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.

Job Title:   Deputy Representative, Africa 

Location:   Africa (preferably a city in East or West Africa)

Start Date:   Immediately

Reports to:   Senior Manager, Regional Engagement, Africa and the Middle East

As Verra’s Deputy Representative in Africa, your day might include…

• Attending meetings with government officials and key market partners to further increase understanding and adoption of our standards.

• Stay up to date on carbon pricing initiatives at national and regional levels in Africa.

• Speaking publicly at events and engaging African government representatives around their climate, sustainable development and plastics leadership goals and needs.

•  Coordinate training for stakeholders (project proponents, governments, and development banks, among others) on carbon markets, certification cycles of Verra programs, and operation of the Verra Registry.

•  Working with colleagues in communications, market relations and market strategy to ensure the accuracy and delivery of key messages related to Verra's offerings to African partners.

• Engaging with Verra team members to share insights acquired about opportunities and needs for the use of Verra frameworks in Africa.

 Specific functions you will be responsible for…

•  Managing the process for responding to queries posed by entities seeking to certified projects with Verra programs, including:

  •   Monitoring incoming queries;

  •   Developing clear, well-written, and technically accurate responses;

  • Where necessary, obtaining input from Verra colleagues;

  • Ensuring that all incoming queries are addressed;

  • Tracking queries and providing periodic reports;

  • Identifying patterns and trends;

  • Escalating queries of a strategic nature as appropriate.

• Representing Verra locally, handling relationships and collaborating with key partners and counterparts from the public and private sectors in the region to secure the endorsement of markets and the use of our standards in order to meet their aims.

• Engaging in, and aiming to influence, policy and program dialogues that channel finance, technology, and capacity to carbon and sustainability market actors to strengthen the role of our standards.

• Exploring market opportunities for VCS project proponents inside and outside the African region to support regional governments actions and policies (e.g., Art 6 pilots, VCM capacity building activities).

• Designing and implementing strategies to engage corporate purchasers and other users, including building the capacity of partners to use our standards through education and training activities.

• Contributing to the development of educational materials aimed at enhancing the capacity of project developers, including through:

  • Video conferences and webinars;

  • Meetings, workshops, and similar events;

  • Presentations;

  • Other materials as appropriate.

• Interacting with Verra teams regarding opportunities and needs for the development and use of Verra standards and programs in the African regional context.    

• Giving insights and lessons learned from engagement activities into the work of our standards.

• Supervising progress and uptake of Verra's standards to produce reports, data and insights.

You bring with you...

• At least 5-7 years of demonstrated professional experience related to carbon markets.

• Technical knowledge of, and experience working with, environmental and/or social standards.

• Experience in the development and/or validation/verification of VCS, CDM, or other carbon projects, including knowledge of GHG quantification methodologies, baselines, additionality, leakage, non-permanence, and monitoring.

•  Familiarity with major carbon project types, including energy efficiency, waste management, transportation, and/or Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Uses (AFOLU).

• Excellent networking and communication skills. 

• Strong organizational skills and discipline to prioritize and work efficiently and effectively under deadlines with limited supervision.

• Dynamic interpersonal skills, capable of maintaining a professional approach and demeanor in high-pressure situations.

• The ability to speak French and/or Arabic is an advantage.

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

• Supporting the development and implementation of a strategy for Verra in Africa that establishes a solid role for independent standards in voluntary financing for sustainable actions in the evolving policy landscape.

• Working with innovative programs designed to drive finance towards high-impact activities that address the most pressing issues of our day.

• Developing recommendations on how our standards can continue to maintain the highest levels of rigor, evolve to respond to market needs, and provide workable solutions that drive finance to climate action, sustainable development and plastic pollution.

• Expanding your network of professionals working on climate and sustainable development, including government officials, private-sector actors, NGOs, and others.

You will know you are successful if...

• Verra is able to effectively promote market-based solutions throughout the region, including the appropriate use of both carbon credits, and the assessment of sustainable development           contributions.

• Verra's programs are recognized in key markets across Africa and considered to be of the highest level of rigor, integrity and workability.

• Verra partners consistently express positive feedback in respect of our management of its programs.

You will join a team ...

• 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 embodies the values Verra has established for itself, including 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.

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; and

• 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)

We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request an accommodation.