Senior Peatland Restoration Specialist (m/f/d)
Full- or part-time | Remote possible (or Berlin/Munich)
Aeco is a start-up that aims to become one of the leading private, collaborative developers and financiers of peatland restoration projects across Europe, and beyond.
Why peatlands?
Healthy peatlands are crucial carbon stores, containing nearly 30% of global soil organic carbon despite covering only 3% of the world's land. Degraded peatlands release this carbon, contributing to around 5% of total global emissions. Restoring them is essential to combat the climate crisis, support biodiversity, and manage water systems. In Europe, over 50% of peatlands are degraded, and the current restoration pace is insufficient to meet climate goals. In Germany, for example, we would need 200 years to rewet all peatlands at the current speed, while we only have 15-20 years.
How do we make a difference?
In a sector dominated by subsidies and slow-moving public approaches, aeco brings private sector dynamics and collaboration to incentivize stakeholders. We cover all implementation and certification costs and share carbon certificate revenues with landowners. Farming can continue with adaptations to rising water tables. Our expertise includes building strategic partnerships, project evaluation, planning, supervision, monitoring, certificate sales, and funding.
We have already rewetted our first peatland, are preparing five more projects, and have screened over 75 potential sites across northern Europe. We are also developing new carbon methodologies and a state-of-the-art remote MRV system for peatland restoration.
Your tasks
We need your expertise as a senior restoration specialist to scale up our first peatland projects under various carbon standards to new partners, regions and countries. More precisely we need you to handle the following tasks:
Sourcing, Screening, and Assessing Sites: Identify and evaluate suitable carbon project sites across Europe using remote data, GIS tools, and on-site visits, in collaboration with our regional partners
Project Development and Implementation: Guide us and our partners through technical rewetting and restoration planning activities to ensure effectiveness and integrity across all our projects
Scientific Guidance: Provide expert knowledge on peatland ecology, hydrology, and vegetation management to maintain the scientific rigor and integrity of our projects.
Standardized Rewetting Process Development: Contribute to the development and optimisation of a standardized, scalable process for peatland rewetting, integrating scientific, technical and practical considerations
Feasibility Studies and Planning: Lead and coordinate feasibility studies, permit planning, and technical implementation processes with our partners and third parties
Digital Process Integration: Ensure all project activities are standardized and digitalised, collaborating with the tech team to integrate these processes into our restoration process software and to build robust datasets for future projects
Requirements
Extensive wetland restoration experience with a strong understanding of peatland ecology, hydrology, vegetation, as well as some practical experience with rewetting techniques
Proficiency in using GIS tools (e.g. QGIS) for site assessment, project planning, and monitoring
Strong autonomous problem-solving skills while working in a fast-paced environment
English communication skills (German is a plus)
High motivation to contribute to nature based solutions fighting multiple environmental crises
Optional: experience in the quantification of other ecosystem services beyond carbon
Optional: experience in carbon emissions assessment, e.g. based on GEST or water levels
What we offer
Passionate team trying to crack important, but hard problems in the field of peatland restoration
Flexible and results-oriented work environment, remote possible
Competitive remuneration package (incl. options)
Opportunity to shape an organization early on and grow professionally
Please send applications to: careers@aeco.earth