Associate/Senior Associate

About the job:

As part of your role at TerraCarbon, you will advise clients on the development of nature-based solutions (NBS) projects worldwide. Your work will help drive funding to small and large landowners and communities to adopt improved land management practices, increase carbon storage, and build resilience to climate change. You will focus particularly on supporting clients developing NBS carbon offset projects including afforestation, reducing deforestation and degradation (REDD+), agroforestry, improving grazing, and forest management. You will work with a creative and passionate team of experts and the world’s leading organizations that are scaling up nature-based climate solutions. 

What you’ll do:

• Support consulting engagements centered around the development of carbon offset projects, seeing projects through validation, verification, and registration.
• Conduct science-based analyses and produce reports using the latest research and approved greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting methodologies.
• Build strong relationships with for-profit, non-profit, and government clients, serving as a trusted advisor.
• Provide clients with clear and detailed descriptions of analytical methods.
• Collaborate with internal staff and external clients to creatively solve challenges related to quantifying the climate and other impacts of improved management, conservation, restoration, resilience, and adaptation activities.
• By the end of your first year, success will mean supporting at least three projects and developing strong familiarity with relevant accounting frameworks and methodologies.

Required Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in forestry, forest science, soil science, agricultural science, environmental science, or natural resource management.
• 3-5 years of working experience in a relevant field (e.g. scientific research, natural climate solutions, forestry/forest sciences, agriculture/soil science).
• Familiarity with forested and/or agricultural systems.
• Strong analytical skills, including proficiency in sampling design, statistics, and database management.
• Proficiency in Excel and GIS software.
• Strong project planning and management skills.
• Ability to work independently, be a self-starter, and drive projects to completion
• Excellent verbal, written, and organizational skills.
• Willingness to travel and work in field conditions domestically and internationally (approximately 10-30% of the time).
• Fluency in English required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with global carbon market standards (e.g., Verified Carbon Standard, ACR, California ARB, and/or Climate Action Reserve).
• Experience with growth and yield modeling.
• Familiarity with R, Python, and/or SQL.
• Client relations management experience.
• Experience living or working abroad.
• Proficiency in a second language.

Location & Salary

The location for this position is flexible and can be based in our Charlottesville, Virginia office, or it can be remote.

For U.S.-based applicants, the salary range is $70,000-$90,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.  This range only applies to candidates employed in the U.S. For applicants from outside the U.S., compensation will be paid in local currency and adjusted based on local market conditions.

We offer a robust benefits package designed to support work-life balance, including profit-sharing incentives, generous time off, professional development opportunities, and flexible work options. U.S. employees are also eligible for company health insurance and 401(k) matching. To support our global workforce, we utilize local employment partners to ensure all team members receive fully compliant and localized employment benefits and statutory protections specific to their country.

About TerraCarbon:

TerraCarbon LLC is a leading advisory firm with the mission to combat climate change and biodiversity loss by driving market-based funding to nature-based solutions.  We develop and apply innovative methods and science to measure nature’s values for conservation groups, social enterprises, while supporting organizations that work with communities, landowners, and stakeholders worldwide.

Since 2006, we’ve helped 40+ conservation projects around the world that are protecting over 5 million acres and that have reduced emissions by more than 50 million tonnes. Through these efforts, we’re helping drive new, market-based funding to restore, manage, and protect vital natural and working lands.

TerraCarbon is a Certified B Corporation, which means we meet higher standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, and have adopted a legal framework which requires us to consider the impact of our decisions on our employees, suppliers, community, consumers, and the environment.  It is a way of demonstrating that our business has a higher purpose than simply profit, and that is contributing to the restoration, sustainable management, and protection of forests, wetlands, and working lands for the benefit of the world’s climate, wildlife, and people.

TerraCarbon values a diverse workforce. Women, people of color, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply.