Terms of Service

carbon.talent is operated by Carbon Data Solutions (Pty) Ltd ("Carbon Data Solutions", "we", "us", "our").

Last updated: 17 August 2026
Effective date: 17 August 2026

By accessing or using carbon.talent, you agree to these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, do not use the platform.

1. About carbon.talent

carbon.talent is a two-sided talent marketplace that connects companies ("Clients") with vetted data professionals ("Consultants"). Carbon Data Solutions operates the platform and facilitates introductions, assessments, and engagements. We are not an employment agency, staffing firm, or employer of record.

2. Who can use carbon.talent

You must be at least 18 years old and legally authorised to enter contracts in your jurisdiction. By registering, you confirm that:

If registering as a Client: you are authorised to act on behalf of your organisation.
If registering as a Consultant: you are providing services in your personal capacity or through a legal entity you control.

3. Accounts

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately at platform@carbondatasolutions.com if you suspect unauthorised access.

We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, provide false information, or engage in conduct harmful to the platform or other users.

4. Client obligations

As a Client, you agree to:

Post accurate, lawful job descriptions. You may not post roles that are discriminatory, unlawful, or misleading.
Engage in good faith with matched Consultants.
Pay all platform fees when due (see Section 6).
Not contact or engage a Consultant introduced through carbon.talent outside the platform for a period of 12 months from the date of introduction, except through a carbon.talent-facilitated engagement. Circumventing this restriction entitles Carbon Data Solutions to invoice the applicable platform fee on the total engagement value.
Comply with applicable employment and labour law when engaging Consultants directly.

5. Consultant obligations

As a Consultant, you agree to:

Provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date profile information including your qualifications, experience, and availability.
Submit to identity verification as required by the platform.
Not misrepresent your skills, qualifications, or identity.
Notify us promptly if your availability changes.
Maintain professional conduct in all platform interactions and with Clients.

6. Fees and payment

Currency: Fees are quoted and invoiced in the currency agreed at the time of engagement (ZAR, USD, EUR, GBP, or such other currency as Carbon Data Solutions may offer). Where ZAR amounts are shown in these Terms as reference examples, the equivalent fee in your agreed currency will apply at the rate displayed on the platform or stated in your order confirmation. All fees are exclusive of any applicable taxes, withholding, or bank transfer charges, which are the Client's responsibility.

Self-Serve BYOC (Bring Your Own Candidate):

Posting and managing jobs is free.
Assessments are charged per use: Technical Screen R1,800 (ZAR) or equivalent | Full Evidence Assessment R4,500 (ZAR) or equivalent.
Identity Verification: R100 (ZAR) or equivalent per candidate (add-on, via Persona).

Volume Plan:

R6,500 (ZAR) or equivalent per month (billed monthly in advance). Includes unlimited BYOC assessments (Technical Screens and Full Evidence Assessments). Does not include CDS Talent Pool fees.

CDS Talent Pool — Introduction and Management:

Introduction Fee: R22,500 (ZAR) or equivalent (once-off) — charged when a Client confirms a hire from the Carbon talent pool. This fee is payable at the point of confirmation and is non-refundable once the engagement commences.
Monthly Management Fee: R4,500 (ZAR) or equivalent per active Consultant per month — charged monthly in advance for as long as the engagement runs. Includes: monthly automated engagement health monitoring, contract management, written dispute facilitation, and the 90-day replacement guarantee (see below).
Minimum engagement: 3 months. The minimum commitment per placement is R22,500 introduction + 3 × R4,500 = R36,000 (ZAR) or equivalent. Early termination within the 3-month minimum does not reduce the minimum fee owed.
90-day replacement guarantee: If a Consultant exits the engagement within 90 days of commencement, Carbon will make best efforts to introduce a replacement consultant of equivalent profile within 30 business days, at no additional Introduction Fee. This guarantee is subject to pool availability and does not apply where the exit was caused or initiated by the Client.
Permanent conversion: If a Client enters into a permanent employment arrangement with a Consultant introduced through Carbon, a once-off conversion fee of R45,000 (ZAR) or equivalent applies in lieu of further Monthly Management Fees. This fee is payable within 7 days of the permanent employment commencement date.
Annual prepay: Clients may prepay 10 months of Monthly Management Fees to receive 12 months of management service for that Consultant.

All fees are exclusive of VAT or equivalent applicable taxes. Invoices are issued on the 1st of each month for prior-month activity (or immediately for once-off fees). Payment is due within 7 days of invoice date.

Overdue amounts bear interest at the rate of 2% per month (or the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, whichever is lower), calculated from the due date until the date of actual payment. We reserve the right to suspend platform access for overdue accounts.

7. Assessments and vetting

Carbon Data Solutions conducts assessments and identity verification to maintain catalog quality. Assessment results and scores are used to match Consultants with relevant roles. We make reasonable efforts to ensure accuracy but do not guarantee outcomes.

Assessment fees are non-refundable once the assessment process has commenced.

8. Contracts between Clients and Consultants

Any contract, agreement, or engagement between a Client and a Consultant is a separate legal relationship. Carbon Data Solutions is not a party to that relationship and is not liable for any obligations, disputes, or claims arising from it. We provide contract templates and e-signature tools as a convenience; you are responsible for the legal validity and content of your contracts in your jurisdiction.

9. Intellectual property

All content, code, and materials on carbon.talent are owned by or licensed to Carbon Data Solutions. You may not copy, reproduce, or distribute platform content without our written consent.

You retain ownership of content you upload (CVs, job descriptions, profile information). By uploading content, you grant Carbon Data Solutions a non-exclusive licence to use it for platform operations, including matching and displaying your profile to relevant parties.

10. Prohibited conduct

You may not:

Use the platform for any unlawful purpose.
Scrape, copy, or harvest data from the platform.
Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the platform.
Use automated tools to interact with the platform without our consent.
Harass, defame, or harm other users.
Post false, misleading, or fraudulent information.

11. Privacy

Your use of carbon.talent is subject to our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the platform, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information as described in the Privacy Policy.

12. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

Carbon Data Solutions is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the platform.
Our total liability for any claim arising from these Terms or your use of the platform shall not exceed the fees paid by you to Carbon Data Solutions in the 3 months preceding the claim.
We do not guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any Consultant profiles, assessment results, or match recommendations.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability for death, personal injury, or fraud caused by our negligence.

13. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Carbon Data Solutions, its directors, employees, and agents from any claims, losses, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from your breach of these Terms, your use of the platform, or your interactions with other users.

14. Termination

Either party may terminate their account at any time. On termination:

Your access to the platform ceases immediately.
Outstanding fees remain due.
Provisions that by nature should survive (intellectual property, limitation of liability, governing law) continue to apply.

We may retain your data as required by law or for legitimate business purposes as described in our Privacy Policy.

15. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes by email at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of the platform after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

16. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any dispute arising from these Terms shall first be referred to mediation. If mediation fails, disputes shall be resolved by the courts of South Africa.

For users located in the European Union: nothing in these Terms limits your rights under applicable EU consumer protection or data protection law.

17. Contact

Carbon Data Solutions (Pty) Ltd
144 Fagan Street, Strand, Western Cape, South Africa
platform@carbondatasolutions.com