Carbon Projects Risk - Specialist

South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all continents across the globe, we strive to create a sustainable society and economy that positively impacts our climate, ecosystems and developing communities. With our solutions, we inspire and enable our customers to create value from sustainability-related activities.

The Risk team is led by the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) and plays a central role in our organisation. The team oversees all aspects of risk for the business: carbon projects, finance, people, governance, reputation, data, IT security and many others. The team’s mandate is to identify, assess, manage, mitigate, monitor and anticipate the risks that South Pole is or could be facing.

Job summary:

In this role, you will be part of the Carbon Projects Risk team, which plays a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and credibility of carbon offset projects managed by South Pole. The team is responsible for defining the frameworks and standards for carbon project quality and integrity, and assessing South Pole’s carbon project portfolio. You will be responsible for the initial assessment of risks of carbon projects and for drafting of integrity summaries on these projects. In addition, you will lead projects which contribute to improvements of the interface of our Carbon Projects Risk team with other functions, such as the Portfolio Offering team, the Sales team and the KYC team.

Main tasks & responsibilities:

• Conduct initial quality assessments of carbon projects and coordinate with our Carbon Project Risk technology experts for the finalisation of the assessment
• Draft integrity summaries on these projects and coordinate with our Carbon Project Risk technology experts to ensure a timely finalisation of these reports, following our quality guidelines
• Maintain accurate documentation and records of integrity/quality risk assessments, findings, and recommendations
• Design and implement process improvements for the interface of the Risk team with other functions, such as the Portfolio Offering team, the Sales team and the KYC team
• Monitor developments in the carbon market in relation to the quality and integrity of carbon projects and assist the team in gathering market intelligence
• Collaborate with internal teams, rating agencies, verification bodies, and other stakeholders to gather relevant information and insights for integrity/quality risk assessments
• Contribute to the development of communication materials (slides, papers) for external communication related to upgraded risk management and project quality control frameworks
• Support additional tasks related to integrity/quality risk assessments, such as data compilation, analysis, or process enhancement, among others

Requirements:

Essential -

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g. Environmental Science, Sustainability, Climate Change) or a broader with evidence of a focus on environmental or sustainability topics (e.g. Engineering, Business/Management/Finance)
• At least three years of relevant working experience with carbon projects and a basic understanding of carbon market mechanisms
• Excellent project management and organisational skills
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to synthesise data and information into actionable insights
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are necessary for drafting reports, collaborating with stakeholders, and presenting findings and recommendations
• Strong attention to detail is essential for maintaining accurate documentation and conducting thorough integrity risk assessments.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and collaboration skills to partner effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• A proactive, diligent and independent approach.
• Fluency in English (other languages are a plus)

Desirable -

• Experience in carbon project management, due diligence and risk analysis
• Familiarity with international carbon markets, regulatory frameworks, and sustainability standards.
• Good understanding of carbon credit ratings methodologies

What we offer:

At South Pole, we care about our employees as much as we care about the planet. South Pole is not just an employer, we are a Team. South Pole does not just offer people a job, we offer you a career. By joining our team, you will find strong purpose and deep meaning in everything you do. You will have the chance to make a real difference for our clients and for the planet, working alongside a passionate team of like-minded colleagues, while building your knowledge/skills and developing your career in a fun, dynamic, international and fast-growing organisation.

We’re a planet of 7.5 billion unique and different people. We all have a contribution to make and South Pole is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status or disability. Our recruitment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.