Associate Director, Technical

Summary

Join Winrock International as an Associate Director, Technical, and play a key role in the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) program. This position involves leading the technical REDD+ team, supporting jurisdictions and stakeholders, overseeing validation and verification bodies, and contributing to the development of program documents. You will leverage your expertise in REDD+, carbon markets, and GHG accounting to ensure the program's technical rigor and quality. The role requires strong technical and communication skills, experience in international REDD+ projects, and the ability to work effectively in a team setting. This position offers competitive pay and an excellent benefits package. The successful candidate will be committed to Winrock's mission and market-based approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Forestry, Natural Resources Management, Carbon Accounting, or related field
• Minimum of 10 years of experience working in international REDD+ / forest carbon including with validation and verification, voluntary or compliance carbon markets, and/or remote sensing and forest measurement with greater experience preferred
• Familiarity with REDD+ accounting and quantification methods, fundamental greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting principles, verification and auditing standards
• Understanding of approaches for quantifying emissions from deforestation and degradation and removals at a jurisdictional scale
• Understanding of validation and verification processes and standards
• Knowledge and understanding of voluntary and regulated carbon markets including CORSIA and the Paris Agreement
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Ability to manage project operations and workflow effectively, to track and meet deadlines for multiple tasks
• Strong interpersonal skills, impeccable integrity and trustworthiness, sense of humor, and diplomatic approach to problem solving
• Ability to consistently interact with others in a professional, courteous, and tactful manner, maintain a positive attitude and good working relationships, and work effectively in a team setting
• Ability to work independently for timely completion of quality deliverables
• Strong technical and analytical skills
• Strong speaking, presentation and written communication skills
• Must be available to travel for short-term assignments
• Commitment to Winrock’s mission and interest in market-based approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions required
• Candidate must be comfortable working in a flexible, high-paced environment and able to work well in teams and also independently

Responsibilities

• Lead technical REDD+ team and work streams within ART operations
• Develop a deep understanding of all ART program requirements including TREES technical, safeguards and verification requirements
• Support interested and participating jurisdictions under the ART program, including answering questions, developing communications materials, and providing presentations on the program requirements
• Oversee the Technical team’s review and substantive feedback on TREES documents submitted for completeness checks under ART
• Take a leading role in the oversight of ART validation and verification bodies including during audit processes and document reviews and mentor ART colleagues in oversight process
• Support and/or take a leading role in the development of and updates to ART Standards, templates, guidance documents, tools and other program documents
• Assist in coordinating expert committees as needed, including preparation of meeting materials, development of memoranda, management of contractual documentation
• Manage and contribute to the development of technical analyses, presentations, outreach materials, and reports to contribute to the implementation of the ART program
• Represent ART in industry groups and speaking engagements as appropriate
• Assist with the development of summary materials for the ART Board and present on technical topics as appropriate

Preferred Qualifications

Fluency in one or more additional languages is an asset, especially Spanish and French

Benefits

Competitive pay and an excellent benefits package