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:
Job Title: Senior Manager, VCS Program Development
Location: Remote – Worldwide (with significant overlap with US business hours)
Start Date: Immediately
Reports to: Senior Director, VCS Program Development
Verra is looking for a Senior Manager to join the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program Development team in the Program Development and Innovation Department to lead the development of Verra’s VCS Program to deliver the scale and quality of climate action needed to meet global climate ambitions. This is a pivotal moment for the VCS and global carbon markets. This person will lead the evolution of the VCS Program so that it maintains its position as the most trusted and used standard in the voluntary carbon market and serves as an on-ramp to policies and regulations at the international, national, and sub-national levels.
A day with Verra’s Program Development and Innovation Department might include…
- Digging into an issue with the VCS Program design and coming up with options and a recommendation for how to address it
- A meeting with your VCS Program Development team to review progress, plan for upcoming work, and confirm priorities
- A one-on-one meeting with a team member to discuss their work and professional development
- Reviewing a VCS Program update proposal or draft prepared by a team member or colleague
- Connecting with an external stakeholder to get their perspective on improvement opportunities in the VCS Program
Specific functions you will be responsible for leading...
- Identifying, conceptualizing, and leading the development of new opportunities to test and implement VCS Program innovations to point the way for the Voluntary Carbon Market and carbon compliance systems and establish robust, scalable programs to support the necessary climate ambition and action over the coming decades
- Managing the VCS Program Development team to maintain engagement and enable excellent work
- Ensuring the VCS Program development process is well designed, includes all relevant internal and external perspectives, and meets the development timelines
- Coordinating with other Verra leaders to ensure VCS Program development aligns with other organizational priorities and needs, and to ensure crosscutting or collaborative workstreams are on track
- Managing stakeholder consultations on VCS Program updates to ensure proposals consider all perspectives and meet user needs
- Collaborating with program development managers for all other Verra programs (CCB Standards, SD VISta, and the Plastic Standard) to ensure strategic alignment and capture synergies where possible
You bring with you...
- A passion for climate action and sustainable development
- At least 8 years of relevant technical and professional experience with at least five years and a relevant university degree in environmental science, sustainability, business, or a related field; a master’s degree would be advantageous
- At least 3 years of relevant experience managing professional teams
- Relevant professional experience working for a standards organization (preferred), or an NGO, government, carbon project developer, and/or validation/verification body
- Prior experience in policy development and continual improvement, program coordination, project management, or related roles
- Technical understanding of greenhouse gas emissions accounting, especially for emissions reduction projects (e.g. ISO 14064-2)
- Technical understanding of sustainability practices, market-based mechanisms, and the challenges and opportunities faced in the voluntary carbon market
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently, including attention to detail and ability to work across topics
- Cultural awareness with the ability to learn from team members and stakeholders from different countries, cultures, and sectors
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Fluency in English is essential. Fluency in other UN languages would be an advantage
In this role, you will grow and expand your expertise by...
- Gaining hands-on experience in program development and coordination within the field of sustainability and sustainable development
- Deepening your understanding of the VCS Program and other sustainability standards
- Collaborating closely with a dynamic, committed, and focused group of highly committed professionals constantly looking for ways to fight climate change and promote sustainable development solutions around the world
You will know you are successful if…
- You are seen as a reliable and capable member of the team by your peers and manager
- You build an appreciation and respect for the challenges and opportunities faced by users of the VCS Program and can effectively evaluate how program updates will affect these stakeholders
- You successfully coordinate a portfolio of updates with strong buy-in from the team and stakeholders
- You actively contribute to the innovative growth of the VCS Program and related initiatives, helping to shape the future of sustainability practices
You will join an inclusive team…
- Of leading experts in the climate and sustainable development space
- From diverse locations and backgrounds, including carbon market and sustainable development experts, climate negotiators, researchers, auditors, and more
- Committed to driving finance at scale to projects that advance climate action and sustainable development through high-quality standards and programs
Compensation 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.
For this position, the salary range is between $94,635 -$136,519 USD. 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 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 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 eleven floating holidays, sabbatical after five years of service, and other leave allowances
- 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.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.