Senior Carbon Specialist

Pur; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A global B-Corp specialized in environmental restoration seeks a Sr. Carbon Specialist based in Toronto. The role focuses on leading the design and methodologies for agroforestry projects and ensuring compliance with carbon certification standards. Candidates should possess a Master's degree and extensive experience in Nature-based solutions and carbon quantification.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent in forestry, agriculture, or sustainability.
• 10 years of professional experience in Nature-based solutions.
• Experience with carbon certifications (VCS, GS, VCI).

Responsibilities

• Lead design and methodology development for agroforestry projects.
• Ensure methodologies meet carbon certification standards.
• Support business development and develop proposals for new projects.

Skills

Project Management

Carbon Quantification

Communication Skills

Business Development

Teamwork

Education

Master's degree in forestry, agriculture, or related fields

Job description

Sr. Carbon Specialist

Based in Paris, France or Toronto, Canada

Full time and long-term position, local contract

Travels: up to 20%

Beginning: ASAP 2025

PUR Description

PUR is a global, impact-focused B-Corp specializing in the development of environmental restoration projects, known as ‘nature-based solutions' (NbS). Since 2008, we have been helping the world’s largest organizations meet their ESG targets, reduce their environmental footprint, and regenerate the ecosystems they depend on across complex supply chains. Having developed over 45 projects in more than 30 countries, PUR is recognized as both a pioneer and leader in a sector that is now at the forefront of global efforts to address the ongoing climate and biodiversity crisis.

At the heart of our mission is a commitment to fostering and operationalizing insetting strategies—interventions by companies within their own value chains designed to reduce GHG emissions while creating positive impacts for communities, landscapes, and ecosystems. By championing this insetting approach, we aim to create a holistic range of benefits that extend beyond ecological restoration, encompassing social and economic dimensions through enhanced agricultural yields and resilience to climate change-induced stresses, among others.

One of the distinctive features of our work is our ability to tailor projects to the specific needs of different regions and communities. By recognizing the unique characteristics of each ecosystem and the cultural context of the communities involved, we ensure our initiatives are contextually relevant and have a meaningful and sustainable impact. All our projects are developed in close collaboration with local actors, including cooperatives, NGOs, governments, and corporations.Today, we employ 200 staff across 16 countries with key offices in Paris (HQ) and Toronto.

Industry

PUR operates within the dynamic and rapidly evolving sector of environmental consultancy services and nature-based solutions markets. These markets are closely linked with the voluntary carbon markets (VCM) when NbS projects produce carbon credits that can be traded on the VCM. The NbS market has recently gained traction as society recognizes the invaluable services provided by nature and the need to preserve, restore, and harness these services to mitigate and adapt to environmental challenges. To be considered a nature-based solution, projects must effectively address real societal challenges and offer strong environmental, economic, and social benefits for local communities.

Market KPIs:

• If combined with deep decarbonization efforts, NbS projects could provide up to 30% of the mitigation needed to limit global warming to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels by 2030 (World Economic Forum, 2023).
• NbS project credits make up the largest volumes of carbon credits available in the VCM and continue to attract the most investment, with $9 billion invested between 2020 and 2022 (Sylvera, 2023).
• In 2021, the VCM was estimated to be worth $2 billion, four times its 2020 value. By 2030, the market is expected to reach $10 to $40 billion (BCG, 2022).
• 5,307 companies have set science-based targets—a 4.2x increase since 2022—and are a significant driver of demand within the NbS and VCM markets (SBTi, 2024).
• To meet their SBTi targets and mitigate their climate-risk exposure, organizations around the world will need to invest in the type of projects PUR develops. Today, very few market players have a proven track record in NbS project implementation, and PUR is therefore well-positioned to benefit from the market’s expansion.

As a key member of the Carbon team, you will report to the Head of Carbon who is based in the Netherlands. You will be responsible for ensuring the project design and methodologies applied in PUR’s agroforestry projects are of high quality and meet the requirements of the standards (Verra. Gold Standard; VCI); provide technical support and supervision over the carbon certification process; and support business development and consultancy work.

Your responsibilities will include in a non-exhaustive manner:

Lead design and methodology development

• Ensure PUR’s approach to carbon baselining; carbon quantification (ex-ante/post-ante) sampling and leakage assessment are aligned with best practice (Verra; Gold Standard) and designed for the specifics of our projects and cost effective;
• Do literature review and build a library of allometric equations and growth parameters to be used in carbon quantification for agroforestry systems;
• Build tools and databases for the carbon project managers to apply in the certification process to build efficiencies across projects;
• Develop and provide guidance on meeting carbon certification requirements: stakeholder consultations; SDGs; definition of the supply sheds; definition of the scale of the project; etc.
• Stay on top of development of new methodologies, standards and practices;
• Improve PUR’s approach to data collection; calculations; analysis – seeking rigor with efficiency;
• Work with the Data Team to incorporate remote sensing and other spatial analysis into the projects for MRV; identifying third parties to work with remote sensing for MRV.

Lead knowledge management

• Create standardized training materials for the carbon and operations teams; for cooperatives and in-field partners;
• Create / update protocols and data collection templates;
• Build tools to provide management with quick access to data and information to report on the carbon status of each project; projected versus delivered carbon roadmaps;
• Conduct internal and external training.

Business development

• Support in developing proposal for clients on new project opportunities or the scaling of current projects;
• Develop budgets and carbon estimates for the carbon certification process;
• Support technical calls with clients;
• Work with the Commerical Team to develop a landscape approach, incorporating several clients into one IDD/PDD; making the business case to do so;
• Lead on consultancy mandates, developing client ready deliverables.

Supervise and support carbon certification

• Provide technical support for the implementation of carbon certification projects;
• Conduct technical reviews of the IDD/PDD and Monitoring Reports aligned with Verra, Gold Standard and VCI;
• Carry out technical reviews of carbon baseline and ex-ante/post ante calculations;
• Support through the validation and verification process as needed;
• Support the carbon team in drafting technical sections of the Monitoring Reports; PDD/IDDs as needed.

We are looking for a candidate with:

• Master's degree or equivalent in forestry, agriculture, natural resource management, sustainability or climate change and carbon mitigation related fields;
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience working in Nature-based solutions (agroforestry); managing the process of carbon certifications (VCS, GS, VCI) for agriculture and forest climate projects;
• Experience in the corporate sector; business development and client management;
• Work experience in supply chains such as cocoa or coffee;
• Successful work experience related to carbon quantification and carbon modeling in the context of forestry/agroforestry systems;
• Field experience in agriculture in the regions where PUR operates, especially working with smallholder farmers;
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including a high level of teamwork, goal setting, workflow and budget management, with a focus on delivery (ability to coordinate across multiple geographies and time zones is essential);
• High tolerance for ambiguity; ability to thrive in a dynamic and rapidly changing environment; International experience is a strong plus;
• Strong sense of accountability and commitment/follow-through;
• Strong communication skills (clear, precise, and constructive); adept at giving and receiving feedback;
• Looks for impact by making decisions based on facts and critical thinking;
• Fluent in English and a second language (Spanish / French) is a strong plus;
• Flexible to travel on a need-basis according to the project.

At PUR, we strive to build inclusive teams and an equitable workplace where our employees feel respected, supported, and empowered. As a global company operating across six continents, we recognize that diversity in the workplace is essential to achieving our mission.

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, race, gender, colour, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other aspect that makes them unique.

PUR is dedicated to providing an accessible environment for all candidates during the application process and for employees during their employment. If you require accommodation or consideration throughout the interview process, let us know, and we will do our best to support you.