collaboration + Integrated MEAL Support: Partner closely with the M+E Social Coordinator and MEAL team to align technical and social monitoring. Share data and insights to support a comprehensive understanding of project impact. Contribute to survey design and spatial analysis of social data where needed, ensuring coordinated, efficient fieldwork and reporting.  

EDUCATION + WORK EXPERIENCE

  • Bachelor’s degree in Geography, Geospatial/Environmental Science, Forestry, Natural Resources Management, Ecology, or a closely related field. A Master’s Degree would be a plus.  
  • At least 3 years of relevant experience in monitoring + evaluation, geospatial analysis, or environmental data management, preferably within conservation, forestry, or carbon projects.  
  • Experience in forest carbon MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) or land-use change monitoring strongly preferred. 
  • Demonstrated experience with GIS/remote sensing tools (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS, Earth Engine) and field data collection methodologies such as ecological surveys, forest inventory, or digital data collection using mobile devices.  
  • Prior involvement in carbon project validation/verification processes (e.g., Equitable Earth, VCS + CCB Standards) and knowledge of carbon accounting methodologies is a distinct advantage. 
  • Formal training or certifications in GIS/geospatial analysis, remote sensing, M+E, carbon accounting, or project management), are preferred. 

SKILLS + ABILITIES

  • Models the Ethos in all professional interactions, demonstrating a commitment to the organization's values, vision, and conduct standards.   
  • Proficient in geospatial and environmental data analysis, including management of large spatial datasets, remote sensing, and interpretation of ecological trends. Strong knowledge of forest carbon MRV methodologies and related GIS tools. 
  • Strong analytical and data management skills, including QA/QC processes, data structuring, version control, and ensuring accuracy, traceability, and audit readiness. 
  • Effective technical writing and data visualization skills, with the ability to produce clear maps, reports, and communicate complex findings to both technical and non-technical audiences. 
  • Collaborative and adaptable, able to work effectively with field teams, community members, and cross-functional colleagues to integrate technical monitoring with social and programmatic processes, and to ensure data collection is coordinated and respectful of local context.  
  • Adaptable and solution-oriented in cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary settings, addressing challenges through teamwork and clear communication. 
  • Highly organized and proactive, able to manage multiple priorities (fieldwork, analysis, reporting) in dynamic environments, including remote and rural settings. 
  • Clear and confident communicator, able to engage with auditors, stakeholders, and leadership. 
  • High integrity and sound judgment, balancing operational demands with compliance and carbon standards. 
  • Comfortable with relevant technology (MS Office, GIS tools) and quick to learn new systems.  
  • Familiarity with GIS, remote sensing, or mapping tools for land-use planning, carbon baselining, and monitoring (specific experience with EarthRanger and Ecoscope is an advantage). 
  • Fluency in English (written and spoken), is required; proficiency in Kiswahili and/or Maa is a strong asset. 

WORK CONDITIONS

  • Work Environment: Combination of office, home office, and field settings, including regular visits to forested and rural project sites under varied weather and terrain conditions. Frequent interaction with local communities and multi-stakeholder teams may involve basic field accommodations and extended time in remote areas.  
  • Work Schedule: Full-time, with standard office hours, requiring occasional flexibility (e.g. early mornings, evenings, or weekends) to coordinate across time zones with global technical team. 
  • Physical Requirements: Moderate physical fitness is required for fieldwork in rustic environments, including walking long distances on uneven terrain, standing for extended periods, Must be able to safely handle equipment like GPS units, drones, and environmental sensors, and be comfortable in challenging field conditions. Work also involves typical office tasks (computer use, meetings) when not in the field. 
  • Travel: Regular domestic travel within Kenya to remote project sites for monitoring and community consultation, sometimes involving difficult travel conditions and overnight stays. 
  • Safety + Special Conditions: Adherence to all applicable safety protocols and alignment of activities with established environmental and social safeguards. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.  

Disclaimer: This document outlines primary duties but may not cover all responsibilities or conditions. Compassionate Carbon may assign extra tasks or modify roles for business needs or employee accommodation, per applicable law.   

Compassionate Carbon is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a team representing a variety of backgrounds, viewpoints, and skills. Candidate selection is based on technical qualifications and position requirements; employment will not commence until applicable background and reference checks are completed.  

Safeguarding: Compassionate Carbon 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 company policies.