Job Title: Manager, VCS Methodologies, Nature Climate Solutions
Location: Remote-Worldwide (with significant overlap with US business hours)
Start Date: Immediately
Reports to: Director, VCS Program Methodologies
Verra is a global leader helping to tackle the world’s most intractable environmental and social challenges. As a mission-driven non-profit organization, Verra is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving livelihoods, and protecting natural resources across the private and public sectors. We support climate action and sustainable development with standards, tools, and programs that credibly, transparently, and robustly assess environmental and social impacts and enable funding for sustaining and scaling up projects that verifiably deliver these benefits. We work in any arena where we see a need for clear standards, a role for market-based mechanisms, and an opportunity to generate significant environmental and social value.
Verra manages a portfolio of standards, including the:
- Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) – the world’s leading carbon crediting program, with more than 1600 registered projects in 80 countries, and accounting for two-thirds of all voluntary carbon market transaction volume.
- Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta) – a flexible framework for assessing and reporting on the sustainable development benefits of project-based activities.
- Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards – to identify projects that simultaneously address climate change, support local communities, and conserve biodiversity.
- Plastic Waste Reduction Program – to enable robust impact assessment of new or scaled-up waste recovery and recycling projects around the globe.
- Natural climate solutions (NCS) projects hold the promise of reducing and removing greenhouse gases emitted to or already in the atmosphere while protecting and restoring critical ecosystems. As the leading standard for greenhouse gas emission reduction and removal projects, Verra is seeking a Manager, VCS Methodologies, to support the development of innovative and high-impact VCS NCS methodologies .
A day with Verra’s Program Development and Innovation Team might include:
- Leading the technical review of a proposed new methodology for afforestation, reforestation and revegetation and preparing a review report with findings that need to be addressed by the methodology developer.
- Planning an update of VCS requirements to assess market leakage in improved forest management activities, including preparing a request for proposal to contracting a consultant to develop the improvements.
- Participating in a methodology team call to discuss use of standardized methods for NCS projects.
- Responding to stakeholder inquiries about the methodology development and review process and technical matters related to NCS methodologies.
Specific functions you will be responsible for leading:
- Conducting reviews of methodology proposals, including methodology idea notes, concept notes and draft methodologies.
- Reviewing existing methodologies to ensure they reflect best practices, scientific consensus, evolving market conditions and updated VCS Program rules and requirements.
- Drafting GHG accounting-related revisions to the VCS Standard and other Program documents to help maintain the robustness, workability, and impact of the VCS Program.
- Serving as an NCS subject-matter expert, including training and supporting other staff.
- Providing technical guidance to VCS methodology developers, validation/verification bodies, and other stakeholders.
You bring with you:
- A technical degree, preferably master’s, in a relevant field such as forestry, environmental science technology, or similar.
- At least seven years of relevant professional experience, preferably working for a standards organization, NGO, government, consultancy, project developer or an auditor.
- Technical background and demonstrated understanding of GHG accounting relevant to NCS projects.
- Experience related to the development and/or assessment of GHG accounting methodologies.
- Ability to think creatively and in a solution-oriented manner.
- Good project management and organizational skills, including prioritizing and working efficiently and effectively under deadlines.
- Culturally aware with the ability to work with stakeholders and partners from different countries and cultures.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Fluency in English is essential. Fluency in other languages would be an asset.
In this role, you will grow and expand your expertise by:
- Working at the cutting edge of programs designed to drive finance towards high-impact activities that tackle some of the most pressing environmental issues of our day.
- Working on challenges and opportunities faced by practitioners of activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve livelihoods.
- Finding effective ways to ensure the quality of projects and credits under Verra programs.
You will know you are successful, if:
- You are seen as a leader and a go-to resource by your peers and as a reliable and capable member of the team by your manager.
- You build on your appreciation and respect for the challenges and opportunities faced by users of the Verra programs and are able to effectively ensure the quality of activities certified under the Verra programs.
- Verra stakeholders consistently express positive feedback regarding your ability to collaborate to find workable solutions to challenges they face.
You will join a team:
- From diverse locations and backgrounds, including carbon market experts, project developers, consultants, policymakers, researchers, auditors, and more.
- Committed to driving finance at scale to projects and programs that advance climate action and sustainable development through high-quality standards and programs.
- That embodies Verra’s values, which include Teamwork, Results, Integrity, Balance, and Exploration.
Compensation at Verra
To help us attract and retain top talent, Verra pays employees competitively to the market. In return, we expect each employee to, at a minimum:
- Meet expectations in terms of work effort and performance;
- Take the initiative to build the skills and knowledge needed to do their job effectively; and
- Embody Verra’s values.
For this position, the salary range is USD $77,793 - $88,321, depending on experience.
We will recognize employees who go beyond expected performance with salary increases and/or promotions, but the bar for earning those rewards is high.
Salary is one component of Verra’s total compensation package, which also includes:
- Health, vision and dental care, and life insurance;
- Verra contributions to each employee’s retirement plan;
- Verra contributions as required by national labor laws in countries where staff are located;
- Paid Time Off (PTO) comprising 22-30 days plus ten floating holidays, sabbatical after five years of service, and other leave allowances; and
- Funds to support professional development.
How to Apply
To apply, please send us the following:
- Cover letter (not to exceed one page)
- Resume/CV (not to exceed two pages)
*Please add app.bamboohr.com to your contact list to ensure you receive emails from us*
Verra provides equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees and is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination. We conduct our recruitment and hiring without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetics, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.