TEAM

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We believe that the best results come from motivated, supported professionals. That’s why we provide the most rewarding and collaborative work environment in the industry, enabling our natural capital experts to thrive while delivering exceptional value to our clients.

Lead auditor – VVB - AFOLU - Forestry

Location: Remote / Fieldwork as required
Reports to: Executive Director
Company: Nature & Audit Ltd.
Sector: Natural Capital & Carbon
Engagement: Freelance / Independent Contractor

To contact: careers@natureandgroup.com

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly qualified Lead Auditor in Forestry to lead validation and verification audits for carbon projects registered with Verra, Gold Standard, and similar registries. You will manage audit teams, assess complex forestry and land-use initiatives (e.g., REDD+, ARR, IFM, agroforestry, and blue carbon), and confirm compliance with registry-specific methodologies, VCS Program rules, Gold Standard activity requirements, and international standards. This role emphasizes expertise in quantifying GHG emission reductions/removals, ensuring additionality, permanence, and leakage prevention, while upholding the highest levels of environmental and social integrity.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead validation and verification audits for forestry carbon projects under Verra VCS, Gold Standard, and other registries, including REDD+, ARR, IFM, and land-use change activities.

• Plan, coordinate, and manage multidisciplinary audit teams, ensuring audits meet registry timelines and scope-specific accreditation requirements (e.g., AFOLU sectoral scope for Verra).

• Evaluate project boundaries, baselines, additionality, monitoring plans, and methodologies (e.g., VCS-approved tools for AFOLU projects) against registry rules, including quantification of GHG benefits and assessment of co-benefits like biodiversity and community impacts.

• Review evidence, data, and monitoring reports for accuracy, identifying risks such as leakage or non-permanence in forestry contexts.

• Prepare clear, comprehensive audit reports with findings, corrective action recommendations, and verification opinions for submission to registries.

• Ensure impartiality, independence, and confidentiality in all engagements, in line with ISO 14065 and registry VVB guidelines.

• Contribute to the development and improvement of forestry methodologies, tools, and best practices, including support for public consultations and transitions to updated standards (e.g., Gold Standard for the Global Goals).

• Collaborate on high-impact projects, such as jurisdictional REDD+ programs or smallholder-inclusive agroforestry initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Proven expertise in forestry systems, including forest management, ecosystem services, land-use change, carbon accounting, REDD+, ARR, IFM, agroforestry, blue carbon, and AFOLU methodologies.

• Minimum 5–7 years of professional experience in auditing, validation, verification, certification, or consulting for forestry carbon projects under registries like Verra VCS or Gold Standard.

• Qualification as a Lead Auditor or VVB Team Leader under ISO/IEC 17029, ISO 14065, ISO 14064, or equivalent schemes, with accreditation scope covering VCS AFOLU projects, Gold Standard Land Use & Forests activities, and related GHG programs.

• Demonstrated experience leading third-party audits for carbon registries, including familiarity with Verra's VCS rules (e.g., project description templates, monitoring reports), Gold Standard validation/verification procedures (e.g., examinations for Validators/Verifiers), and requirements for methodologies like VM0007 (REDD+) or ARR toolkits.

• University degree in a relevant discipline (forestry, environmental sciences, natural resource management, ecology, or related field).

• Strong leadership, analytical, technical (e.g., GHG quantification), and report-writing skills, with proficiency in handling complex data sets and stakeholder consultations.

• Ability to work independently remotely while maintaining impartiality, confidentiality, and compliance with VVB performance monitoring (e.g., annual training and examinations).

• Preferred: Experience with additional standards like Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards, Sustainable Development Verified Impact (SD VISta), or jurisdictional programs; familiarity with tools for assessing permanence, leakage, and SDG co-benefits.