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: Program Officer,  Agriculture Innovation

Location: Remote  - Worldwide (with significant overlap with U.S. business hours)

The Opportunity.

Verra seeks a Program Officer to actively engage stakeholders in adopting and using our Agricultural Land Management (ALM) and Livestock Systems (LS) methodologies under the VCS Program. This role focuses on developing and supporting project proponents’ practical application of improved ALM and LS activities, supporting development of new and revisions of existing methodologies, and creating alignment with emerging VCS Program updates and other Verra programs, such as the Scope 3 Standard Program, SD VISta and its Nature Framework.

The Role.

The successful applicant will be responsible for work that focuses on three key areas including the following tasks with a strong technical focus on ALM and LS and the use of innovative technologies for quantification and monitoring of reductions and removals, and implementation of digital MRV:

Stakeholder support and capacity building for project proponents and VVBs (45%)

• Responding to stakeholder questions about VCS ALM and LS methodologies including supporting the Market & Client Relations team 

• Supporting development of informational resources, such as FAQs and instructional webinars, to explain how to use the ALM and LS methodologies and related modules and tools 

• Presenting on webinars and to stakeholder groups to provide technical guidance on methodology use

• Supporting Verra’s Regional Engagement team to provide country/region-specific training and support

Methodology development and technical support for VCS project certification (35%)

• Addressing public comments and independent reviewer feedback as well as comments from internal review on VCS methodologies under Sectoral Scope 15. Agriculture (ALM and LS)

• Provide technical input and support further development of existing ALM and LS methodologies, with strong focus on soil organic carbon stocks changes and GHG emission reductions (N2O and CH4) in grasslands and livestock systems

• Provide technical input and support coordination of the development of new ALM and LS methodologies and tools

Digitization and DMRV support led by the Technology Solutions Department (20%)

• Supporting digitization of VM0042, v2.2 and v3.0 by testing and signing-off corresponding beta-versions of the methodology

• Engaging in discussions and collaborations to develop and deploy DMRV for ALM and LS projects within the VCS

Our Team.

You will join a team that works closely and collaboratively to solve problems, iterate, and implement improvements to agricultural methodologies to support the scaling up of improved ALM projects in the VCS Program.

• Verrans come from diverse locations and backgrounds; our staff includes former carbon market experts, project developers, consultants, climate negotiators, researchers, auditors, and more.

• 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’re Looking For.

• At least three years of experience in GHG accounting in agriculture and livestock production systems

• A B.S. level degree in agronomy, animal, or environmental sciences, or similar, with a preference for M.S.

• Strong understanding of soil carbon and GHG measurement, monitoring and modeling, remote sensing, and geo-statistics in the context of agricultural and livestock production systems

• Hands-on experience with carbon markets, including familiarity with key mechanisms (e.g., compliance and voluntary markets), carbon credit methodologies, and the role of market-based instruments in climate mitigation efforts

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to break-down complex concepts into clear, easy-to-understand messaging for diverse audiences

• Project management and organizational skills, including prioritizing and working efficiently and effectively under deadlines

• Ability to engage with diverse international stakeholders and partners, demonstrating cultural sensitivity and awareness in a global context

• Ability to work collaboratively with a problem-solving mindset

• Proficiency in English (written and spoken) is essential

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 and 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 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. Achieving this is crucial for embodying our established values: Teamwork, Results, Integrity, Balance, and Exploration. We actively celebrate belonging among our team members’ different abilities, sexual orientations, ethnicity, faith, and gender. 

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.

How to Apply

Please send us a cover letter (not to exceed one page) and your resume or 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.