[Hiring] Head of Nature-based Science @goodcarbon

Role Description

As Head of Nature-based Science, you are part of the Executive team and take responsibility for goodcarbon’s quality proposition. This is a leadership role at the intersection of environmental science, portfolio management, and thought leadership. You will lead a team of nature scientists and experts, set the standard for what “good” looks like in NbS, and ensure that standard is applied rigorously to every client portfolio and sourcing decision goodcarbon makes.

You will work closely with our go-to-market, sourcing, and advisory teams, and represent goodcarbon externally in client conversations, policy forums, and the wider voluntary carbon market community.

Responsibilities

• FRAMEWORK & INTELLIGENCE
  • Own and continuously evolve goodcarbon’s Nature Analytics Framework — our 160-datapoint quality assessment system - across all NbS project types and geographies.
  • Define and enforce the due diligence standards and quality thresholds applied to client portfolios and project sourcing decisions.
  • Build and maintain intelligence on emerging methodologies, verification standards, monitoring technologies, and regulatory developments in the NbS market (including Article 6, ICVCM, TNFD, and biodiversity credit frameworks).
• TEAM LEADERSHIP
  • Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team of NbS scientists and analysts.
  • Establish and manage relationships with scientific advisors, academic institutions, and goodcarbon’s Technical Advisory Board.
  • Foster a culture of rigour, curiosity, and continuous improvement across the team.
• CLIENT & COMMERCIAL IMPACT
  • Apply the Nature Analytics Framework to assess and monitor NbS projects within client portfolios, providing clear, actionable quality signals.
  • Collaborate with the go-to-market team to translate scientific insights into compelling client narratives and purchasing decisions.
  • Drive innovation in emerging credit types, including biodiversity, blue carbon, and soil carbon.
• THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & REPRESENTATION
  • Act as goodcarbon’s primary scientific voice externally — publications, conference speaking, media, and policy forums.
  • Build goodcarbon’s profile as a scientific authority in NbS quality and integrity.
  • Support the content marketing team with insightful, evidence-based perspectives on NbS science and market developments.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (required) or PhD (preferred) in environmental science, ecology, forestry, biology, or a closely related discipline from a leading university.
• 8–12 years of relevant experience, with a substantial portion in the voluntary carbon market and a track record of operating at senior or leadership level.
• Deep hands-on expertise in NbS methodologies (e.g. REDD+, ARR, IFM, blue carbon, soil carbon, grassland restoration) and major verification standards (Verra VCS, Gold Standard, Plan Vivo, ICVCM).
• Strong command of MRV principles, monitoring technologies (satellite, LiDAR, field protocols), and the scientific basis for carbon permanence, additionality, and leakage.
• Familiarity with GIS and remote sensing tools (QGIS, ArcGIS, Google Earth Engine) — sufficient to direct and critically evaluate your team’s geospatial work.
• Comfortable with carbon accounting models and quantitative analysis; proficiency in data analysis tools (R, Python, or equivalent) is a plus.
• Familiarity with biodiversity assessment frameworks (TNFD, GBFF, high biodiversity value assessments) and emerging biodiversity credit standards.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience building, managing, and developing teams of technical experts.
• Exceptional communication skills — able to convey complex scientific concepts clearly and influence at the executive and client level.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: proactive, results-oriented, comfortable making decisions in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving capabilities.
• Existing network of experts in the NbS and wider carbon market ecosystem is a significant plus.

Languages

• Fluency in English is essential; German is a plus.

Benefits

• Purpose-driven work at the frontier of climate and nature — with real, measurable impact on the ground.
• Executive team membership in a fast-growing company with genuine scientific differentiation.
• Competitive compensation package including base salary and performance-based incentives.
• Flexible hours and a remote-friendly environment, with a centrally located office in the heart of Berlin.
• A close-knit, interdisciplinary team where your voice shapes company direction.
• Access to goodcarbon’s global network of partners, science advisors, and project developers.