Manager, Social And Environmental Safeguards

Job Title: Manager, Social and Environmental Safeguards
Location: Remote - Worldwide (with significant overlap with US business hours)
Start Date: Immediately
Reports to: Director, 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 Manager to join the sustainable development innovation team to support the consistent evolution of Social and Environmental Safeguards in all Verra programs. This person will help update safeguards requirements across programs and develop the necessary guidance or tools for their successful implementation and auditing.
A day with Verra's Program Development and Innovation Department (PDID) might include...

• Providing actionable analysis and insights on Social and Environmental Safeguards for program or methodology updates.
• Conducting research into standardizing the measurement and monitoring of sustainable development impacts resulting from project interventions.
• Engaging with other Verra staff to ensure Social and Environmental Safeguards are appropriately integrated and consistent across Verra programs.

Specific functions you will be responsible for leading...

• Providing technical input and developing robust and auditable safeguard requirements to identify, avoid, mitigate, and minimize adverse Social and Environmental impacts in the design and implementation of Verra projects.
• Proposing updates to Verra programs to ensure Social and Environmental Safeguards are consistent across programs.
• Developing guidance for project proponents and validation/verification bodies (VVBs) on the design, implementation, and audit of safeguards in a culturally and socially appropriate way. Such safeguards include, for instance, free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) from Indigenous Peoples, customary rights holders, and local communities; creation of benefit-sharing mechanisms; respect for property rights; stakeholder engagement and consultation; and just transition.
• Developing tools and guidance to report on safeguards and sustainable development impacts in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and international treaties.
• Identifying opportunities for Verra to engage with and learn from Indigenous Peoples and local communities to strengthen its programs' rules and requirements.
• Coordinating the capacity-building of Verra staff, project proponents, VVBs, and other relevant stakeholders regarding Social and Environmental Safeguards for sustainable development.
• Representing Verra at sustainable development-related conferences, workshops, and events.

You bring with you...

• At least eight years of relevant professional and technical experience in safeguards, social policies, Indigenous Peoples-related issues, FPIC, just transition, gender and social inclusion, livelihoods, conservation policies, and development issues.
• Experience working with field-based conservation and development initiatives.
• Relevant professional experience working for a standards organization or an NGO, government, project developer, and/or VVB.
• Understanding of sustainable development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, sustainability science, and/or corporate sustainability.
• 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 on challenges and opportunities of Social and Environmental Safeguards.
• Collaborating closely with a dynamic and passionate team of highly committed professionals across different Verra teams, constantly seeking ways to tackle climate change and promote sustainable development solutions worldwide.
• Exposure to a range of professional development options within Verra.

You will know you are successful if...

• You are seen as a reliable and capable team member by your peers and manager.
• You help Verra staff, project proponents, VVBs, and other relevant stakeholders to successfully develop, implement, and audit projects with robust Social and Environmental Safeguards.
• Verra stakeholders consistently express positive feedback regarding your ability to collaborate to find workable and credible solutions to their challenges.

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
Verra pays employees competitively in the market to help us attract and retain top talent. Pay is based on several factors, including market location, and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We recognize employees who go beyond expected performance with salary increases and/or promotions, but the bar for earning those rewards is high.
For this position, the salary range is between $81,371 - $92,383 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.
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 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.