winrock Arlington, Virginia; Little Rock, Arkansas; or remote within the United States Full-time 2024-10-08

Program Manager, Net Zero Climate Services (Energy and Carbon) 

Position summary:  

The Program Manager will work with clients to unlock billions of dollars to finance emission reduction and removals projects that contribute to keeping global warming to 1.5 Celsius. In this role, you will provide technical advice on GHG emissions accounting and decarbonization strategies. You will work collaboratively with clients to identify decarbonization opportunities and ensure adherence to GHG calculation methodologies. When climate accounting and target setting standards are vague, this role will identify these areas of uncertainty and propose no-regrets approaches to support Winrock clients to innovatively take the most ambitious pathway that benefits climate, nature and people. You will help identify key action-enabling features and pain points of normative and regulatory climate standard organizations to suggest any important reforms. You will work with some of the most influential private sector, philanthropic and governmental actors in the world. Past and current Winrock clients include Nestle, McCormick, and the Energy Transition Accelerator 

Winrock is seeking an inquisitive, dynamic, creative, technical specialist with experience analyzing decarbonization primarily the electricity sector (e.g., clean power purchase agreements and energy attribute certificates) and a strong understanding of corporate climate strategies and the normative standards (e.g. GHG Protocol Scope 2 guidance) and initiatives that influence companies and other actors to decarbonize the electricity sector (e.g., Clean Energy Buyers Institute, International Tracking Standard Foundation). Winrock will give priority to candidates that not only have a strong command of the electricity sector decarbonization discourse but also other sectors that Winrock works in like food, land and agriculture (FLAG). An understanding of decarbonization strategies and associated standards and guidance for target setting (e.g., the Science Based Targets initiative), carbon accounting (e.g., primarily the GHG Protocol corporate standard, Scope 2 standard and Scope 3 standards), and implementation guidance developers (e.g., AIM Platform and Value Change Initiative) 

Business development experience is another trait Winrock seeks from this candidate, whether that experience be conducting external engagement or sales or leading internal business development operations (e.g., proposal writing, pitch asset development, operating or managing a CRM, etc.) 

This position may be based remotely within the United States but is expected to work East Coast hours (EST).  

Position role: 

Supports the Director, Net Zero to help clients achieve their climate mitigation strategies with a focus on decarbonization of a companies’ value chain emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3). Potential responsibilities are likely to include:   

  • Leading or supporting interactions with clients, primarily in presenting updates or deliverables and conducting research to confidently answer client questions.   
  • Tracking and managing a pipeline of technical advisory requests on carbon accounting and decarbonization strategies for clients. 
  • Managing technical consultants and providing technical guidance and operational guidance to them as necessary.  
  • Designing and/or running impactful and efficient in-person technical workshops  
  • Preparing PowerPoint presentations, reports, memoranda, and other communication materials.  
  • Completing tasks in fast-paced and self-motivated environment in a timely and efficient manner.  
  • Conducting desk research on corporate climate mitigation leadership standards as well as potential partners and clients  
  • Leading and/or supporting proposal and workplan development.   
  • Performing basic to intermediate calculations using greenhouse gas and economic activity data.  
  • Working with small teams to prepare high-quality products, pitching-in wherever necessary and providing guidance and leadership.  

 

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Education:  

  • Bachelor’s degree required  

Experience:  

  • Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience  
  • Fast learner, curious, a passion for uncovering and creating solutions to climate and sustainability problems.   
  • Strong customer/client service orientation 
  • Experience or training in sales or marketing  
  • 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.  
  • Deep experience in work directly related to decarbonizing the electricity sector or energy intensive industries that rely heavily on electricity to power their operations  
  • Certification for project management or demonstrated experience with managing or serving as a project coordinator.  
  • Working understanding or experience with preparing submissions or reporting against key climate corporate 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).   
  • Experience with developing Life-cycle assessments (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)  
  • Good understanding of or direct experience applying carbon quantification methodologies (e.g. for carbon credits/offset credits), carbon credit or other sustainability product certification standards, carbon credit project development, monitoring reporting and verification of GHG emissions impact.   
  • Climate finance: Practical experience in or exposure to public, multilateral, private sector and blended climate finance.  
  • Experience using ARC/GIS, data analysis software, Excel (basic to intermediate skill in storing, presenting, processing, and analyzing data) 

Language: Fluent in English, fluency in another language is a plus as we engage clients globally.   

Travel: Ability to travel internationally and domestically required 

Physical Demands:  

  • Typical office environment with continual sitting or standing required.  
  • Must be authorized to work within the United States.  

The pay range for this role is between $100,000 and $120,000 per year depending on level of experience, specialized knowledge in the role and function and business needs.  

 

Winrock offers competitive pay and an excellent benefits package.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and value diversity and inclusiveness. Winrock recruits, employs, trains, promotes and compensates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, 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.

Winrock knows that its success comes from the hard work and steadfast dedication of its diverse workforce. Winrock remains committed to maintaining diversity, inclusion and equity across the entire organization