Senior Carbon Scientist

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the research component required for running, calibrating, and re-validating the Roth-C soil organic carbon model as implemented across our VM0042 projects. Ensure model validation results are correctly and clearly interpreted.
• Lead the drafting of model validation reports and the responses to comments from reviewers, independent modelling experts, and auditors related to the model validation or soil carbon quantification.
• Ensure model performance is validated against measured soil data following guidance and requirements stipulated by VM0042 and it’s associated tools and modules. Document the evidence so a third party can reproduce it.
• Ensure alignment of model validation outcomes to uncertainty deductions as required by VM0042 and it’s associated tools and modules.
• Contribute to soil sampling design (including statistical analyses for sample size calculations aligned to stratification of project areas), and maintain the in-field soil sampling protocol to meet the evolving requirements of VM0042 and it’s associated tools and modules.

• Track Verra's revisions to the VCS Standard, VM0042 and the associated quantification modules. Attend relevant webinars and provide key feedback to the broader team in a timeous manner.
• Assess what each version change means for each project, and help set out the transition plan and timeline.
• Update the quantification components of project descriptions, monitoring plans and any supporting workbooks to meet new version requirements. Ensure templates are up-to-date and aligned for submission to Verra’s Digital Hub.
• Prepare deviation, revision and methodology clarification requests, and handle Verra's queries through to resolution.

• Build the quantitative basis for baseline scenarios, including baseline soil carbon stock assessments and the modelled baseline trajectory
• Carry out the common-practice and land-management analysis for the project region to support the additionality case
• Support on the delineation and justification of eligible project areas, drawing on spatial data, land-use history and eligibility criteria set out by the applicable methodology
• Draft the technical quantification sections of project descriptions and monitoring reports for VCS registration and issuance.
• Support feasibility work for new projects alongside the project development team, providing methodology or ecosystem-specific carbon estimate ranges aligned to scoped project activities
• Support expansion into new geographies, crops and farming systems across Africa and beyond.

• Define the soil and quantification data requirements for our digital MRV platforms.
• Build reproducible, version-controlled analysis pipelines in R or Python.
• Quality-assure farm activity data relevant to quantification, and close gaps with our field, agronomy and farmer support teams.

• Assemble quantification evidence packs for validation and verification bodies.
• Respond to corrective action requests, clarification requests and forward action requests, and close them on schedule.
• Coordinate independent model evaluation where a methodology calls for it.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• A Master's degree in a quantitative environmental discipline, for example: quantitative ecology, biogeochemistry, environmental or ecosystem science, agronomy, soil science or a closely related discipline. This is a firm requirement. A PhD is welcome.
• At least four years of relevant post-qualification experience in soil carbon, greenhouse gas quantification or quantitative environmental research. Strong candidates with demonstrable, proven competence in these areas will also be considered with fewer years of post-qualification experience.
• Hands-on experience with a process-based soil carbon or biogeochemical model, such as Roth-C, DNDC, or DayCent.
• Working knowledge of the VCS Programme and at least one agricultural, forestry or land-use methodology.
• Strong applied statistics and fluency in R or Python.
• The ability to research and synthesise technical material and translate it into forms for a non-technical audience. This is central to the role. You will write for auditors, farmers and buyers, and each audience needs something different. A strong candidate can move between technical and plain-language for delivery without losing accuracy.
• The right to live and work in South Africa.

• Direct VM0042 experience, at validation, verification or issuance.
• Exposure to other nature-based solutions methodologies, such as ARR (VM0047), REDD+, (VM0048), sustainable grassland management (VM0032), and blue carbon (VM0033)
• Exposure to other carbon standards, such as Gold Standard, Puro, Plan Vivo and their respective nature-based methodologies
• Familiarity with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and how ITMOs affect project eligibility and credit accounting
• GIS and remote sensing skills applied to land-sector carbon work, for example delineating and stratifying project areas, mapping land-use and land-cover change, or deriving activity data from satellite imagery and using tools such as Google Earth Engine, QGIS, or R / Python for these analyses.
• Peer-reviewed publications in biogeochemistry, soil or ecosystem carbon, quantitative ecology, agronomy or greenhouse gas science.
• Demonstrable science-communication experience, for example, translating technical findings into briefings, reports, or presentations for non-specialist audiences.
• Experience of African or Latin American smallholder or commercial farming systems.
• Afrikaans, Portuguese or Spanish.

Job Benefits

• Flexible working hours with flexibility around start and finish times.
• Hybrid working model offering up to 2-3 days working from home per week.
• Monthly medical allowance to support healthcare costs.
• Collaborative and purpose-driven team focused on delivering impactful climate and nature-based solutions projects.
• Opportunity to work on innovative carbon farming and nature-based solutions projects across Africa and beyond.
• Work alongside a highly technical and international team spanning South Africa and the Netherlands.
• Professional development opportunities within a rapidly growing carbon and sustainability sector.
• Flexible and supportive working environment that promotes work-life balance.