Role Overview:

The Risk Management Officer is responsible for identifying, assessing, mitigating, and monitoring risks that could impact the company’s operations, reputation, regulatory compliance, and financial performance in the carbon credit market. This role ensures that the organization maintains integrity and trust in its carbon credit projects while managing exposure to environmental, legal, financial, and reputational risks.

Responsibilities:

1. Risk Identification & Assessment

• Conduct risk assessments across the company’s project pipeline, from carbon offset development to credit issuance and sales.

• Identify and analyze operational, legal, environmental, market, reputational, and geopolitical risks that could affect carbon credit value and credibility.

2. Policy Development & Compliance

• Develop and implement risk management frameworks, policies, and procedures aligned with global carbon standards (e.g., Verra, Gold Standard).

• Ensure compliance with national and international regulations (e.g., Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, voluntary carbon market guidelines).

3. Monitoring & Reporting

• Monitor emerging risks (e.g., policy shifts, greenwashing concerns, carbon pricing volatility).

• Maintain a risk register and prepare periodic risk reports for executive leadership and investors.

• Provide risk input during strategic planning and carbon project evaluations.

4. Stakeholder & Market Risk Oversight

• Evaluate risks associated with project developers, validation and verification bodies (VVBs), and buyers of carbon credits.

• Monitor market trends and pricing mechanisms to assess financial risks in carbon credit trading and sales.

5. Environmental & Integrity Risk Controls

• Ensure that carbon credits sold are backed by verifiable, additional, and permanent emission reductions.

• Work with sustainability and project development teams to prevent overstatement of emissions reductions and to avoid double-counting or credit reversal risks.

6. Crisis Management & Incident Response

• Develop risk response plans for incidents like project failure, data integrity issues, or policy non-compliance.

• Lead investigations into risk events and recommend mitigation or corrective actions.

Qualifications:

• Education:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Risk Management, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.

• Experience:

• 3–5 years in risk management, compliance, or sustainability, preferably in environmental markets, renewable energy, or carbon finance.

• Experience with ESG, carbon market standards (Verra, Gold Standard), and due diligence processes.

• Skills:

  • Strong analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills.

  • Familiarity with carbon offsetting methodologies, project verification, and crediting processes.

  • Excellent communication and report-writing skills.

  • Knowledge of international climate policy, financial risk modeling, or environmental audits is a plus.

Key Competencies:

• Integrity and ethical judgment

• Strategic thinking

• Stakeholder engagement

• Policy and regulatory awareness

• Data-driven decision-making