[Hiring] Technical Lead, Sustainability Services @Winrock International

Role Description

The Technical Lead will work collaboratively with clients in the food, land and agriculture (FLAG) sector to identify decarbonization and regenerative agriculture opportunities, ensure adherence to GHG calculation methodologies and relevant standards, and provide technical advisory to clients on a broad range of GHG mitigation and agricultural topics. The individual in this role will closely track the status and direction of key standards like the GHG Protocol, SBTi Corporate Net Zero Standard (Version 1 and/or 2) and the SAI Platform to support Winrock’s engagement with these standards and to advise clients.

Specifically, Winrock is seeking a detail-oriented, inquisitive, dynamic, technical expert with deep knowledge of climate mitigation strategies in the agricultural sector. This expert must also have deep technical knowledge of climate standards such as the GHG Protocol Corporate Suite of Standards and SBTi. Knowledge of commodity-specific guidance and best practice guidance in agricultural value chains, such as those authored by the Value Change Initiative, is a plus.

Demonstrated experience in client relations is important. The ability to communicate the intricacies of climate mitigation and steps to alignment with sustainability standards related to agriculture to clients and other audiences who are not experts is important for this position. In some instances, the Technical Lead may manage two or more junior staff on projects, so demonstrated people management experience will be weighted as moderately important.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, Masters in relevant field preferred
• Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience
• Experience managing technical aspects of greenhouse gas accounting in the agriculture field
• Field or research experience with soil organic carbon (SOC) and land use change models, greenhouse gas profiles, and mitigation strategies of agricultural commodities
• Strong customer/client service orientation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are required, including effective public speaking and the ability to communicate complex issues both verbally and in written form
• Team player capable of adapting to ambiguous environments with cross-group collaboration and problem-solving abilities
• Fluent in English, fluency in another language is a plus

Requirements

• Fast learning, curious, and passionate for uncovering and creating solutions to climate and sustainability problems
• Industry/sector understanding of the GHG profiles and potential mitigation strategies for several of the following FLAG commodities:
  • Cereals & Grains
  • Cocoa
  • Coffee
  • Vegetable Fats & Oils
  • Beef
  • Poultry and Eggs
  • Animal By-Products
  • Soybeans
  • Pulp and Paper
  • Vegetables
  • Spices
  • Coconut
  • Hazelnuts
• Working understanding or experience with preparing submissions or reporting against key corporate sustainability leadership standards (e.g. GHG Protocol Corporate Standard and/or Project Standard, Science-Based Targets Initiative’s standards, the AIM Platform, and the Value Change Initiative, SAI Platform, Taskforce for Corporate Action Transparency (TCAT) guidance documents)
• Experience with developing or evaluating Life-cycle assessments (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)
• Understanding of corporate supply chain management or procurement
• Experience using data analysis software, Excel (basic to intermediate skill in storing, presenting, processing, and analyzing data)
• Ability to travel internationally and domestically required

Benefits

• This is classified as a four-month temporary position while a regular staff member is on parental leave
• Typical office environment with continual sitting or standing required