Senior Program Officer, REDD Projects
About Verra.
At Verra, we've created a culture of flexibility + autonomy. You'll be able to work with remote teams from diverse countries and industries. Wherever possible, we aim to find mutually agreeable solutions for international hiring.
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 helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve livelihoods and protect 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
Location: Remote - Worldwide (with significant overlap with US business hours)
Reports to: Manager, REDD, Natural Climate Solutions Certification
The Opportunity
Shape the future of climate action by ensuring the integrity of REDD projects that protect forests and reduce global emissions: Verra is the world leader in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) project certification, and we anticipate a surge in REDD project reviews as the transition to our newest Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) REDD methodology is implemented. As a member of the Certification team, you would ensure that REDD projects validated and verified to the VCS drive real-world impact.[JB1] [HB2] [JB3] Learning from project reviews will enable you to support enhancements to the requirements and Verra’s internal processes.
The Role
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 helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve livelihoods, and protect natural resources across the private and public sectors.
We've created a culture of flexibility + autonomy. You'll be able to work with remote teams from diverse countries and industries. Wherever possible, we aim to find mutually agreeable solutions for international hiring.
The final compensation offered will be contingent upon role, level, and location. Our Talent team can share the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
Salary is one component of Verra's total compensation package, which also includes:
How to Apply
Please send us a Cover letter (not to exceed one page) and your Resume/CV (not to exceed two pages).
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that a teammate must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a teammate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
At Verra, we've created a culture of flexibility + autonomy. You'll be able to work with remote teams from diverse countries and industries. Wherever possible, we aim to find mutually agreeable solutions for international hiring.
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 helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve livelihoods and protect 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 2000 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 smallholders, 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.
Location: Remote - Worldwide (with significant overlap with US business hours)
Reports to: Manager, REDD, Natural Climate Solutions Certification
The Opportunity
Shape the future of climate action by ensuring the integrity of REDD projects that protect forests and reduce global emissions: Verra is the world leader in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) project certification, and we anticipate a surge in REDD project reviews as the transition to our newest Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) REDD methodology is implemented. As a member of the Certification team, you would ensure that REDD projects validated and verified to the VCS drive real-world impact.[JB1] [HB2] [JB3] Learning from project reviews will enable you to support enhancements to the requirements and Verra’s internal processes.
The Role
- Conducting thorough reviews of project documentation to ensure accuracy, compliance, and quality of VVB performance and integrity of projects requesting registration and issuance of units (and labels) with the VCS Program.
- Communicating with VVBs and project proponents and supporting REDD stakeholder engagement broadly (and specifically in collaboration with the Market and Client Relations team).
- Supporting a smooth transition of currently registered REDD projects to Verra’s newest REDD methodology (VM0048).
- Working with the team to understand challenging project situations, integrity thresholds, and longevity of projects.
- Collaborating internally with the Auditing and Accreditation Team on project quality and VVB performance. This role may also entail onsite audits of VVB site visits.
- Collaborating with the VCS Program development, technology solutions, audit and accreditation, and sustainable development teams to ensure alignment and incorporation of updates to our tools, systems, and processes resulting from the implementation of VM0048 and other REDD methodologies, and the Jurisdictional and Nested REDD framework.
- Training and onboarding new staff and external contractors when necessary.
- Verra’s Certification team comprises highly motivated experts essential to maintaining the integrity of our suite of standards.
- Verrans come from diverse locations and backgrounds, including carbon market experts, project developers, consultants, climate negotiators, researchers, auditors, and more.
- We are committed to driving quality so that finance can flow at scale to projects and programs that advance climate action and sustainable development through high-quality standards and programs.
- At least five years of relevant professional experience in developing REDD projects and/or in assessing or conducting due diligence of REDD projects.
- Knowledge and experience in jurisdictional REDD and nesting and basic GIS tools for viewing and analyzing spatial data would be assets.
- Strong technical understanding of key concepts of emissions reduction and removal quantification and other carbon market concepts applied to REDD (e.g., additionality, baseline, counterfactuals, deforestation risk modelling, leakage, non-permanence, uncertainty analysis, etc.); expertise in VCS REDD methodologies would be an advantage.
- Work experience with standards organizations, project developers, and/or validation/verification body; knowledge of the VCS certification process would be an asset.
- Interest in maintaining high-quality projects through careful review of project requests and documentation.
- Culturally aware with the ability to work with stakeholders and partners from different countries and cultures, and an understanding of the realities faced by people implementing REDD projects.
- Strong attention to detail, project management and organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and work efficiently and effectively under deadlines.
- Self-starter with the ability to excel in a professional, team-oriented environment and work independently.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Fluency in English is essential, and proficiency in additional languages, such as Portuguese and Spanish, would be an advantage.
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 helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve livelihoods, and protect natural resources across the private and public sectors.
We've created a culture of flexibility + autonomy. You'll be able to work with remote teams from diverse countries and industries. Wherever possible, we aim to find mutually agreeable solutions for international hiring.
The final compensation offered will be contingent upon role, level, and location. Our Talent team can share the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
Salary is one component of Verra's total compensation package, which also includes:
- Health, vision, and dental care, and life insurance
- Verra's 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 of vacation, 7 days of annual sick leave, holidays, sabbatical after five years of service, and other leave allowances
How to Apply
Please send us a Cover letter (not to exceed one page) and your Resume/CV (not to exceed two pages).
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that a teammate must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a teammate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
- Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period.
- Access to reliable Wi-fi with a distraction-free workspace.