Officer, Methodology Development & Innovation

ROLE PURPOSE

The Gold Standard Foundation seeks a highly motivated individual to contribute to our Methodology Development & Innovations. This role will involve working with a range of developers – from emerging start-ups to large-scale companies – in order to develop new impact methodologies for the carbon market (e.g., greenhouse gas reductions/ removals and measuring SDG contributions). In this rapidly evolving landscape, innovations are key, and so we are seeking an individual with both analytical and creative skillsets.

This is a remote role and can be based in UK,  Germany or India.  Candidates from other locations may be considered when feasible.

WHAT WE DO

Gold Standard is a standards body and thought leader that promotes the best that can be achieved in climate and development projects. It was established in 2003 by WWF and other international NGOs as a best practice standard to ensure projects that reduced carbon emissions under the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) also delivered sustainable development benefits.

Today, our standard, ‘Gold Standard for the Global Goals’, allows climate and development initiatives within carbon markets, corporate supply chains, and sustainable finance to manage, measure and maximise their impacts toward the Net Zero ambition of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. Certification against the standard provides the confidence that these results are measured and verified, enabling credible impact reporting. ISEAL Code Compliant and backed by a broad NGO Supporter Network, Gold Standard has 3400+ projects underway in over 100+ countries, creating billions of dollars of shared value from climate and development action worldwide.

OUR VALUES

• PIONEERING

For over 20 years, Gold Standard has shown how carbon finance can achieve its highest potential. We’ve created innovative new standards, programmes and tools that raise the bar for quality across a broader range of applications than carbon markets. We focus on those that have the most promise to contribute to our vision and mission, bringing them to market with the requisite planning and resources.

• RIGOROUS

We build on our reputation for quality and rigour with more robust measurement of outcomes, stronger safeguards and greater impact across the Sustainable Development Goals. Our objective is to make rigour simpler and more achievable at scale.

• COLLABORATIVE

We work with key partners who share our goals and complement our strengths. Our partnership strategy aims to move beyond working opportunistically as a delivery partner in favor of collaborating in long-term strategic synergy.

• TRANSPARENT

We were established to bring confidence, trust, and accountability to carbon markets. We will continue to take strides to improve transparency in our own processes, in the broader market and in non-market mechanisms.

The Gold Standard Foundation is looking to build our team with exceptional people who are excited and driven to shape and deliver this ambition and uphold our values.  In addition to these values, Gold Standard is committed to performing with excellence, and providing constructive and timely support for our growing community of assurance providers.

We are therefore seeking an Officer for the Oversight, Compliance and Innovations Team to help us provide an upfront positive customer experience that continuously improves the quality of the assurance system, promotes loyalty and use of our standard, encourages brand advocacy, and will enable us to continue to grow and deliver on our mission to provide sustainable development and climate security for all.

YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR:

1. Methodology development

• Manage the review, development, and approval of new impact quantification methodologies for the carbon market, climate finance and corporate initiatives.
• Research new areas of emissions reductions and/or GHG removals for The Gold Standard.
• Produce tools and guiding materials for methodology users.
• Contribute to technical updates/revisions to help maintain alignment with the latest scientific understanding and best practice approaches.
• Contribute to The Gold Standard’s flagship programmes, e.g., GSIQ for digital MRV.

2. Stakeholder engagement

• Guide developers through the methodology development process. We work with developers from a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to:

• Agriculture,

• Land use and forestry,

• Blue carbon (e.g., mangrove plantations and seaweed cultivation),

• Renewable energy,

• Sustainable waste management,

• Engineered greenhouse gas removals/ CDR technology,

• Community service projects (e.g., clean cooking),

• Energy efficiency,

• Fossil fuel phase out.

• Present new methodology concepts to the Technical Advisory Committee and relay feedback to developers.

• Discuss new concepts with colleagues and establish appropriate safeguards.

• Establish relationships with subject matter experts (e.g., academic researchers) and manage their inputs during the document review process.

• Represent The Gold Standard at conferences, workshops, and events.

3. Innovations

• Identify emerging opportunities for new methodology development and innovative technology-based solutions.
• Identify collaboration opportunities for methodology development.
• Contribute subject matter expertise/ business requirements to The Gold Standard’s digitization initiative.
• Gather/ monitor intelligence on new technologies and innovative solutions and report findings to the leadership team regularly.

YOU WILL BRING TO THE ROLE:

Required

• 4+ years of demonstrated experience in sustainable/ carbon project development and/or experience in carbon markets.
• Degree in environmental sciences, engineering, agriculture, chemistry, ecology, or similar.
• Technical understanding of carbon market mechanisms including the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), other voluntary standards, and new developments under Paris Agreement (Article 6.2 and 6.4)
• Understanding of GHG inventories/ carbon accounting frameworks (IPCC and GHG Protocol).
• Understanding of emission reduction/ carbon sequestration processes, monitoring and verification techniques.
• Strong organization skills and the ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects.
• Excellent communication skills (both writing and presenting) with the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across the world.

Desired

• An understanding of terrestrial and/ or marine carbon cycling.
• An understanding of agricultural practises/ agricultural engineering and advances in agricultural techniques.
• An understanding of energy processes, renewable energy generation, and low carbon fuels.

YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW BY:

• Expanding the scope of emissions reduction/ removal activities and facilitating their implementation and scale-up of new activities.
• Researching and communicating new opportunities in a rapidly evolving market.
• Working with a range of experts and developers across different sectors.
• Finding innovative ways to solve challenging issues, by learning from other standards and using new technologies and methods.

WHAT WE OFFER:

The salary range for this role will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Other benefits to working at Gold Standard include:

• A mission-driven organisation working at the leading edge of climate and sustainability
• Rewarding work in a dynamic non-profit environment
• A collaborative workplace within a multicultural team
• An ambitious, agile and flexible environment

CLOSING DATE

This role will remain open until a successful candidate is appointed. We regret that we cannot confirm receipt of your application by email. Successful candidates will be contacted for a test and potentially an interview.

APPLICATIONS

Please submit a 1-page cover letter explaining why you want to work for the Gold Standard and a CV through our recruitment portal.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Gold Standard provides equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees and is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination. We are dedicated to an inclusive culture and we strive to create a workplace where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together.

We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, background, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.