Technical Lead, Sustainability Services (Regenerative Agriculture and Climate) - Temporary

 

Position Title: Technical Lead, Sustainability Services (Regenerative Agriculture and Climate) - Temporary 

Location: US Remote 

Department: Environment and Climate - Sustainability Services 

Duration: Until March 2027 

 

This role will be fully remote, however, only employees residing in: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC, Wisconsin will be considered. Working hours are EST/CT. 

 

POSITION SUMMARY 

Position Purpose: The Technical Lead will work collaboratively with clients in the food, land and agriculture (FLAG) sector to identify decarbonization and regenerative agriculture opportunities, ensure adherence to GHG calculation methodologies and relevant standards, and provide technical advisory to clients on a broad range of GHG mitigation and agricultural topics. The individual in this role will closely track the status and direction of key standards like the GHG Protocol, SBTi Corporate Net Zero Standard (Version 1 and/or 2) and the SAI Platform to support Winrock’s engagement with these standards and to advise clients. You will work with some of the most influential private sector, philanthropic and governmental actors in the world. Past and current Winrock clients include Nestle, McCormick, and the Kinetic Coalition. 

Specifically, Winrock is seeking a detail-oriented, inquisitive, dynamic, technical expert with deep knowledge of climate mitigation strategies in the agricultural sector. This expert must also have deep technical knowledge of climate standards such as the GHG Protocol Corporate Suite of Standards and SBTi. Knowledge of commodity-specific guidance and best practice guidance in agricultural value chains, such as those authored by the Value Change Initiative, is a plus. 

Demonstrated experience in client relations is important. The ability to communicate the intricacies of climate mitigation and steps to alignment with sustainability standards related to agriculture to clients and other audiences who are not experts is important for this position. 

 

In some instances, the Technical Lead may manage two or more junior staff on projects, so demonstrated people management experience will be weighted as moderately important. 

This is classified as a four-month temporary position while a regular staff member is on parental leave.  

 

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES 

 

Major Responsibilities 

The Technical Lead supports the Associate Director, Sustainability Services (Regenerative Agriculture and Climate) to help clients within the FLAG sector achieve their climate mitigation strategies with a focus on decarbonization of a companies’ value chain emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3). Potential responsibilities are likely to include: 

• Leading or supporting interactions with clients, primarily in presenting updates or deliverables and conducting research to confidently answer client questions. 

• Tracking and managing a pipeline of technical advisory requests from clients on carbon accounting, decarbonization strategies, and how to comply with climate standards. 

• Preparing client-facing PowerPoint presentations, reports, memoranda, and other communication materials. 

• Completing tasks in fast-paced and self-motivated environment in a timely and efficient manner. 

• Conducting desk research on corporate climate mitigation, nature or regenerative agriculture leadership standards 

• Supporting new business outreach efforts, including leading and/or supporting proposal development and workplans. 

• Performing basic to intermediate calculations using greenhouse gas and economic activity data. 

• Working with small teams to prepare high-quality products, pitching in wherever necessary, and providing guidance and leadership. 

 

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS 

 

Education: Bachelor’s degree required, Masters in relevant field preferred 

Experience: 

• Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience 

• Experience managing technical aspects of greenhouse gas accounting in the agriculture field 

• Field or research experience with soil organic carbon (SOC) and land use change models, greenhouse gas profiles, and mitigation strategies of agricultural commodities 

• Fast learning, curious, and passionate for uncovering and creating solutions to climate and sustainability problems. 

• Industry/sector understanding of the GHG profiles and potential mitigation strategies for several of the following FLAG commodities (listed in order of Winrock’s need for expertise for this position): 

• Cereals & Grains; Cocoa; Coffee; Vegetable Fats & Oils; Beef; Poultry and Eggs; Animal By-Products; Soybeans; Pulp and Paper; Vegetables; Spices; Coconut; Hazelnuts. 

• Strong customer/client service orientation 

• 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