Job Description

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title JREDD+ Senior Technical Specialist – UK TAP Project

LocationBrazil

Department Environment & Climate Group (EC)

Unit: Ecosystem Services Unit (ECO)

BACKGROUND

Winrock International is recruiting a Senior Technical Specialist to support jurisdictional REDD+ programs in Latin America (with particular focus in Brazil) within the Ecosystem Services Unit (ECO) of the Environment & Climate Group (EC). Winrock is a non-profit organization that works globally to increase economic opportunities, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment. Winrock’s Environment & Climate Group includes three complementary units: Ecosystem Services, Clean Energy, and Sustainability Services. The successful candidate will contribute to a collaborative, high-performing technical team that advances scientifically rigorous, policy-relevant climate solutions while promoting equity, respect, and thought leadership. ECO forms the cornerstone of Winrock’s scientific leadership and has been at the cutting edge of the evaluation of ecosystem services from forests and agriculture for 25 years. ECO’s 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.

The JREDD+ Senior Technical Specialist position will work under the UK Technical Assistance Programme (UK-TAP) for Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance (LEAF) funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). This initiative aims at delivering essential support to governments seeking to protect the world’s most valuable carbon sinks and mobilise forest finance at scale. Funded by the UK Government, this initiative provides technical assistance to jurisdictions to access vital finance for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) via voluntary carbon market through the LEAF Coalition and the ART-TREES program. Via the UK-TAP program, Winrock International delivers technical assistance for governments to:

• Meet TREES requirements, with a focus on monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of emissions and removals and carbon accounting.

• Build long-term technical expertise and skills, ensuring lasting impact.

The JREDD+ Senior Technical Specialist – DESNEZ Project will provide technical support for the design, implementation, and advancement of jurisdictional REDD+ (JREDD) systems in Latin America (especially Brazil), with a primary focus on MRV systems, reference level development, and carbon accounting aligned with ART-TREES and other leading standards. Working closely with ECO leadership the Specialist will support Brazilian states and jurisdictional partners, government counterparts, and donors to ensure technically robust, policy relevant, and audit ready deliverables. The position is based in Brazil and is dedicated to the UK-TAP project, with potential support to related projects as funding allows.

This role is project-based and contingent upon receipt and continuation of donor funding for the UK-DESNZ funded Technical Assistance for LEAF project.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Leadership:

• Support the technical design and implementation of jurisdictional REDD+ programs under the UK-TAP project, including emissions baselines, reference levels, MRV systems, nesting frameworks, and integration with Brazil’s national GHG inventory.

• Apply remote sensing, field-based forest carbon measurement, and geospatial analysis tools to generate emissions estimates at the jurisdictional level.

• Translate complex technical content into accessible formats for policy makers, donors, and stakeholders.

• Develop and implement methodologies and protocols aligned with compliance-grade carbon standards such as ART-TREES.

• Support Brazilian state level governments in interpreting and applying JREDD eligibility, performance, and verification requirements.

• Provide capacity building and training for government counterparts and stakeholders in MRV and nested system design.

Project Management and Implementation:

• Support the implementation and technical management of UK-TAP project activities, ensuring that the deliverables meet quality, timeline, and budget requirements.

• Track and monitor projects as assigned to ensure they are fulfilling deliverable and performance requirements of a high quality, on time, and on budget.

• Maintain day-to-day 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: Master’s degree in environmental science, natural resource management, forestry, ecology, climate change, or other related fields. Terminal degrees (PhD or equivalent) is strongly preferred.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Technical Skills:

• Minimum of4 years of technical experience in REDD+ and forest carbon measurement, with specific experience in JREDD programs preferred.

• Demonstrated experience working with subnational and national governments, particularly in Brazil or Latin America.

• Experience working with subnational and national governments on MRV and emissions baselines.

• Experience with GHG audit processes, including field components, is highlydesirable.

• 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.

• Comprehensive 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 problem-solving, teamwork, and 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, non-profit organizations, the private sector, foundations, multilateral organizations, and governments.

• Willingness to travel to developing countries as required by portfolio/new business opportunities.

• Fluency in Portuguese is required. Basic or Intermediate level Spanish is strongly preferred.

The salary range for this role is determined based on the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's experience, education, specialized knowledge and skills, and current market conditions. Winrock offers a competitive benefits package.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities 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.