Technical Lead

Position Title: Technical Lead Ecosystem Services Unit (ECO)

Location: VA Office US Hybrid or US Remote Department: Environment & Energy Group (E2 Unit: Ecosystem Services Unit (ECO)

Position Title: Technical Lead Ecosystem Services Unit (ECO)

Location: VA Office US Hybrid or US Remote

Department: Environment & Energy Group (E2

Unit: Ecosystem Services Unit (ECO)

BACKGROUND

Winrock International is recruiting a Technical Lead in the Ecosystem Services Unit (ECO) within the Environment & Energy Group (E2. Winrock is a nonprofit organization that works around the world to increase economic opportunity sustain natural resources and protect the environment. Winrocks E2 Group is comprised of three complimentary units: Ecosystem Services Clean Energy and Forestry and Natural Resource Management. An active participant within the team the Technical Lead will play a key role in fostering a collaborative environment that promotes growth respect equity and thought leadership.

Ecosystem Services Unit (ECO)

ECO forms the cornerstone of Winrocks scientific leadership and has been at the cutting edge of the evaluation of ecosystem services from forests and agriculture for 25 years. ECO excels at the translation and application of science to benefit countries businesses organizations and people. Winrock employs stateoftheart technologies and methodologies to generate and distil information for resource managers land use planners communities and industries for use in low emission and climate resiliency development and spatial planning greenhouse gas (GHG) emission estimation habitat mapping and restoration. Winrock is a leading innovator in applied climate and landscape sciences distinguished by our pragmatic and scientifically robust methodologies.

ECOs portfolio is focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) Low Emissions Development environmental services and related topics. ECO has long served as a global leader in ecosystem evaluation carbon accounting climate change mitigation and adaptation Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation plus the sustainable management of forests and the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. watershed management and other forms of environmental services accounting. The Technical Lead will work closely with ECOs REDD Senior Technical Lead providing support for REDD projects within the unit developing and implementing technical projects providing quality control and preparing technical reports.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Technical Lead interacts with clients conducts qualitative technical analyses performs quantitative problemsolving and collects and analyze quantitative data for REDD and other types of nature based solutions projects.

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

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Leadership:

• Conduct GHG measurement and monitoring in forest systems. Perform calculations using greenhouse gas and activity data on AFOLU projects.
• Support with carbon accounting and credit yield estimation for REDD projects.
• Conduct innovative approaches and rigorous analyses and employ analytical methods and interpretations of international policy relevant to the work of ECO particularly REDD.
• Implement statistically sound approaches to project design and data analysis for carbon including use of field data new statistical tools and models.
• Prepare technical analysis reports presentations and other communication materials related to carbon accounting translating technical topics into terms that are meaningful to more diverse audiences.
• Provide training to counterparts/stakeholders in the use of methods and internationally accepted best practices.
• Implement scientifically robust geospatial and remote sensing solutions.

Project Management and Implementation:

• Manage key projects in portfolio producing high quality deliverables/products.
• Develop project work plans budgets and reports.
• Track and monitor projects as assigned to ensure they are fulfilling deliverable and performance requirements at a high quality on time and on budget.
• Support budget management for specific projects to ensure effective financial management including tracking of budgets subawards and flag issues as needed.
• Supervise Home Office young professionals providing direct project support and guidance.
• Maintain daytoday client/funder communications. Provide accurate consistent and coherent technical guidance and explanation to clients and donors.
• Manage client relationships by communicating clearly with and addressing clients needs.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Masters degree in environmental science natural resource management forestry ecology climate change or other related fields. Terminal degree (PhD or equivalent) is strongly preferred.

Required experience

Technical Skills:

• Minimum 57 years of relevant experience in GHG accounting for the land use sector climate change mitigation/adaptation and ecosystem services. Additional years of experience preferred.
• Extensive knowledge and proficiency with GIS software (ArcGIS and QGIS).
• Experience with forest inventories biomass data collection and field data collection.
• Experience with geostatistical and inferential statistical techniques in a natural resource management context.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Google Earth Engine (JavaScript and/or Python) is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of statistics and modeling (including machine learning).
• Proficiency in R/Python is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supporting complex projects. Ability to contribute to project operations and workflow effectively and to track and meet deadlines for multiple tasks.
• Knowledge or experience in the development of AFOLU/REDD projects and/or programs in the voluntary and/or compliance carbon market.
• Understanding of the development and implementation of REDD standards projects and programs is strongly preferred.
• Experience working in developing countries is strongly preferred.

Communication Skills:

• Excellent problemsolving teamwork interpersonal skills.
• 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.
• Ability to foster and maintain good working relationships with clients and partners including government ministries and officials at national and local levels nonprofit organizations the private sector foundations multilateral organizations and the U.S. Government.
• Willingness to travel to developing countries as required by portfolio/new business opportunities.

Language: Fluency in Portuguese and/or Spanish is required.

Travel: International travel is required for this role (approx. 20

Salary: This position has a salary range between $110000 and $120000 with an additional 10 403b annual employer contribution and excellent benefits package.

Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Winrock does not discriminate in its recruitment practices and provides opportunity for all people 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.