Senior Program Officer, VCS Program 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.
  
  

The Opportunity.

With Rapid Growth In Carbon Markets Driving a New Wave Of Innovative New Approaches, Verra Is Seeking a Senior Program Officer To Lead The Development And Drafting Of Program Updates For The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. A Day With Verra’s Collaborative VCS Program Development Team Might Include

• Coordinating inputs on a document that is being prepared for consultation, including drafting a section of that document yourself.
• Presenting your research on and a proposal for a potential VCS Program update to the Manager and Director of VCS Program Development and relevant Innovations and Policy & Markets Team colleagues.
• Drafting communications and coordinating webinars to present ready-to-release updates to the VCS Program to stakeholders.
  
  

The Role. 

• Research for and development of proposed updates to the VCS Program (including securing input, facilitating issue resolution, securing internal approval, and ensuring error-free drafting and formatting).
• Facilitating the completion of proposed updates by incorporating internal and external feedback– work with colleagues who proposed the update, assist with drafting, and ensure that external stakeholder feedback that is received through public consultations is effectively analyzed and incorporated.
• Proactively anticipating necessary updates to the VCS Program and proposing changes to rules and requirements based on stakeholder needs and evolving climate science.
• Supporting stakeholder engagement in VCS Program updates, including running public consultation processes (communications, webinars, compilation and analysis of comments, etc.).
• Anticipating the guidance needed and developing training materials for external and internal stakeholders on implementation of program updates. This should include liaising with the Verra Program Management Team at various points to ensure that they understand updates.
• Mentoring and serving as a resource to Verra colleagues on VCS Program rules and requirements and their interpretation.
• Research and data analytics on prioritization of VCS Program updates (through collaboration with other teams).
  
  

What we’d like to see.

• At least four years of relevant professional experience working for a standards organization (voluntary carbon market preferred), or an NGO, government, project developer, and/or validation/verification body in the carbon market.
• Technical background and demonstrated deep understanding of GHG accounting, carbon crediting programs and sustainability science; understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals and ISO 14064 would be advantageous.
• Understanding of voluntary carbon market concepts such as additionality, permanence and baseline setting as well as market trends and stakeholders.
• Understanding climate change mitigation and project development, and an appreciation for the challenges and opportunities faced by practitioners in this arena.
• Strong project management skills and attention to detail, including prioritizing, and ability to collaborate across teams.
• An innovation mindset with the ability to understand and improve complex systems by understanding issues, developing and evaluating options, developing robust recommendations, consulting and building consensus, and change management for successful implementation.
• Culturally aware with the ability to work with stakeholders and partners from different countries and cultures.
• Self-starter with the ability to excel in a professional environment with limited supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially technical writing in a standards or government policy context.
• A relevant university degree; a master’s degree would be advantageous.
• 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...

• Finding effective ways to ensure the quality of projects using the VCS Program and the credits they generate.
• Creating opportunities to scale climate mitigation opportunities within the VCS Program.
• Working at the cutting edge of a program designed to drive finance towards high-impact activities that tackle some of the most pressing environmental issues of our day.
• Working on challenges and opportunities faced by practitioners of activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve livelihoods.
• Working with a committed and focused team of professionals.
  
  

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 ensure the quality of projects and programs certified under the program.
• Verra stakeholders consistently express positive feedback regarding your ability to collaborate to find workable solutions to challenges they face.
  
  

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 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.
  
  

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.

For this position, the salary range is between $61,827 - $110,568 USD 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:

• 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 for vacation, 7 days of annual sick leave, holidays, and sabbatical after five years of service
• Funds to support professional development
  
  

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 us to request accommodation.