UNPAID VOLUNTEER - Senior Research Officer - Carbon Credits

UNPAID VOLUNTEER – Senior Research Officer – Carbon Credits

Role Title: Senior Research Officer – Carbon Credits

Role Type: Unpaid Volunteer

Number of Positions: 1

Division: Research Division II – Energy & Environment

Location: Home-based / Remote

Reporting To: Deputy Director of Research – Energy & Environment / Research Division II Leadership

THIS IS AN UNPAID VOLUNTEER ROLE.

About DTID

The Digital Technology Institute for Development (DTID) is an international non-profit institute advancing the responsible use of artificial intelligence, blockchain and emerging digital technologies to support sustainable development and policy implementation.

DTID brings together professionals, researchers, technology specialists and other stakeholders to generate research, develop practical solutions, strengthen partnerships and support informed decision-making at the intersection of technology, climate change and sustainable development.

The Role

DTID is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Research Officer – Carbon Credits to contribute specialist research expertise to the organisation's work on carbon markets, carbon credit mechanisms, emissions trading and climate finance.

Working within Research Division II – Energy & Environment, the successful candidate will conduct research and analysis on carbon credit generation, quantification, verification, certification and trading, with particular emphasis on the effectiveness, transparency and environmental integrity of carbon markets.

The role will involve examining international carbon market frameworks, carbon credit methodologies, regulatory developments and the application of emerging digital technologies to carbon credit systems.

The Senior Research Officer will also explore how artificial intelligence, blockchain, data analytics and other emerging technologies can support carbon credit traceability, emissions data management, monitoring, reporting and verification, and the transparency of carbon market transactions.

The successful candidate will contribute to research reports, policy briefs, technical assessments and other research outputs designed to support governments, international organisations, policymakers and other stakeholders in understanding carbon markets and developing evidence-based climate policies.

This role requires strong research and analytical skills, technical knowledge of carbon markets and carbon accounting, and the ability to translate complex technical and regulatory information into clear, practical recommendations.

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Research Officer – Carbon Credits will:

• Conduct research and analysis on carbon credit mechanisms, voluntary and compliance carbon markets, and international emissions trading systems.

• Research and evaluate carbon credit generation, quantification, verification, certification and trading methodologies.

• Analyse international carbon market frameworks, regulatory developments and policy initiatives relevant to carbon credit systems.

• Support research on greenhouse gas emissions accounting, carbon credit calculations, project baselines, additionality, permanence and emissions reductions.

• Investigate the application of artificial intelligence, blockchain, IoT and other emerging digital technologies to carbon credit traceability, monitoring, reporting and verification.

• Prepare research reports, policy briefs, concept notes, technical assessments and publications relating to carbon credits and climate finance.

• Evaluate the environmental integrity, transparency and effectiveness of carbon credit programmes and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Collaborate with other DTID research and technology teams on projects relating to emissions management, climate finance, renewable energy, biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability.

• Engage with researchers, policymakers, international organisations, carbon market participants and other relevant stakeholders to support research collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

• Present research findings and recommendations through webinars, conferences, technical meetings and other relevant engagements.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of DTID's research methodologies, technical knowledge and research quality standards.

• Undertake other reasonable research responsibilities relevant to the role as assigned by Research Division II leadership.

Skills and Abilities

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Excellent written and spoken English.

• Strong analytical, quantitative and research skills.

• Good understanding of carbon markets, carbon credit mechanisms and greenhouse gas accounting.

• Ability to conduct independent research and produce high-quality technical and policy-oriented outputs.

• Strong numerical and data-analysis skills, including the ability to interpret emissions data and carbon credit calculations.

• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.

• Strong attention to detail, accuracy and research integrity.

• Ability to assess complex methodologies, technical information and regulatory frameworks.

• Ability to develop evidence-based recommendations and practical solutions to carbon market challenges.

• Strong professional communication, presentation and stakeholder-engagement skills.

• Ability to communicate complex technical and policy information to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

• Ability to work independently and take ownership of assigned research activities.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet agreed deadlines.

• Ability to collaborate effectively within a remote and internationally distributed team.

• A proactive, innovative and solutions-focused approach to work.

General and Specialist Knowledge

Candidates should have strong knowledge or experience in several of the following areas:

• Carbon credits and carbon offset mechanisms.

• Voluntary and compliance carbon markets.

• Carbon credit generation, quantification, certification and trading.

• Greenhouse gas emissions accounting and carbon credit calculations.

• Carbon project baselines, additionality, permanence and leakage.

• Carbon credit monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV).

• Emissions trading systems and carbon pricing mechanisms.

• Climate finance and carbon market policy.

• Renewable energy, forestry, land use and nature-based carbon credit projects.

• Carbon credit registries and tracking systems.

• Carbon market transparency, environmental integrity and double-counting risks.

• Climate change mitigation and emissions reduction strategies.

• Carbon market regulation and international climate agreements.

• Applied research methodologies and quantitative data analysis.

• Emerging digital technologies and their applications in carbon markets.

Knowledge or experience relating to the following frameworks, standards and mechanisms would be particularly advantageous:

• Paris Agreement – Article 6: International cooperation and carbon market mechanisms.

• UNFCCC: International climate policy and carbon market frameworks.

• GHG Protocol: Greenhouse gas accounting and reporting standards.

