Regional Representative, Asia-Pacific

Job Title:      Regional Representative, Asia-Pacific

Location:      Singapore

Start Date:   Immediately

Reports to:  Director, Stakeholder Engagement, in the Legal, Policy, and Markets Team

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 and remove greenhouse gas emissions, improve livelihoods and protect natural resources across the private and public sectors. We work with governments, businesses, and civil society to advance the use of the following standards, including through the development of markets:

• Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) -- the world’s leading carbon crediting program, with more than 1880 registered projects in 88 countries, and VCS projects have reduced or removed over one billion tons of carbon and other GHG emissions from the atmosphere.
• The VCS Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) Framework – helps entities with forest-related emission reduction activities to integrate their efforts into governmental climate goals. It also gives governments a framework to generate greenhouse gas credits for their REDD+ programs and to nest projects.
• 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.

Given significant developments in the global climate policy context, governmental entities, the private sector, and NGOs are increasingly engaging in a variety of carbon and environmental policies and activities that provide opportunities for Verra's standards. Verra is recruiting for the new role of Regional Representative, Asia-Pacific, to engage with stakeholders throughout the region in order to develop and manage educational and capacity-building activities with the ultimate aim of facilitating the development of markets and the development of a high-integrity, high-impact market that delivers finance and development benefits at scale. Stakeholder audiences will include project proponents (PPs) (existing and applicant), validation and verification Bodies (VVBs) (existing and applicant), accreditation entities, governments, and development banks.

A day with Verra's collaborative Stakeholder Engagement team might include…

• Attending a meeting with government officials to foster increased understanding and adoption of Verra's standards.
• Working with colleagues in Verra’s communications team to ensure the accuracy and delivery of key messages related to Verra's offerings.
• Producing a concise and well-researched analysis of a regional policy development that may impact the VCM, including clear and actionable recommendations, and presenting your analysis to senior colleagues in the organization.

Specific functions you will be responsible for leading...

• Support the development of the markets and build the capacity of Asia-Pacific stakeholders to access and use Verra's standards, including by providing guidance and support, responding to queries, and organizing and delivering training events, with a view to educating them on how Verra’s standards can help them meet their climate and development aims.
• Engage in opportunities to develop markets for Verra’s standards in the Asia-Pacific region, including through the development, maintenance, and strengthening of relationships with a view to identifying stakeholder priorities and requirements, synthesizing and analyzing findings, and advancing actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening Verra’s carbon market offerings.
• Monitor the evolving policy landscape in the Asia-Pacific region, including by reviewing documents and policies and engaging with government officials, to evaluate opportunities for Verra.
• Engage in communications activities relating to the Asia-Pacific region, including the preparation and delivery of presentations and mailings to stakeholder audiences in the region.
• Support the formalization and implementation of joint work agreements with Asia-Pacific region stakeholders.
• Represent Verra in Asia-Pacific-related working groups.

You bring with you...

• Demonstrated professional experience in climate policy, international negotiations, carbon markets implementation and practice, emissions compliance markets, and/or other environmental or social markets. At least 6 years of work experience in this area is preferred.
• Excellent networking and communication skills. A demonstrated understanding of the carbon market stakeholder environment in the Asia-Pacific region would be a strong asset.
• Strong organizational skills and discipline to be able 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.
• Languages. Fluency in English is required; a working knowledge of one or more other languages is an advantage.

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

• Helping to develop and implement a strategy for Verra that establishes a solid role in the Asia-Pacific region for Verra’s programs.
• Working at the cutting edge of programs designed to drive finance towards high-impact activities that tackle the most pressing environmental and social issues of our day.
• 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 can effectively educate key Asia-Pacific region stakeholders about market-based solutions, including the appropriate use of carbon credits, plastic credits, and the assessment of sustainable development contributions.
• Verra's programs are recognized in key Asia-Pacific markets and are considered to be of the highest level of rigor, integrity, and workability.
• Asia-Pacific stakeholders consistently express positive feedback in respect of Verra's 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 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

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)

*Please add app.bamboohr.com to your contact list to ensure you receive emails from us*

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.