Job Title:                 Senior Program Officer, REDD+ Methodologies 

Location:                 Remote - Worldwide (with significant overlap with US business hours) 

Start Date:              Immediately  

Reports to:             Manager, REDD+ Technical Innovation     

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. 

Verra is seeking a Senior Program Officer to support the further evolution of existing – as well as the development of new – REDD-related methodologies under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. 

A day with Verra’s Program Development & Innovation Department (PDID) might include… 

• Communicating with stakeholders to identify strategic innovations and gaps to incorporate in updated VCS REDD (and other AFOLU) methodologies, to improve project development and implementation. 

• Collaborating with internal and external technical experts to draft the next generation of REDD (and other AFOLU) methodologies. 

• Collaborating with other Verra teams to solve technical issues in REDD projects and programs, and incorporating lessons into methodologies, as needed. 

Specific functions you will be responsible for leading...  

• Researching and analyzing innovations, updates, and opportunities to incorporate in the consolidated VCS REDD methodology VM0048, including Avoiding Planned Deforestation and Avoided Unplanned Degradation. 

• Working with cross-sector stakeholder groups to support the updating and development of existing or new methodologies or modules within VM0048 or other AFOLU methodologies such as those related to wetlands and peatlands, Improved Forest Management, and Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation. 

• Supporting the drafting of REDD-related updates to the VCS Standard. 

• Engaging with project developers and credit buyers to answer technical questions and share knowledge. 

• Supporting methodology revisions and submissions for external labels (e.g. the ICVCM’s CCP and CORSIA). 

You bring with you... 

• Deep understanding of climate change mitigation, GHG accounting, forest ecology, forest reference level estimation, MRV design, forest carbon methodologies, standards, crediting programs, and REDD+ processes/initiatives (e.g., UNFCCC, FCPF). 

• At least five years of relevant work on forest carbon and GHG accounting. 

• Prior experience in the forestry and/or forest conservation sector. 

• Experience using statistical methods and models, as well as GIS and remote sensing tools and procedures to evaluate and monitor forest extent, deforestation, and forest carbon stocks. 

• Sound computer literacy. 

• A relevant university degree (e.g., plant ecology, forestry, environmental sciences) an advanced degree is highly advantageous. 

• Strong technical writing skills and attention to detail in complex documents. Sound verbal communication skills, emphasizing interacting with stakeholders in a highly responsive and professional manner, even under high-pressure situations. Fluency in English is essential; command of Spanish, French, Bahasa, or other languages would be an advantage.  

• Organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and work efficiently and effectively under deadlines and ability to coordinate across teams. 

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

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team, with a problem-solving mindset, managing multiple priorities and deadlines. 

In this role, you will grow and expand your expertise by...  

• Helping to advance REDD+ in the voluntary carbon market. 

• Gaining exposure to systems, projects, and partners that are leading the way in forest conservation driven by climate finance. 

• Working with a dynamic, committed, and focused team of professionals across different Verra teams with a variety of skills and expertise. 

• Exposure to a range of professional development options within Verra. 

You will know you are successful, if... 

• You are seen as a go-to resource, and a reliable and capable member of the REDD team by your peers and manager in Verra’s Project Development and Innovation Department and across the organization. 

• Verra stakeholders consistently express positive feedback regarding your ability to collaborate to produce responses to technical questions and to find workable and credible solutions to challenges they face. 

• Verra continues to be a recognized leader in standardized protocols for robustly quantifying emission reductions achieved by REDD projects in the voluntary carbon market. 

You will join an inclusive team... 

• Of leading experts in the natural climate solutions space. 

• From diverse locations and backgrounds, including carbon market experts, project developers, consultants, climate negotiators, 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 the values Verra has established for itself, and 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 between $61,827 - $110,568 USD, depending on experience. The compensation band is based on a U.S. base salary range and shares the min and max base salary for the position. This position is eligible for remote work. 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. 

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: 

• Medical, vision and dental care, and life insurance 

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

• Paid leave, comprising 22-30 days vacation, 7 days of annual sick leave, holidays, and sabbatical after five years of service 

• 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) 

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.