Senior Program Officer, Auditing and Accreditation

About Verra.

At Verra, we've created a culture of flexibility + autonomy. You'll be able to work with remote teams from diverse countries and industries. Wherever possible, we aim to find mutually agreeable solutions for international hiring.

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 helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve livelihoods and protect 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 2000 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.

Job Title: Senior Program Officer, Auditing and Accreditation

Location:  Remote -Worldwide (with significant overlap with US business hours)

Start Date:  Immediately

Reports to: Senior Manager, Validation/Verification Quality Control

The Opportunity

Verra is seeking a Senior Program Officer to support the oversight of Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) andtostrengthen their capacitytoconduct audits effectively andconsistentlyunder Verra programs.This roleiswithinthe Auditing and Accreditation teaminVerra’s Program ManagementDepartmentand focuses on supporting VVB application reviews, performance observation audits, and ongoing monitoring activities.

A day with Verra’s Program Management Team might include…

• Monitoring notifications of upcoming VVB validation and verification audits toidentifyopportunities for Verra to perform a performance observation audit.

• Planning,coordinating,and/or conducting performance observation audits, including liaising with Verra staff, VVBs, and project proponents, and managing communications and travellogistics.

• Documenting performance observation audit findings and supporting follow-up activities.

• Responding to internal and external inquiries, ensuring clear,timely, and consistent communication aligned with Verra program requirements.

• Reviewing documentationsubmittedby applicant VVBs to assess completeness and alignment with Verra’s auditing and accreditation requirements. Following up with applicants to request clarifications oradditionalinformation as needed.

• Reviewing andmaintainingup-to-dateinformation on VVBs across Verra systems.

• Maintaining and analyzing VVB performance data (project reviews, quality control reviews, nonconformity reports) and other tracking tools used to support VVB oversightand training opportunities.

• Working closely with colleagues across Verra’s Program Management and other internal teams to ensure coordinated oversight of VVB performance and consistent application of Verra program rules.

The Role.

• Supporttheselection, planning, and implementation of performance observation audits of VVBvalidationand/ or verificationactivities, including:

• Monitornotifications of upcoming VVB audits toidentifysuitable performance observation auditopportunities

• Coordinatewithappropriate Verrastaff to assign and conduct performance observation audits

• ManageandplanlogisticswithVVBs, project proponents,and internal teams,including communicationsandtravel coordination

• Conductperformance observation audits to verify the competence and effectiveness of approved VVBs in conducting validations and/or verifications within a defined scope.

• Documentandmanageperformanceobservation audit findings

• Serveas the primarypoint of contact for internal and external inquiries received through Verra’s Auditing and Accreditation inbox, providing professional,timely,and consistent responses.

• Supportthe technical review and management of VVB applications, including:

• Reviewingsubmitteddocumentation to assess completeness and alignment with Verra program requirements

• Communicating with applicant VVBsregardingapplication status, requests for clarification, and next steps

• Supporting internal review processes related to VVB approval andscopeeligibility.

• Supportthe development,maintenance,and consistent application ofstandard operating proceduresrelated toVerra’s Auditing and Accreditation processes.

• Maintainaccurateand up-to-date VVB information across Verra systems.

• Collect,maintain, andanalyzeVVB performance data to support ongoing quality monitoring, reporting, anddecision-making, including contributing to the development and maintenance of VVB performance scorecards.

• Providesupport to other workstreams in the A&A Team, such as developing requirements for VVBs,

• Collaboratewith colleagues across Verra’s Program Management and other internal teams to ensure coordinated oversight of VVB performance and consistent application of Verra program rules.

• Other responsibilities to be definedasthe Auditing and Accreditation teamevolves.

Whatwe’dlike to see.

• 8+yearsofrelevant professional experience, with at least3years working with VVBs or accreditation bodies, ideally doing GHG project certification or sustainable development project certification.

• A relevant universitydegree. An advanced degreewould beadvantageous.

• Demonstrated experience in climate change mitigation, carbon crediting programs/standards, sustainability science, and/or the Sustainable Development Goals.

• Strong understanding of the standards and principles of auditing and the auditing techniques of examining, questioning, evaluating, and reporting todeterminea quality system's adequacy and deficiencies.

• Knowledge of Verra’s standards, ISO 17029, ISO 14065, ISO 14064,ISO14066,and social auditing accreditation standards; preference given to candidates with relevant professional training and/or certifications.

• Strong attention to detail and the ability to focus accurately and efficiently on one or multiple tasks.

• Demonstrated ownership of projects/initiatives from planning to completion.

• Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and work efficiently and effectively under deadlines.

• Strong written and verbalcommunicationskills.

• Cultural awareness with the ability to work with stakeholders and partners from different countries and cultures.

• Fluency in English is essential; preference will be given to candidates with fluency inadditionalUN languages.

• Enthusiasm for and the ability to travel internationally (up to 50% of the time), conducting audits in sometimes remote and difficult conditions.

In this role, you will grow and expand yourexpertiseby...

• SupportingVerra’s Program Management team members in conducting performance observation audits.

• Workingcollaborativelywith VVBs to identify effective ways tostrengthenaudit quality andimprove validationand verificationservices.

• Working within an innovative auditingand accreditationteamthatis critical toensuringtheintegrityand quality of auditsconducted by VVBs across Verra programs.

Our Team:

• You will join aninclusive teamof leading experts inauditing and accreditation.

• From diverse locations and backgrounds, including carbon market experts, researchers, auditors, and more.

• Committed to driving finance at scale to projects and programs that advance climate action and sustainable development through high-quality standards and programs.

Working at Verra

Verra pays employees competitively in the market to help us attract andretaintop 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. Salary is onecomponentof Verra’s total compensation package, which also includes:

• Medical, vision,and dental care, and life insurance

• Verra contributions to each employee’s retirement plan/pension scheme with employee and employer contributions

• Paid leave,comprising22-30days vacation, 7 days of annual sick leave, holidays, and sabbatical after five years of service

. 

Physical Demands.

The physical demands described here are representative of those a teammate must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision for computer work.

Work Environment.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative ofthose ateammate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period.

• Access to reliable Wi-fiwith a distraction-free workspace.

How to Apply

Please send us a Cover letter (not to exceed one page) and your Resume/CV (not to exceed two pages). Verra is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all our work, and doing this successfully is crucial for us to embody our established values which are Teamwork, Results, Integrity, Balance, and Exploration. We actively celebrate belonging among our team members’ different abilities, sexual orientations, ethnicity, faith, and gender.

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 toparticipatein the job application or interview process, perform crucial job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact humanresources@verra.org to request accommodation.