Verification Forester

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is a for-profit, internationally recognized third-party certifier of environmental and food safety claims. SCS program areas include: forestry, fisheries, flower production, sustainable agriculture, pesticide residue free and organic food certification, food safety inspection and certification, environmental claims certification, green building product certification, electric power, environmental performance, and more.

Position Overview: 

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is seeking a highly motivated forestry professional to join our team! The Verification Forester caries out a range of activities associated with the third-party verification of forest carbon offset projects around the globe. The Verification Forester is a member of the SCS Greenhouse Gas Program, the verification body that has completed all of the verifications of forest carbon offset projects under the Climate Action Reserve's Forest Project Protocol, including the first two projects outside of California.
 
SCS conducts verifications under various voluntary carbon offset standards, including the Climate Action Reserve, the Voluntary Carbon Standard, and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance.  The successful applicant will become a competent auditor who will conduct evaluations of forest management practices, project documentation, growth and yield model outputs, forest inventory data, and other aspects of the carbon offset project.

This position involves document review, data and model review, on-site forest inventory activities, interviews with stakeholders, and report-writing for forest carbon projects worldwide. Position requires regular travel, both domestic and international, fluctuating between 20%-40% time depending on the season.
 
Responsibilities:

• Auditing: Independently, or with teams of up to 5 professionals, assess management practices and project development activities of private and publicly managed forests relative to the applicable verification standard. Assessments take place on operations throughout the world and involve document review, on-site assessment of field activities, interviews, and the writing of reports and verification findings;
• Client Management: Coordinate the audit process with clients and other stakeholders; ensure that clients provide necessary data and information; provide high level of customer service throughout the audit process;
• Ensuring Quality Control in the Audit Process (e.g., tracking of latest Greenhouse Gas developments and coordination of programmatic changes to keep SCS in compliance with ISO quality standards);
• Marketing/business development: Assist program manager in preparing budgets and proposals for new verification projects. Provide responses to parties interested in verification;
• Program Support: Recruit, train, and oversee work of assessors/technical consultants;
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Forestry Degree from an Accredited Forestry School and Master's degree in forestry or related natural resources field;
• Preferred at least 4 years of professional experience in a related field;
• Excellent writing and communication skills;
• Excellent quantitative skills with an emphasis on biometrics, statistics, growth and yield modeling;
• Familiarity with remote sensing applications;
• Familiarity with the application of standard forest inventory techniques in the field;
• Ability to communicate respectively and diplomatically with clients and colleagues;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Computer skills- proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel required, ArcGIS and Microsoft Access preferred; and
• Initiative and ability to work independently.

Additional Preferred Skills:

The ideal candidate will be well versed in both on-the-ground forest inventory techniques as well as be able to critically evaluate growth and yield modeling, forest biometrics, and other quantitative aspects of forestry. International experience and expertise in international forestry is a plus.

To Apply: 

If you are interested in being considered for the Verification Forester position with SCS, please submit your cover letter, resume, and salary requriements through our online system.

Click here to apply.