Research and Funding Partnerships Manager

Location: Remote Europe / E.Africa preferred (North America selectively)

Organization: Mati Carbon (http://mati.earth)

Role Overview

The Research and Funding Partnerships Manager will support global fund-raising strategy, lead high-quality proposal application development, and contribute to high-impact research and advocacy publications that position Mati Carbon as a thought leader in smallholder resilience, food security, and carbon removal. The ideal candidate will have a strong academic background in agriculture, experience in development finance, and a track record of published research or articles. The role requires technical grant writing expertise for climate, agriculture or carbon markets from identifying aligned funders and grant program windows, crafting compelling applications, and ensuring strong reporting and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Grant Writing and Development Financier Engagement

• Identify and pursue funding opportunities from development finance institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government/multi-lateral donors.
• Lead the development of technical grant proposals, concept notes, and funding applications to support Mati Carbon initiatives.
• Collaborate with finance and operations teams to ensure compliance with funding requirements and reporting obligations.

2. Research and Thought Leadership

• Lead and contribute to research initiatives on smallholder adaptation, soil carbon sequestration, and climate-resilient agriculture.
• Publish high-impact articles, white papers, and reports in collaboration with academic institutions, think tanks, and industry partners. Support dissemination over social media. 
• Represent Mati Carbon at academic conferences, webinars, and policy forums to advocate for smallholder-inclusive climate solutions.

3. Policy Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and implement advocacy strategies to influence climate finance and carbon market policies in favour of smallholder farmers.
• Engage with policymakers, development agencies, market intermediaries, research institutions and industry stakeholders to promote smallholder-inclusive carbon removal and insetting solutions.

4. Knowledge Sharing and Internal Capacity Building

• Train and support internal teams on the latest research findings, policy trends, and funding opportunities.
• Develop knowledge-sharing materials and contribute to Mati Carbons internal research repository.

Qualifications and Experience

• 3+ years of experience in Agriculture and/or smallholder research, policy advocacy, or development finance, with a focus on Africa, Southeast Asia, or Latin America.
• Strong experience in technical grant writing and securing funding from development finance institutions or philanthropic organizations.
• Proven track record with evidence of published research, articles, policy briefs in the above relevant fields. Leadership or public exposure a plus but not required.
• Familiarity with carbon markets, carbon credit methodologies, and nature-based solutions (preferred but not required).
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex research into actionable insights.
• Experience engaging with policymakers, research organisations, funders, and multilateral organizations. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote, cross-cultural team environment.
• Good to have : PhD or PostDoc in Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Adaptation or related field

Why Join Mati Carbon?

• Opportunity to drive meaningful impact at the intersection of market-based solutions to climate resilience, smallholder agriculture, and carbon markets.
• Work with a diverse and passionate team with long private/development sector and investment experience, committed to smallholder livelihood impact and climate action.
• Flexible remote work environment with opportunities for travel and engagement with global stakeholders.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package aligned with experience and industry standards.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit their CV, a cover letter detailing their research and advocacy experience, and writing sample/links (published article, policy brief, or grant proposal) on the link below.