Senior Carbon Scientist

We are looking for a Senior Carbon Scientist to lead the soil carbon science and quantification that underpins our carbon farming programmes and broader nature-based solutions projects. This is a highly technical role focused on carbon modelling, statistical analysis, methodology interpretation, and scientific quality assurance.
You will play a critical role in ensuring that our carbon quantification approaches are scientifically robust, transparent, and audit-ready. Working closely with project developers, analysts, agronomy partners, and digital platform teams across South Africa and the Netherlands, you will support the development, validation, and continuous improvement of carbon projects that create measurable environmental impact while generating value for farming communities.

The role combines scientific excellence with practical application, requiring the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, accessible language for a range of audiences, including auditors, project teams, farmers, and buyers.

Key Responsibilities

Carbon Quantification & Modelling

- Lead the calibration, validation, and ongoing development of soil organic carbon models, including Roth-C and other process-based biogeochemical models.
- Design and oversee model validation activities, ensuring compliance with applicable methodologies and standards.
- Interpret model outputs and communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain robust, transparent documentation and evidence trails that support third-party audits and verification processes.
- Support soil sampling design, statistical analyses, and uncertainty assessments.
- Maintain and improve soil sampling protocols in line with evolving methodology requirements.

Methodology & Standards Management

- Monitor developments within Verra's VCS Programme and relevant methodologies.
- Assess the implications of methodology and standard revisions on existing and pipeline projects.
- Lead implementation and transition activities associated with new methodology versions.
- Update project documentation, monitoring plans, templates, and quantification tools to remain compliant with current requirements.
- Prepare clarification requests, methodology revisions, and deviation submissions where required.

Carbon Project Development

- Develop baseline scenarios and carbon quantification approaches for nature-based carbon projects.
- Conduct additionality, common-practice, and land management analyses.
- Support project eligibility assessments using geospatial, land-use, and historical data.
- Draft technical sections of project descriptions, monitoring reports, and supporting documentation for registration and issuance.
- Contribute to feasibility assessments and carbon estimation activities for new projects and project expansions.

MRV, Data & Systems

- Define quantification and soil data requirements for digital MRV platforms.
- Develop reproducible, version-controlled analytical workflows using R and/or Python.
- Review, validate, and quality-assure datasets used within carbon quantification activities.
- Collaborate with field, agronomy, and farmer support teams to resolve data gaps and improve data quality.

Validation & Verification

- Prepare evidence packages for validation and verification audits.
- Respond to auditor queries and corrective action requests.
- Coordinate independent model evaluations where required by methodology frameworks.
- Ensure all quantification activities maintain a high standard of scientific rigour and audit readiness.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

Essential

- Master's degree in a quantitative environmental discipline such as Soil Science, Agronomy, Environmental Science, Ecosystem Science, Quantitative Ecology, Biogeochemistry, or a related field.
- Approximately 4+ years of relevant professional experience in soil carbon, greenhouse gas quantification, environmental modelling, or quantitative environmental research.
- Hands-on experience with process-based soil carbon or biogeochemical models (e.g., Roth-C, DNDC, DayCent).
- Working knowledge of the Verra VCS Programme and land-use, agriculture, forestry, or nature-based carbon methodologies.
- Strong quantitative and statistical skills.
- Advanced proficiency in R and/or Python.
- Ability to interpret complex scientific information and communicate it effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strong technical writing and science communication skills.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across international teams.
- Existing right to live and work in South Africa.

Desirable

- PhD in a related discipline.
- Direct experience working with VM0042.
- Experience with other nature-based methodologies such as VM0047 (ARR), VM0048 (REDD+), VM0032 or VM0033.
- Exposure to additional carbon standards such as Gold Standard, Puro, or Plan Vivo.
- GIS, remote sensing, and spatial analysis experience using tools such as QGIS, Google Earth Engine, R, or Python.
- Familiarity with Article 6 and international carbon market frameworks.
- Peer-reviewed publications in a relevant field.
- Experience supporting projects in African or Latin American agricultural systems.
- Additional language skills, particularly Afrikaans, Portuguese, or Spanish.

### How You'll Work
We're looking for someone who is naturally curious, evidence-led, and scientifically rigorous. You are comfortable challenging assumptions, identifying uncertainty, and maintaining high standards of technical integrity.
You thrive in environments where methodologies and standards continue to evolve, and you are able to balance scientific robustness with practical business needs. You take ownership of your work, maintain clear and reproducible records, and communicate proactively with colleagues and stakeholders.

Most importantly, you care about delivering high-quality science that helps create real-world climate impact while supporting farmers and land managers.