Job Description
Position Title: Senior Manager, Technical
Location: U.S. Remote, Arlington, VA or Little Rock, AR
Department: Environmental Resources Trust (ERT) – ART
Reports To: Associate Director, Technical Team Lead
GENERAL
The Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) is a global carbon crediting program that certifies high-integrity emission reductions and removals from protecting and restoring forests at scale. ART operates at a jurisdictional scale to align with Paris Agreement requirements for REDD+ and to help finally decouple economic development from forest loss. As the leading global expert on jurisdictional REDD+, ART is led by a dedicated, independent secretariat that is governed by a Board of globally recognized experts. ART engages with key stakeholders to ensure different perspectives are represented in the design and implementation of its program. To ensure social integrity, ART directly aligns with the UN-defined Cancún Safeguards. As a result of its comprehensive efforts, ART serves as a global quality benchmark for jurisdictional REDD+. This role advances ART’s mission, which is to provide the confidence in the environmental and social integrity of emission reductions and removals from forest protection and restoration to unlock finance at scale for ambitious climate action and to incentivize governments to achieve those results. Learn more at ARTredd.org.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Senior Manager, Safeguards and IPLC Engagement is a key position within the Safeguards and IPLC Engagement Team, responsible for conducting detailed analyses of TREES Document submissions and of validation and verification processes and reports to ensure completeness and adherence to ART program requirements, assisting in responding to questions on the requirements of TREES and to track emerging best practices and resources.
This role is ideal for a detail‑oriented professional with deep experience in safeguards, rights to emission reductions (ERs), benefit-sharing systems, and verification processes under environmental standards or carbon market mechanisms. The Senior Manager will generate written analyses and assessments that directly support Participants throughout the ART process and decision-making within the Safeguards and IPLC Engagement team and across ART.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist the Safeguards and IPLC Engagement Team Lead in conducting completeness checks of TREES Documents (TREES Concepts, TREES Registration Documents and TREES Monitoring Reports), focusing on safeguards requirements, emission reduction (ER) rights, and benefit-sharing arrangements.
- Oversee validation and verification processes related to TREES safeguards requirements, ER rights, and benefit-sharing requirements including conducting completeness checks of Validation and Verification Body documents.
- Contribute to the review and understanding of monitoring and reporting systems used to track jurisdictional program performance and results.
- Draft formal written assessments, memos, and summaries for review by the Safeguards and IPLC Engagement Team Lead.
- Collaborate with the Safeguards and IPLC Engagement Team and other internal teams to develop guidance materials and provide clarifications to participating jurisdictions and stakeholders.
- Assist in tracking research, initiatives and best practices relating to TREES Safeguards.
- Provide insights to inform updates to TREES safeguards requirements, guidance, and related materials.
- Support internal quality assurance efforts to strengthen and streamline safeguards-related procedures within ART while maintaining the highest levels of rigor.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Advanced degree in environmental policy, social safeguards, international development, natural resource management, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience.
Experience: The candidate must have a minimum of 4-6 years of experience in safeguards analysis and/or research, environmental/social risk management, carbon accounting programs, or related compliance review roles.
Preferred Qualifications: Experience with TREES, REDD+, jurisdictional carbon programs, or carbon standards. Experience working with validation and verification bodies (VVBs) or quality assurance systems.
Computer/Technical Skills: Proficiency in MS Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel) and SharePoint, is required.
Communication Skills: Strong speaking, presentation, and written communication skills required.
Language: Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Fluency in one or more additional languages is an asset, especially Portuguese or French.
Required Travel: Must be available to travel for short-term assignments.
Position-Specific Skills:
- Knowledge and understanding of safeguards requirements, emission reduction (ER) rights, and benefit-sharing arrangements.
- Strong analytical skills for evaluating complex documents and the ability to synthesize and interpret the information.
- Ability to remain detail oriented while managing project operations and workflow effectively, to track and meet deadlines for multiple tasks simultaneously.
- 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, and maintain a positive attitude and good working relationships.
- Ability to work independently for timely completion of quality deliverables while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary team
- Strong speaking, presentation and written communication skills with the ability to translate complex concepts for diverse audiences
Physical Demands: Typical office environment with continual sitting or standing required.
Other: None
The salary range for this role is determined based on the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s experience, education, specialized knowledge and skills, and current market conditions. Winrock offers an excellent benefits package.
Winrock is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by law.
At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation.
