Deputy, Government and Policy Engagement, APAC at Verra – Washington, District of Columbia

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.

The Opportunity.

Verra is seeking a policy specialist based in Indonesia to coordinate with government agencies, project proponents and other stakeholders on the use of Verra Programs, particularly the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, with a primary focus on Indonesia and across the Asia-Pacific region. The successful candidate will engage with governments to strengthen coordination between Verra and relevant ministries involved in carbon market implementation. This role will include supporting activities related to the Mutual Recognition Agreement between Verra and the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and engage broader carbon market stakeholders to promote and advance the use of Verra Programs in Indonesia and across the Asia-Pacific region.

A day with Verra’s Government Engagement Team might include…

· Meeting with government officials to discuss implementation and policy alignment related to the carbon markets, and working with relevant partners (e.g. IETA, ICVCM) when applicable.

· Supporting engagement with non-governmental stakeholders.

· Facilitating direct discussions with relevant government officials on the use and implementation of the VM0048 methodology, the Jurisdictional Nested REDD+ (JNR) framework, or the nesting of VCS REDD+ projects within government-led jurisdictional REDD frameworks.

· Providing capacity building related to Verra Programs, when needed.

· Collaborating with Verra’s REDD+ team, when needed, to solve technical issues.

The Role.

· Implementation of the Mutual Recognition Agreement with the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and other line ministries, ensuring alignment with applicable local regulations and policies impacting Verra Programs, while coordinating closely within Verra.

· Stakeholder engagement in Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region to better assess individual government needs (e.g. project development and methodology development) and identify opportunities for Verra to better support them, with insights communicated internally to guide organizational improvements.

· Capacity building on the technical elements of Verra’s REDD methodology and exploring opportunities for collaboration with relevant government officials on VM0048 methodology, the Jurisdictional Nested REDD+ (JNR) framework, or the nesting of VCS REDD+ projects within government-led jurisdictional REDD frameworks.

· Support for the implementation of VCS methodologies in Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region.

· Represent Verra at local and regional events.

What we’d like to see.

· At least 5 years of relevant professional experience, preferably working for a standards organization, NGO, or governmental agency.

· A relevant university degree. A master’s degree would be advantageous.

· Strong attention to detail.

· Culturally aware with the ability to work with stakeholders and partners from different countries and cultures.

· Self-starter with the ability to excel in a professional, team-oriented environment and work independently.

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

· Deep understanding of climate change mitigation, GHG accounting, carbon methodologies, standards, crediting programs, and REDD+ processes/initiatives (e.g., UNFCCC, FCPF).

· Experience working with government bodies and extensive connections with key local stakeholders.

· Skill at prioritizing and working under tight deadlines, and ability to coordinate across teams.

· A track record of developing and maintaining strong working relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Fluency in English and Bahasa Indonesia is essential.

In this role, you will grow and expand your expertise by…

· Helping to advance the carbon market in Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region.

· Gaining exposure to systems, projects, and partners that are leading the way in project development driven by climate finance.

· Working with a dynamic and passionate team of professionals across different Verra teams with a variety of skills and expertise.

· Exposure to a range of professional development options within Verra.

Our Team.

· You will join an inclusive team of leading experts in the carbon market policy space.

· From diverse locations and backgrounds, including carbon market experts, climate negotiators, researchers, 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.

Physical Demands.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a teammate 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 by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.

Work Environment.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a teammate 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-fi with a distraction-free workspace.

Working 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. Salary is one component of 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, comprising 22-30 days vacation, 7 days of annual sick leave, holidays, and sabbatical after five years of service

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. As such, 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, perform crucial job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact humanresources@verra.org to request accommodation.