• ISO 14064: Greenhouse gas quantification, reporting and verification.

• ISO 14065: Requirements for bodies validating and verifying environmental information.

• ISO 14068-1: Climate change management and transition to net zero – Carbon neutrality.

• Verified Carbon Standard (VCS): Carbon credit project methodologies and certification.

• Gold Standard: Carbon credit certification and sustainable development requirements.

• Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): Carbon credit project methodologies and emissions reduction mechanisms.

• REDD+: Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Knowledge of the application of artificial intelligence, blockchain, IoT, data analytics and other emerging digital technologies to carbon credit verification, emissions data management, carbon registries and carbon market transparency would also be advantageous.

Candidates should demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant research, data-analysis or carbon accounting tools.

Education and Training

Candidates should preferably possess:

- A Bachelor's or Master's degree, or equivalent qualification, in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Climate Change, Carbon Management, Environmental Economics, Energy, Sustainability, Environmental Engineering, Climate Finance, Public Policy or another relevant discipline.

A Master's degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant field would be advantageous.

Relevant professional qualifications, certifications or specialist training in the following areas would also be beneficial:

• Carbon accounting and greenhouse gas emissions reporting.

• Carbon markets and emissions trading.

• Carbon credit quantification and verification.

• Climate finance and carbon pricing.

• Environmental auditing and management.

• Climate change mitigation and environmental policy.

• Research methodologies and quantitative data analysis.

Equivalent professional experience, specialist training or demonstrated technical expertise may also be considered where appropriate.

Professional proficiency in English is required.

Knowledge of an additional international language would be advantageous.

Experience

Candidates should ideally demonstrate:

• Relevant professional or research experience in carbon markets, carbon credits, greenhouse gas accounting, climate finance, emissions trading, environmental management or a closely related field.

• Experience conducting research on carbon credit mechanisms, carbon markets or emissions reduction projects.

• Experience working with carbon accounting methodologies, greenhouse gas emissions data or carbon credit calculations.

• Experience researching or evaluating carbon market policies, regulations, methodologies or certification frameworks.

• Experience analysing quantitative data and developing technical assessments or policy recommendations.

• Experience designing, conducting or contributing to research projects.

• Experience producing research reports, policy briefs, technical publications or other substantive research outputs.

• Experience communicating research findings to policymakers, institutional stakeholders or non-specialist audiences.

• Experience building constructive relationships with research institutions, government agencies, international organisations or other relevant stakeholders.

• Experience working independently and collaborating within multidisciplinary research teams.

Experience contributing to carbon credit project development, validation, verification, certification, registry management or carbon market transactions would be advantageous.

Experience applying digital technologies to carbon accounting, emissions monitoring, carbon credit traceability or environmental data management would also be desirable.

Experience within an international organisation, research institution, university, environmental consultancy, nonprofit organisation, carbon market organisation, energy-sector organisation or climate-focused institution would be advantageous.

What Difference Will You Make?

Carbon markets and carbon credit mechanisms can support climate change mitigation by creating financial incentives for emissions reductions and carbon removals. Their effectiveness depends on the environmental integrity of credited activities, reliable emissions accounting, transparent reporting and appropriate verification.

As a Senior Research Officer – Carbon Credits, you will contribute specialist research expertise to DTID's work on carbon markets, climate finance and the application of emerging digital technologies to environmental sustainability.

Your research will help identify how artificial intelligence, blockchain and other emerging technologies can improve carbon credit traceability, emissions data management, verification processes and the transparency of carbon market systems.

Your contribution will strengthen DTID's research capabilities, technical expertise and policy relevance in carbon markets, carbon credit mechanisms, climate finance and sustainable development, supporting the development of evidence-based recommendations for governments, international organisations and other relevant stakeholders.

Benefits

What Will You Gain from Volunteering with DTID?

Although this position is unpaid, volunteering with DTID provides opportunities to:

• Apply and strengthen specialist expertise in carbon markets, carbon credits and climate finance.

• Contribute to international research initiatives on carbon credit mechanisms, emissions trading and climate change mitigation.

• Develop experience researching carbon accounting methodologies, carbon market regulations and international climate frameworks.

• Contribute to technical reports, policy briefs, research publications and other research outputs.

• Gain experience examining the application of emerging digital technologies to carbon credit systems and emissions management.

• Strengthen research, technical analysis, policy advisory and stakeholder-engagement skills.

• Collaborate with researchers, technology specialists and professionals from different countries and disciplines.

• Gain exposure to international climate policy, carbon markets, emissions management and sustainable development.

• Participate in relevant research projects, conferences, webinars and technical engagements where appropriate.

• Build international professional networks and long-term professional relationships.

• Develop experience working within a fully remote and globally distributed organisation.

• Contribute directly to DTID's research agenda, climate-related initiatives and institutional development.

Selection Process

DTID is committed to identifying talented individuals with both demonstrated expertise and strong potential.

As a volunteer-led organisation, DTID recognises that candidates may have acquired their skills through different professional, academic or practical pathways. Applications may therefore be considered on the basis of demonstrated capability, relevant experience, transferable skills and potential.

The selection process will normally include:

1. Application screening

2. Written or technical assessment

3. Interview and/or technical discussion for shortlisted candidates

4. Final selection and onboarding

Candidates who successfully complete the written or technical assessment will be invited to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.

Important Notice

This is an unpaid volunteer position.