Senior Program Officer, Improved Forest Management

Title:   Senior Program Officer, Improved Forest Management

Location:   Remote  - Worldwide (with significant overlap with U.S. business hours)]

Reports to:   Senior Manager, Forest Carbon Innovation

The Senior Program Officer, Improved Forest Management, will work to advance the impact of Verra’s work in improved forest management (IFM) by supporting the development of new methodologies, updating existing methodologies, and engaging stakeholders to align methodology advancement with emerging technologies. The position will bridge traditional forestry and practical implementation IFM activities with rapidly advancing techniques for remote sensing quantification.

The Role

The successful applicant will be responsible for work that includes:

• Researching and analyzing the opportunities to use various remote sensing techniques in IFM methodologies
• Developing processes for integration of physical sampling and remote sensing data in IFM methodologies
• Coordinating the development of new methodologies or modules with cross-sector stakeholder groups
• Analyzing the use of biomass expansion factors across methodologies and developing standardized approaches to use across methodologies
• Managing forest management-related updates to the VCS Standard
• Lead the development of an IFM leakage module
• Lead forest carbon working group meetings
• Engage with project developers and credit buyers to answer technical questions and share knowledge
• Support methodology revisions and submissions for external labels (e.g. the ICVCM’s CCP and CORSIA)

Our Team

You will join a team that works closely and collaboratively to solve problems, iterate, and implement updates and improvements to forest carbon methodologies and the VCS Standard.

• Verrans come from diverse locations and backgrounds; our staff includes carbon market experts, project developers, consultants, climate negotiators, researchers, auditors, and more.
• We are committed to driving finance at scale to projects and programs that advance climate action and sustainable development through high-quality standards and programs.

What we’d like to see

• At least five years of relevant work on forest carbon and GHG accounting
• Prior experience as a forester would be beneficial for this role
• Experience with remote sensing to evaluate and monitor forest carbon stocks
• A relevant university degree (e.g., forestry, environmental sciences, natural resource economics)
• Strong technical writing skills and attention to detail in complex documents
• Project management and organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and work efficiently and effectively under deadlines
• Ability to engage with diverse international stakeholders and partners, demonstrating cultural sensitivity and awareness in a global context
• Ability to work collaboratively with a problem-solving mindset
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Fluency in English is essential

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 have created a culture of flexibility and autonomy. You will 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. 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 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 vacation, 7 days of annual sick leave, holidays, sabbatical after five years of service, and other leave allowances
• Funds to support professional development

Verra is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all our work. Achieving this is crucial for embodying our established values: 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 or 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.