Senior Program Officer, Climate Investment Standards

Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. It increases long-term productivity, equity, and responsible resource management to benefit the poor and disadvantaged.

The American Carbon Registry, (ACR), an enterprise of Winrock International, is dedicated to creating confidence in emerging environmental markets. The organization has over two decades of operational experience in the development of science-based greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting methodologies, oversight of the registration and verification of emissions reduction projects, and the operation of transparent registry systems to track carbon claims. ACR systems stand behind transactions valued in excess of one billion dollars.  The organization’s core knowledge, expertise, intellectual property and infrastructure are actively being applied in new and exciting ways, as the impact investment landscape evolves. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Program Officer, Climate Investment Standards will adapt and develop standards for ACRs emerging capital markets practice. The Senior Program Officer will be part of a small team working at the leading edge of the Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) field, in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment building first-in-kind standards, metrics, and registry tools which help better align capital flows and climate outcomes. 

The successful candidate will be excited to build a new business from the ground up, comfortable with the ambiguity that accompanies early stage venture design, and able to creatively balance competing technical and market development issues as we push to revolutionize the way capital markets internalize impact information.

YOU ARE

• A hybrid technical and business development professional with significant GHG accounting expertise;
• Exposed to current trends in investment impact quantification & reporting;
• A strong communicator, interested in representing the organization externally;
• Creative, entrepreneurial and;
• Able to build and lead a team

WE ARE

• A collegial group of dedicated climate professionals;
• Working flexibly, from locations across the US, yet with significant industry visibility;
• Backed by a world class global organization, board, and team of scientific experts and;
• Involved in thought leadership across issues with access to a global network of leading businesses, NGOs and policymakers

QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND

Education:          Master’s degree or PhD in Environment, Energy, Public Affairs, Data Analytics, Finance, Economics or other relevant field

Experience:       

• At least 15 years of business experience, including at least 10 years of direct experience working in carbon, sustainability, or environmental markets
• Expertise in evaluation, quantification and verification of carbon and other environmental benefit streams, and the integration of these quantified outcomes in project finance for buildings, transportation, energy or waste management projects
• Demonstrated experience with the application of auditing standards and procedures
• Understanding of the integration of ESG factors into financial statements, public disclosures and investor action
• Direct work experience in institutional financial services highly beneficial
• Demonstrated experience in implementation of strategic business planning and development
• Networks with states, municipalities, NGOs and institutions engaged in climate finance and climate policy
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and inspire team members

Other:                   Must be available to travel domestically and internationally for short-term assignments.