Technical Specialist, Climate Change

The Rainforest Alliance (RA) is an international nonprofit organization that works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Based in New York City, with offices throughout the United States and worldwide, the Rainforest Alliance works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers.

The goal of the RA Climate Change Initiative (CCI) is to conserve biodiversity and enhance livelihoods through supporting sustainable land management practices to mitigate climate change. The CCI is cross-divisional, involving activities of the sustainable forestry, agriculture and tourism divisions of RA. The two principal foci are carbon forestry and agroforestry offset projects and sustainable production of commodity crops for biofuels. The CCI works with a wide range of stakeholders, from small producers to large corporations to governments.

Position Overview:

The Technical Specialist will be responsible for technical project coordination, verification systems and tools development, training, and assistance with the growth of RA's CCI. S/he will be expected to effectively provide scientific and technical rigor to RA verification of carbon sequestration and emissions reductions projects according to internationally accepted standards, focusing primarily on forestry, agroforestry, and agriculture, but monitoring all technical work across divisions.

This position will work together with the cross-divisional Climate Initiative Team including Directors and other Managers from Sustainable Forestry, Agriculture, and Tourism to develop the organization's activities to address climate change. The Technical Specialist will represent the RA CCI to businesses, NGOs, project developers, carbon credit and offset service providers, investors, and corporations.

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical input to carbon verification audit work and participate in the technical components related to carbon calculations in both field and desk based audits;
• Assist Forestry and Agriculture Regional Managers with the preparation of forestry, agroforestry, and agricultural carbon project proposals, budgeting, team identification, report writing, report review, and finalization of assessments;
• Coordinate project-by-project efforts of Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism staff to participate in carbon validation, verification, and methodology development as needed;
• Provide leadership in managing the accreditations or approvals of RA as a carbon validator/verifier for the Voluntary Carbon Standard; Chicago Climate Exchange; CCBA, Plan Vivo; and other carbon verification systems (such as Clean Development Mechanism) as necessary;
• Create procedure and policy documents for RA audit and verification techniques for any of the international standards we will use;
• Publish auditor guidance and training modules for validation/verification of forestry, agroforestry, and agriculture carbon projects;
• Publish guidance and develop methodologies or tools suitable for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and community organizations developing carbon projects;
• Enhance the worldwide technical capacity of Rainforest Alliance through development and implementation of carbon methodologies and protocols for forestry, agriculture, and tourism;
• Develop training materials with the Training Manager for use in training RA staff, representatives, and auditors, and implement training courses with the Verification Services Manager or other RA staff;
• Evaluate Rainforest Alliance certified/verified business portfolio to identify potential carbon project opportunities;
• Coordinate with other organizations and partners on joint carbon projects;
• Lead the creation of a referral database and establish contacts with project developers, offset providers, carbon consultants and funders;
• Provide technical input into the creation of public communication materials (service summary and fact sheets) and website;
• Represent RA CCI at public events;
• Prepare press releases and profiles about the RA CCI activities;
• Provide support to regions in the recruitment of clients, particularly in explaining technical aspects of carbon measurement;
• Serve as technical resource to climate and carbon-related questions from RA regional and partner offices; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree preferred; preferably in environmental science, forestry, or ecology;
• Minimum 1 year experience in carbon modeling/calculations and/or carbon markets/standards;
• Strong understanding of carbon modeling for agriculture, forestry and land use projects;
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint);
• Excellent writing, editing and verbal communication skills;
• Written and verbal proficiency in Spanish preferred;
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple priorities in a time sensitive manner;
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills with ability to interact culturally, linguistically, and diplomatically with diverse internal and external individuals;
• Knowledge of, and commitment to, environmental issues and sustainability practices;
• Experience in a not-for-profit and international environment preferred; and
• Ability and willingness to travel a minimum of 25% per year, nationally and internationally.

Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience. Competitive benefits package provided.

Reports to: Manager, Climate Change Initiative
Location: Richmond, VT, New York, NY or Washington DC

To Apply:

Please send resume, cover letter and salary history to Human Resources via email, mail or fax.

Rainforest Alliance
665 Broadway, Suite 500
New York, NY 10012

The Rainforest Alliance is an equal opportunity employer.