Job Title: Program Officer, Sustainable Development Innovation
Location: Remote – Worldwide (with significant overlap with US business hours)
Start Date: Immediately
Reports to: Manager, Sustainable Development Innovation
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 reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving livelihoods, and protecting 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 2,000 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.
Verra is looking for a Program Officer to join the sustainable development innovation team to support the development and evolution of Verra’s SD VISta and CCBS Programs.
A day with Verra’s collaborative Program Development and Innovation Department might include…
- Working with colleagues and technical experts to develop new CCBS or SD VISta Program requirements, guidance, and tools to support innovative project types
- Reviewing technical documents and providing actionable synthesis to inform program development and updates
- Supporting the organization, facilitation, and follow-up of working group meetings, such as the Nature Framework Development Group (NFDG) and Advisory Group (AG) meetings
- Engaging with other Verra staff to integrate feedback from external stakeholders and develop ways to streamline and strengthen CCBS and SD VISta requirements and procedures
- Collaborating with the Communications Team to support messaging around specific program updates
Specific functions you will be responsible for leading…
- Identifying and developing proposed updates to Verra program rules, procedures, methodologies, tools, or guidance to ensure they drive significant environmental and social impact.
- Supporting the drafting and piloting of the Nature Framework.
- Drafting and reviewing content for presentations, public consultation materials, and announcements.
- Coordinating and contributing to the capacity-building of Verra staff, project developers, validation and verification bodies, and other relevant stakeholders for CCBS and SD VISta Program updates and new methodologies.
- Formatting and editing technical documents in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
- Responding to enquiries when possible, re-directing them when appropriate, and
- Scheduling meetings across multiple time zones
You bring with you…
- Relevant professional experience working for a standards organization (preferred), or an NGO, government, project developer, and/or validation/verification body.
- Technical background and demonstrated deep understanding of sustainable development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and sustainability science.
- Understanding of sustainable development benefits, such as biodiversity uplift, access to clean water, just transition, gender empowerment, education, employment, and/or corporate sustainability is valued.
- Technical understanding of market-based mechanisms and project development, and an appreciation for the challenges and opportunities faced by practitioners in this arena.
- Strong project management and attention to detail, including prioritizing, and ability to work across topics.
- Culturally aware with the ability to learn from team members and stakeholders from different countries, cultures, and sectors.
- Self-starter with the ability to excel in a professional environment with limited supervision.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- 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…
- Working at the forefront of programs crafted to drive finance towards high-impact sustainable development activities and tackle some of the most pressing social and environmental issues of our day.
- Working on challenges and opportunities faced by practitioners of activities that support sustainable development.
- Working with a multifaceted, committed, and focused team of professionals.
- Collaborating closely with a dynamic, committed, and focused group of highly committed professionals constantly looking for ways to fight climate change and promote sustainable development solutions around the world.
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 CCBS and SD VISta Programs and can effectively ensure the quality of projects certified under the programs.
- Verra stakeholders consistently express positive feedback regarding your ability to collaborate to find workable and credible solutions to challenges they face.
You will join an inclusive team…
- Of leading experts in the climate and sustainable development space
- From diverse locations and backgrounds, including carbon market and sustainable development experts, climate negotiators, researchers, auditors, and more.
- Committed to driving finance at scale to projects that advance climate action and sustainable development through high-quality standards and programs.
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.
For this position, the salary range is between $57,225 – $63,597 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.
We will recognize employees who go beyond expected performance with salary increases and/or promotions, but the bar for earning those rewards is high. Salary is one component of Verra’s total compensation package, which also includes:
- Top-tier 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 ten 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.
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 accommodation.