Position Title: Director of Industrial Solutions 

Location: U.S. Remote, Arlington, VA or Little Rock, AR 

Business Unit: ACR, within Environmental Resources Trust (ERT) 

Reports To: ACR Managing Director 

 

GENERAL 

ACR is an internationally recognized carbon crediting program that operates in global compliance and voluntary carbon markets. A nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, ACR was founded in 1996 as the first private greenhouse gas (GHG) registry in the world with the mission of harnessing the power of markets to improve the environment. ACR brings more than two decades of unparalleled experience in development of rigorous and science-based methodologies and carbon accounting standards, as well as operational experience in the oversight of high-quality GHG project listing, verification, registration, issuance, serialization, and on-line retirement reporting. 

ACR operates as an independent carbon credit standards body and registry, as well as an approved Offset Project Registry (OPR) for the California cap-and-trade program and Washington State cap-and-invest program. ACR is approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to supply emission reduction and removals credits to airlines for use towards their obligations under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). As a result of our commitment to ensure no double counting with the Paris Agreement, ACR and the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) for which Winrock serves as the Secretariat, were the first (and currently the only) crediting programs approved by ICAO to supply post-2020 credits for the 2021-2023 CORSIA period as well as for the first CORSIA compliance period 2024-2026. Both are positioned for roles in new compliance offset markets in other U.S. states and under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, as well as increased prominence in the global voluntary carbon market. 

 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Director of Industrial Programs is a senior role within ACR, overseeing the ACR Industrial Programs team to ensure the highest level of quality for ACR-registered projects and ACR-issued carbon credits within the industrial sector (e.g., projects that reduce emissions from ozone depleting substances, refrigerants, livestock, landfills, mining, the oil and gas industry, and/or other industrial processes). This involves effectively managing technical staff in their review of project listing, design, monitoring, and verification documents to confirm adherence to ACR and/or regulatory requirements for greenhouse gas (GHG) quantification, social and environmental impacts, and other criteria. 

The Director leads outreach and manages relationships with project developers and verifiers within the industrial portfolio. The Director is also a key player in critical communications such as ACR’s engagement with the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), regulatory agencies, and carbon credit rating agencies, including the publication of materials that advance understanding of ACR’s industrial methodologies by these entities, other stakeholders, and the public. The Director will also establish and advance strategic plans within the industrial sector, including the development of new and robust GHG accounting methodologies, a cobenefit assessment framework, and an interactive project map. The Director is responsible for following industry and policy developments in the sector to inform business development opportunities and contribute to organizational growth. 

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Lead ACR’s voluntary and compliance carbon market industrial sector business.
• Support and manage the Industrial Programs technical staff in day-to-day operations; recruit, hire, and train new staff as applicable.
• Ensure all technical requirements are met for the listing, reporting, verification and registration of industrial projects and the issuance of associated carbon credits.
• Interact regularly on a technical level with project developers and verifiers to address issues that arise through the offset project development and verification process and oversee the delivery of technical guidance to stakeholders.

• Lead industrial methodology strategy, development, and approval process, including overseeing the internal technical, eligibility, and market impact review; public consultation and peer review processes; development and publication of methodology and supporting documents; and management of client relations for methodology approval (or other outcome).
• Collaborate with other senior ACR staff to identify strategic partnerships, product and service offerings and other new business opportunities that will further ACR’s mission.
• Develop technical analyses, presentations, and outreach materials to support ACR’s program.
• Serve as a senior technical representative on key industry committees and working groups.
• Represent ACR and constructively engage with key stakeholders and partners, including relevant regulatory and government agencies, leading environmental NGOs, key business leaders, industry associations, and funders to directly support ACR’s success in all markets.

 

QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND 

Education: Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in Environmental Science, Physical Sciences, Engineering, or related field. 

Experience: The successful candidate will possess the following experience: 

• Minimum of 15 years of relevant business and research experience, including at least 10 years of direct experience working with projects in the carbon, sustainability or other environmental markets and incentive programs.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience managing teams, including introducing and streamlining procedures to create efficiencies and promote accountability.
• Highly knowledgeable of carbon and environmental markets, deep experience with GHG accounting principles, and a working understanding of reporting, verification, and audit standards.
• Knowledge of a variety of industrial processes, associated measures to reduce GHG emissions, and the surrounding policy and economic environment.
• Candidates with policy and regulatory experience are strongly preferred.
• Candidates with experience in project oversight within environmental market and incentive structures are strongly preferred.

Skills: The successful candidate will possess the following skills: 

• Exceptional leadership and managerial skills with a particular interest in professional development and a demonstrated ability to mentor and motivate staff and foster a positive team culture in a remote work environment.
• Strong project planning and management skills, including the ability to identify and manage critical dependencies, allocate resources, and track performance for multiple tasks and initiatives.
• Strong technical, analytical, and critical thinking skills complemented by a solutions oriented mindset and ability to constructively engage with staff and stakeholders on technical matters.
• Quick learner with an ability to synthesize highly-technical information for a variety of audiences.

• Ability to delegate assignments, set priorities, clearly communicate expectations, and provide background information and resources, and provide constructive feedback.
• Strong interpersonal skills, impeccable integrity and trustworthiness, sense of humor, and ability to consistently interact with others in a professional, courteous, and tactful manner, maintain a positive attitude and good working relationships, and work effectively in a team setting.
• Strong speaking, presentation, and written communication skills.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.

 

Other: Must be available to travel for short-term assignments. Commitment to Winrock’s mission and interest in market-based approaches to reducing GHG emissions required. Candidate must be comfortable working in a flexible, fast-paced environment. U.S. citizen or work permit required. 

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