Director of Markets

The Company

The Carbon Market Institute (CMI) is an independent, membership-based industry association representing the breadth and depth of the carbon market ecosystem. Our mission is to accelerate the use of market-based solutions to support best-practice decarbonisation aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

CMI’s new strategy focuses on ensuring carbon and other environmental markets play an effective and trusted role in directing finance towards decarbonisation and delivering broader nature-positive, cultural, economic and resilience outcomes.

Leveraging the expertise of our team, Board and members, CMI contributes to market development, market integrity, research and analysis.

The Role

CMI is seeking an established Australian carbon market leader to join our Executive Team as Director of Markets.

Reporting to the CEO, you will provide strategic leadership across the supply and demand sides of Australia’s carbon and environmental markets. You will shape policy, lead market development initiatives and build collaboration across government, industry, finance and the broader climate sector.

You will also be part of CMI’s refreshed Executive Team, a small, focused leadership group responsible for implementing CMI’s strategy, engaging with the Board and delivering value for CMI’s members.

CMI’s primary office is based in Melbourne, and Melbourne-based candidates are preferred. However, outstanding candidates located elsewhere in Australia will also be considered.

Core responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to drive continual improvements in ensuring the ongoing integrity, effectiveness, growth and durability of the carbon market

• Lead CMI’s carbon credit supply work program and initiatives

• Lead Paris Agreement aligned demand side program and initiatives

• Lead CMI’s International markets work as a cross-cutting function across programs

• Oversee CMI’s Nature program of work

• Ensure effective member engagement in strategic work programs.

• Contribute to the development and execution of CMI’s education strategy and CMI’s efforts to increase transparency of carbon markets, demonstrating the value that carbon and nature markets create and building awareness among key stakeholders

• Represent CMI at media and public events where appropriate and assist in preparation of communication materials – briefing notes, releases.

• Provide strategic and operational leadership as part of the CMI Executive Team, supporting the CEO, aligning strategy with the constitution, managing risk and governance, fostering a learning team culture, and overseeing contracts, projects and staff as required.

About You

You are an influential and collaborative leader with deep experience across the Australian carbon market. You combine strong policy expertise with economics and markets experience and can translate complex issues into practical, high-impact outcomes.

Essential experience:

• 10-15+ years of experience in industry, finance, research, project management or consulting with exposure to carbon, climate, energy and sustainability related reporting and projects.

• Experience working in different parts of the carbon market ecosystem, ideally with both supply side and demand-side experience.

• Excellent understanding of relevant climate and energy legislation and policy including the function of the Australian carbon market (ACCU scheme and Safeguard Mechanism).

• Outstanding stakeholder engagement skills with a demonstrated ability to bring stakeholders together, including proven experience in influencing policy outcomes.

• Relevant tertiary-level qualifications (i.e. economics, business, environmental science)

• Strong commercial acumen with a sound understanding of funding models for membership-based organisations

• Demonstrated experience in managing data

• Excellent communication (verbal and written – across a variety of collateral, including report writing) and interpersonal skills.

• Self-motivated, ability to work well remotely, under pressure and with competing tasks.

• Results driven with demonstrated ability to meet and/or exceed set targets/KPIs.

• Exceptional teamwork and collaboration skills, with a demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships both internally and with a wide range of stakeholders.

• Strong track record in building and leading high performing teams

Experience in international compliance or voluntary carbon markets, environmental markets within the financial sector, or working across government, corporate and not-for-profit environments will be highly regarded.

Diversity and Inclusion

At CMI, we acknowledge that the diversity of our people is our greatest strength. Our values include integrity; passion and purpose; collaboration and respect and independence. We believe that when our people feel respected and included, they can be more innovative and successful in their role. Our commitment to equity and inclusion across race, gender, age, identify, religion and experience drives us forward every day.

To apply please include your CV and a cover letter addressing the required skills/experience.