Application Guide

How to Apply for Project Finance Manager - Execution

at Terraformation

🏢 About Terraformation

Terraformation is unique as a mission-driven company specifically focused on accelerating global forest restoration to combat climate change through native ecosystems and sustainable solutions. Unlike traditional finance roles, this position offers the opportunity to directly contribute to environmental impact by financing projects that restore forests and sequester carbon at scale.

About This Role

This Project Finance Manager - Execution role involves leading the end-to-end execution of project financing transactions for forest restoration projects, from term sheet through closing. You'll coordinate cross-functional teams, negotiate contracts to allocate risk effectively, and interact with financial models to quantify project risks—directly enabling the funding of critical climate solutions.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve coordinating a due diligence call with ecology and carbon teams on a forest restoration project, reviewing and marking up credit agreement drafts to align risk allocation, analyzing financial model outputs to quantify construction risks, and preparing closing checklists for an upcoming transaction—all while collaborating with remote team members across time zones.

🎯 Who Terraformation Is Looking For

  • Has 3+ years of hands-on project finance execution experience in natural resources, renewable energy, forestry, or carbon markets, with proven ability to lead transactions from term sheet to closing with limited supervision
  • Demonstrates specific experience negotiating project finance documents (e.g., credit agreements, security documents) and project contracts (e.g., offtake agreements, EPC contracts) with a focus on risk allocation
  • Can actively interact with and interpret complex financial models to quantify risks and support negotiation positions—not just reviewing outputs
  • Has experience managing investor relationships and coordinating with technical consultants (ecology, carbon, legal, tax) in cross-functional environments

📝 Tips for Applying to Terraformation

1

Quantify your project finance execution experience: specify the number and type of transactions you've closed (e.g., 'led 3 renewable energy project financings from term sheet to financial close'), including deal sizes and sectors

2

Highlight any forestry, carbon, or natural resources project experience prominently—even if tangential—as Terraformation specifically seeks this domain knowledge

3

Describe a specific example where you adapted to evolving deal parameters during closing, showing your ability to manage deadlines and maintain accuracy under pressure

4

Mention experience working across time zones or with remote teams, as this role requires collaboration with team members globally and occasional irregular hours

5

Tailor your resume to include keywords from the job description: 'project finance execution,' 'document negotiation,' 'financial model interaction,' 'cross-functional collaboration,' and 'investor-facing'

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Express genuine passion for Terraformation's mission of forest restoration and climate change mitigation, explaining why this specific role aligns with your values", 'Provide a concise, specific example of a project finance transaction you executed end-to-end, highlighting your role in due diligence, document negotiation, and closing', 'Demonstrate your ability to collaborate with technical teams (e.g., ecology, carbon) by describing a past experience working with non-finance stakeholders', "Explain how you've successfully managed investor relationships or counterparty negotiations in previous roles"]

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • Study Terraformation's specific forest restoration projects and partnerships (e.g., their seed bank initiatives, reforestation projects in Hawaii or globally)
  • Understand the carbon credit markets and how forest restoration projects generate and monetize carbon credits
  • Research the project finance structures commonly used in forestry/renewable energy (e.g., limited recourse financing, offtake agreements)
  • Review Terraformation's leadership team and recent news to understand their growth trajectory and funding rounds

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through a specific project finance transaction you executed from term sheet to closing, including challenges with due diligence or document negotiation
2 How would you quantify and allocate risks in a forest restoration project finance deal, particularly around carbon credit generation or ecological outcomes?
3 Describe your experience interacting with financial models to analyze project risks and support negotiation positions
4 How do you prioritize and manage deadlines when deal parameters evolve during the closing process?
5 Tell us about a time you had to collaborate with technical consultants (e.g., ecologists, carbon experts) on a project finance transaction
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic finance resume without highlighting specific project finance execution experience or transaction examples
  • Failing to demonstrate knowledge of or interest in forestry, carbon, or natural resources sectors
  • Overemphasizing financial modeling creation without showing ability to interpret models for risk quantification and negotiation support

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Terraformation!