Lead or Senior Program Officer, Jurisdictional REDD+ Development

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: 

• 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.

Title:  Lead or Senior Program Officer, Jurisdictional REDD+ Development

This role may be hired at the Lead or Senior Program Officer level, depending on the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience, and scope of responsibility.

Location: Remote, Asia preferred, Singapore strongly preferred; note that some time will need to overlap with US business hours

Reports to: Director, Forest Carbon; Program Development and Innovation Department

The Opportunity.  

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. The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program provides methodologies that support carbon projects, including REDD+. The VCS Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) Framework is the world’s first accounting and verification framework for jurisdictional REDD+ programs and nested projects, and has been approved by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). 

Having recently registered the first JNR program, with more programs currently being developed and reviewed, Verra is looking for a specialist to support the continued growth of JNR, providing oversight to the JNR framework and engaging countries and other stakeholders in capacity building efforts.

The Role.

The successful applicant will be responsible for tasks such as:

• Identifying ways to improve VCS Program REDD+ and JNR requirements and methodologies, including engaging external stakeholders and internal technical teams 

• Implementing updates and improvements in collaboration with VCS Program Development staff and with input from Verra’s Project Management Department (PMD) and expert consultants 

• Supporting the maintenance and updates to Verra’s consolidated REDD methodology, VM0048, and ensuring alignment between VM0048 and the JNR Framework 

• Collaborating with Verra’s Communications and Engagement Team to support Verra’s forest carbon outreach and communications strategy, including developing and implementing capacity building sessions, conducting outreach to governments, and engaging investors

• Guiding stakeholders on Verra’s methodologies and technical requirements for JNR programs

• Supporting PMD on technical issues related to REDD+ and JNR as necessary

Our Team.

You will join a team of experts in the natural climate solutions sector that works closely and collaboratively to solve problems, iterate, and implement updates and improvements to forest carbon methodologies and the VCS Standard. 

• Verrans come from diverse locations and backgrounds, and include carbon market experts, project developers, consultants, climate negotiators, researchers, and auditors.

• We are committed to driving finance at scale to projects and programs that advance climate action and sustainable development through high-quality standards and programs. 

What we’d like to see.

• In-depth understanding of jurisdictional and project REDD+, including the evolution of REDD+, the current state of the sector, and the relevant stakeholders engaged in implementation of REDD programs.

• Technical knowledge of, and experience working with, environmental and social standards, ideally including knowledge of VCS, the JNR Framework, and Verra’s REDD+ methodologies especially VM0048. Preference will be given to candidates who have developed and/or used REDD+ methodologies.

• Familiarity with climate change mitigation; GHG accounting; forest reference level development; MRV design; forest carbon methodologies, standards, and crediting programs; and REDD+ processes/initiatives (e.g., UNFCCC, Forest Carbon Partnership Facility)

• Degree in environmental science, environmental studies, forestry, or other applicable study area; advanced degree is advantageous.

• At least five years of professional experience in the climate field, ideally working in climate change mitigation and/or carbon markets.

• Excellent written and verbal communication, with experience collaborating with, communicating technical information to, and receiving input from a wide range of stakeholders.

• As a global organization based in the US, we’ve adopted English as a standard business language for written and verbal communication. 

Please note: Some travel will be required, not expected to exceed 15% of time annually.

Physical Demands.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a teammate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work. 

Work Environment.

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. 

• Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period. 

• Access to reliable Wi-fi with a distraction-free workspace. 

Working at Verra.

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:

• Medical, vision and dental care

• Verra contributions to each employee’s retirement plan/pension scheme with employee and employer contributions subject to statutory regulations

• Paid leave, comprising 22-30 days vacation, annual sick leave, holidays, and sabbatical after five years of service

Verra is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all our work, and doing this successfully is crucial for us to embody our established values which are Teamwork, Results, Integrity, Balance, and Exploration. We actively celebrate belonging among our team members’ different abilities, sexual orientations, ethnicity, faith, and gender. 

How to Apply.

Please send us a Cover letter (not to exceed one page) and your Resume/CV (not to exceed two pages). 

Verra provides equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees and is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination. As such, 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.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform crucial job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact [email protected] to request accommodation.