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Regenerative Agriculture Lead

PUR • Toronto • 2w ago

Lead, Regenerative Agriculture

Based in Toronto, Canada

Full time and long term position, local contract

Travels : up to 30%

Starting date: ASAP 2025

PUR Description

PUR is a global, impact-focused B-Corp specializing in the development of environmental restoration projects, known as 'nature-based solutions' (NbS). Since 2008, we have been helping the world’s largest organizations meet their ESG targets, reduce their environmental footprint, and regenerate the ecosystems they depend on across complex supply chains. Having developed over 45 projects in more than 30 countries, PUR is recognized as both a pioneer and leader in a sector that is now at the forefront of global efforts to address the ongoing climate and biodiversity crisis.

At the heart of our mission is a commitment to fostering and operationalizing insetting strategies—interventions by companies within their own value chains designed to reduce GHG emissions while creating positive impacts for communities, landscapes, and ecosystems. By championing this insetting approach, we aim to create a holistic range of benefits that extend beyond ecological restoration, encompassing social and economic dimensions through enhanced agricultural yields and resilience to climate change-induced stresses, among others.

One of the distinctive features of our work is our ability to tailor projects to the specific needs of different regions and communities. By recognizing the unique characteristics of each ecosystem and the cultural context of the communities involved, we ensure our initiatives are contextually relevant and have a meaningful and sustainable impact. All our projects are developed in close collaboration with local actors, including cooperatives, NGOs, governments, and corporations.Today, we employ 200 staff across 16 countries with key offices in Paris (HQ) and Toronto.

Industry

PUR operates within the dynamic and rapidly evolving sector of environmental consultancy services and nature-based solutions markets. These markets are closely linked with the voluntary carbon markets (VCM) when NbS projects produce carbon credits that can be traded on the VCM. The NbS market has recently gained traction as society recognizes the invaluable services provided by nature and the need to preserve, restore, and harness these services to mitigate and adapt to environmental challenges. To be considered a nature-based solution, projects must effectively address real societal challenges and offer strong environmental, economic, and social benefits for local communities.

Market KPIs:

If combined with deep decarbonization efforts, NbS projects could provide up to 30% of the mitigation needed to limit global warming to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels by 2030 (World Economic Forum, 2023).
NbS project credits make up the largest volumes of carbon credits available in the VCM and continue to attract the most investment, with $9 billion invested between 2020 and 2022 (Sylvera, 2023).
5,307 companies have set science-based targets—a 4.2x increase since 2022—and are a significant driver of demand within the NbS and VCM markets (SBTi, 2024).
To meet their SBTi targets and mitigate their climate-risk exposure, organizations around the world will need to invest in the type of projects PUR develops. Today, very few market players have a proven track record in NbS project implementation, and PUR is therefore well-positioned to benefit from the market’s expansion.

The Regenerative Agriculture Lead will define PUR’s regenerative agriculture product and implementation framework, seeking to promote and support sustainable farming practices that restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, sequester carbon and improve water management. As a key member of the Product team, specifically the Intervention team, you will report within the Product Team structure, ultimately to the Chief Product and Development Officer - based in Toronto. Your role involves collaborating with farmers, research organizations and PUR’s diverse multidisciplinary teams to design and implement regenerative agriculture systems tailored to diverse landscapes and communities.

Your responsibilities will include in a non-exhaustive manner :

Regenerative Agriculture Technical Product Ownership

• Develop and lead the product and technical vision for regenerative agriculture initiatives in tropical and temperate ecosystems;

• Ensure all project and technical specifications of regenerative initiatives align with PUR’s strategy, mission, values and targeted outcomes goals; while in partnership with commercial team achieving market attractiveness;

• Incorporating best in class technical expertise & ensure compliance with industry and company specific standards (e.g. SAI, RA, VCI); &

• Ensure project design deliverables align with the due diligence requirements necessary to unlock project financing.

Technical Intervention Leadership and Research

• Develop regenerative framing practices and assessment methodologies, in collaboration with global teams, that are tailored to diverse landscapes and communities that prioritize soil health, biodiversity, water and carbon;

• Lead the development of technical specifications for project design and implementation of regenerative agriculture activities that meet/exceed industry best practice, drive market competitiveness and farmer interest;

• Advise global teams, clients and partners, on regenerative practices including, but not limited to, low/no-till farming, cover & inter-cropping, crop rotation, soil amendments – with a focus on soil carbon sequestration and carbon emissions reductions.

Financial & Risk Management

• Support the preparation of pricing, business cases, budgets and financial models for regenerative initiatives, ensuring profitability and long-term viability; &

• Identify and support mitigation of risks related to regenerative agriculture project design, including environmental, financial and operational challenges.

Technical Adaptive Management

• In partnerships with the Operations Team, establish criteria for which to evaluate long-term project performance against technical design criteria; &

• Review ongoing performance of projects against established criteria and develop concepts for technical adaptive management of project design and operations to support long-term outcome and efficiency objectives.

Collaboration & Advocacy

• Represent PUR at conferences, stakeholder meetings and industry events;

• Advocate for improvements to industry frameworks that best represent the sustainability needs of the regenerative movement, and unlock opportunities to drive the industry forward;

• Lead coordination with global operations, commercial, data, finance and impact teams related to regenerative agriculture implementation, data definition and collection, outcomes verification and adaptive management;

• Resource teams, and budgets, effectively to support annual and multi-annual execution roadmaps;

• Train and mentor a multidisciplinary team of project designers and commercial team members on regenerative agriculture design, practices and market positioning.

We are looking for someone with:

Masters Degree (or equivalent) in Agriculture, Soil Science, Environmental Science, Ecology or related fields (PhD is a plus);
7-10 years of experience in project design and/or management, focused on regenerative agriculture practices (experience with carbon outcomes is considered a benefit);
Specific experience managing/coordinating agricultural field activities;
Proven track record of leading large-scale, technical, cross-functional projects in diverse geographies;
Strong experience in field-based environmental project design, including technical design, stakeholder engagement & benefit sharing;
Strong knowledge of key environmental standards and outcomes frameworks;
Experience leading multi-disciplinary collaboration with excellent leadership, organizational, communication and problem-solving skills;
Experience in financial modelling, budgeting and risk analysis;
Willingness to travel extensively to project sites;
High tolerance for ambiguity; ability to thrive in a dynamic and rapidly changing environment; International experience is a strong plus;
Strong sense of accountability and commitment/follow-through;
Adept at giving and receiving feedback;
Looks for impact by making decisions based on facts and critical thinking.

Recruitment process :

HR interview
Interview with the Chief Commercial and Product Officer
Case study interview with senior team members + References check

At PUR, we strive to build inclusive teams and an equitable workplace where our employees feel respected, supported, and empowered. As a global company operating across six continents, we recognize that diversity in the workplace is essential to achieving our mission.

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, race, gender, colour, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other aspect that makes them unique.

PUR is dedicated to providing an accessible environment for all candidates during the application process and for employees during their employment. If you require accommodation or consideration throughout the interview process, let us know, and we will do our best to support you.