Biochar Operations Lead

Job Title: Biochar Operations Lead – Production Head

Objective: To lead an engineered carbon dioxide removal (CDR) program using artisanal biochar from cotton fields in Maharashtra and Telangana. This role is critical in combating climate change and improving smallholder farmers' income.

Location: Adilabad, Telangana, and Yavatmal, Maharashtra

Framework: Artisanal biochar (CSI)

About CottonGuru

CottonGuru is a brand of trust and a voice for its 100,000+ membership community of cotton-growing smallholder farmers from 200+ Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) in India. We work with our customers and partners to strategize and implement sustainable cotton farm projects to decarbonize cotton supply chains and have long-lasting communal impact.

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Life at CottonGuru

CottonGuru is a team of hard-working individuals united with the vision of improving India's agricultural landscape. Our shared goals are to strive towards a better future for India's lagging agricultural sector by bettering income for smallholder farmers, enhancing the participation of women and other marginalized communities to improve the rural economy, implementing large-scale adoption of sustainable farming for low impact on the environment,

At CottonGuru, we foster a culture driven by autonomy and merit, giving you the foundation to explore and implement your ideas on projects that you choose to be a part of. Collaborate with like-minded individuals who are stepping up to change the world of climate and agriculture.

Our Project

CottonGuru’s carbon removal program is estimated to sequester thousands of tons of carbon dioxide from cotton fields in and around Adilabad, Telangana, and Yavatmal, Maharashtra. Cotton stalks/residue, otherwise burnt in these areas, will be converted to biochar using the artisanal method. Biochar will be applied back into the soil to improve crop yields and resilience to climate stress.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Management

a. Stakeholder Relations :

• Work alongside the organization's team to strategize biomass sourcing from smallholder cotton farmers
• Build relationships with smallholder farmers, FPOs, NGOs, Local Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and other farmer-related organizations to ensure project support and expansion.

b. Production Cluster Management :

• Identify and oversee production clusters, ensuring optimal location selection based on feedstock availability and logistical efficiency, among other factors
• Ensure all necessary data collection from production sites

c. Team Building (Hiring & Management) :

• Recruit, train, and manage a local labor force for biochar production activities
• Scout and on-board high-energy individuals interested in the field of sustainability, cotton, agriculture, and carbon removal

d. Project Modeling :

• Develop and execute strategies for inward (biomass) and outward (biochar) transportation to minimize costs and carbon emissions.
• Prepare detailed financial models, including cost accounting, cash flow management, and projections for biochar production and sale, and carbon credit generation.

2. Monitoring, Reporting & Verification (MRV)

a. Integration of Digital MRV (dMRV) :

• Implement third-party dMRV solutions into the project to ensure accurate data collection and reporting of carbon sequestration metrics.

b. Stakeholder Engagement for dMRV Adoption :

• Educate and train stakeholders on dMRV implementation, ensuring full understanding and compliance across all project participants.

c. Data Integrity & Compliance :

• Supervise and ensure project activities align with global dMRV standards, meeting all monitoring and reporting requirements.

3. Carbon Certification and Compliance

a. Audit Preparation and Execution :

• Prepare the project and all stakeholders for certification audits

b. Project Data Management :

• Use tools like Excel, Airtable, and other data platforms to organize, manage, and report project data effectively.

c. Carbon Standard and Certificaion

• Stay updated with changes in global carbon certification standards, ensuring the project complies with the latest requirements

4. Risk Management

a. Risk Identification and Mitigation :

• Proactively identify potential risks, such as biomass shortfalls, logistical challenges, or operational delays, and communicate mitigation strategies to the project lead.

b. Stakeholder Communication :

• Ensure that all stakeholders are aware of potential risks and are aligned in implementing mitigation plans.

c. Continuous Monitoring :

• Regularly review project activities to anticipate and address risks promptly.

5. Other Ad-Hoc Tasks

• Provide additional support to the project team as required, including preparing reports, engaging with external stakeholders, and troubleshooting operational challenges.
• Assist in the development of proposals and presentations for partners and certification bodies.
• Contribute to strategy discussions for scaling and improving biochar production and certification processes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Engineering, or relevant fields
• Proven 3+ years of past work experience in Biochar production
• Experience in carbon projects (CSI, Verra, and so on) and dMRV implementation (PV, others) is a plus
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, and other computer skills like Airtable) is necessary
• Based in Adilabad in Telangana or a nearby area, with the ability to travel to farm sites across Telangana and Maharashtra frequently
• Proficient in English, Telugu, Hindi; Gondi (local dialect) being a plus.

Compensation

Flexible, depending on experience and fit

Ideal Candidate: This role suits an independently driven individual who wants to take ownership of a large-scale biochar production project en route to sequester thousands of tons of carbon dioxide over its life, impacting thousands of smallholder farmers' incomes and communities.

If you believe you are a good fit, please write to us at Include your CV and a cover letter for why this job interests you. We are committed to being an equal opportunity employer, focused on fostering a team that embraces diversity and inclusion. Our goal is to create a work environment where every individual is respected and valued. If you have any inquiries or concerns about the application process, please reach out to us at We look forward to hearing from you.