Program Manager, Net Zero Climate Services (Climate Standards)

Program Manager, Net Zero Climate Services (Climate Standards) 

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, decarbonization strategies, and interpreting and complying with industry climate standards and guidance. You will work collaboratively with clients to identify decarbonization opportunities and ensure adherence to GHG calculation methodologies and other standards. The individual in this role will closely track the status and likely directions of key standards like the GHG Protocol and SBTi Corporate Net Zero Standard, which are under revision, to support Winrock’s engagement with these standards and to advise clients. Tracking and assessing other climate standards would be done as needed. You will help identify key action-enabling features and pain points of normative and regulatory climate standard organizations to suggest  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.  

Specifically, Winrock is seeking a detail-oriented, inquisitive, dynamic, technical expert with deep knowledge of major voluntary climate standards—especially the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, Scope 2 guidance, and Scope 3 standard and the SBTi Corporate Net Zero Standard. Knowledge of other climate and sustainability standards, protocols, and guidance is a plus—e.g., CSRD, CSSD, CBAM, EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities, climate-related ISOs, AIM Platform criteria, guidance from the Value Change Initiative, carbon crediting programs, individual carbon crediting methodologies, the UN Race to Zero criteria, and sector specific standards and guidance like the RE100 technical criteria and claims guidance, SBTi FLAG Guidance, and commodity-specific sustainability certifications like RSB and ISCC.  

Demonstrated experience in client relations is important. This expert must not only have deep technical knowledge of these standards but an ability to communicate the intricacies of your standards knowledge to clients and other audiences who are not experts.  

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.) 

In some instances, the program manager may manage one or two junior staff on projects, so demonstrated people management experience will be weighted as moderately important. 

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 Climate Services 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 from clients on carbon accounting, decarbonization strategies or how to comply with climate standards. 

• 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 new business outreach efforts.  

• Leading and/or supporting the development of proposals and workplans.   

• 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 learning, curious, and passionate 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.  

• 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.   

• 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 an excellent benefits package.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability 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.