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Senior Carbon Specialist

ETG • Netherlands • Added on Jul 7, 2026
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As the Senior Carbon Specialist, you will spearhead the technical development of carbon insetting projects within the cocoa supply chain. You will be the architect behind carbon calculations, monitoring systems, and certification pathways, transforming complex field data into credible, investable carbon assets. Your work bridges the gap between ground-level agricultural interventions and global commercial strategies, ensuring that environmental impact is both accurately measured and financially viable.

This role is a pivotal link in ETG’s mission to decarbonize agricultural supply chains while empowering smallholder farmers. By translating soil health and agroforestry efforts into verified carbon outcomes, you directly influence the sustainability of the global food system and help major chocolate brands meet their SBTi FLAG commitments. It is a rare opportunity to turn scientific climate data into tangible social and economic benefits for rural communities.

This suits someone who possesses deep expertise in land-based GHG accounting and enjoys the challenge of building technical frameworks from scratch. You should thrive in a role that requires equal parts high-level methodology design and pragmatic field-level coordination in international contexts.

Job-FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission is to lead the technical workstream of ETG’s carbon insetting strategy. You will be responsible for designing the tools and data systems necessary for precise carbon emission quantification across complex agricultural landscapes. This includes developing methodologies for land-based interventions, risk assessments for permanence and leakage, and drafting Project Design Documents (PDDs) for major registries like Verra or Gold Standard. Beyond technical design, you will act as a bridge to the commercial team, providing the technical backbone for business cases and pricing models. You will quantify emission hotspots and translate them into costed, prioritized interventions that help clients meet their Scope 3 reduction goals. You also ensure the technical credibility of the program by managing external consultants and overseeing the audit readiness of projects.

Key learning opportunities for this job

This position offers unparalleled exposure to the end-to-end carbon value chain, from agricultural implementation to the commercial monetization of offsets and insets. You will deepen your expertise in emerging standards like the SBTi FLAG and the GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals Guidance, positioning yourself at the forefront of climate science application in the private sector. Furthermore, you will gain significant experience in smallholder-centric sustainability. Working across diverse origins, particularly in West Africa, will provide insights into the practical challenges of data collection in remote areas. You will also have the opportunity to engage with top-tier global food and beverage brands, learning how large multinationals navigate their decarbonization journeys and supply chain transparency requirements.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings at least five years of experience in climate or agricultural sustainability with a heavy focus on GHG accounting. You should be intimately familiar with standards such as ISO 14064/14067 and have a proven track record of designing carbon projects that have successfully navigated third-party verification. Expertise in cocoa, coffee, or similar commodities is highly desirable, as is a background in environmental economics. Technically, you must be comfortable with complex data systems and have the ability to translate scientific findings into commercial narratives. Soft skills are equally important; you need to be a strong communicator capable of building capacity among origin staff and managing relationships with diverse stakeholders, from NGO partners to corporate account managers. Proficiency in French is a significant benefit given the geographic focus of the cocoa supply chains.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, your application should demonstrate a strong technical portfolio of carbon project designs. Instead of just listing responsibilities, highlight specific methodologies you have developed—such as for agroforestry or biochar—and name the registries you have worked with. Showing that you understand the nuances of land-based carbon, like permanence and leakage risks, will immediately signal your expertise to the hiring team. Additionally, emphasize your commercial acumen. ETG is looking for someone who doesn't just calculate carbon but understands how to monetize it. Tailor your cover letter to discuss how you bridge the gap between technical MRV and business case development. Research ETG's 'Vamara' or 'Nutrisco' verticals to show you understand their diverse business model and how carbon insetting fits into their broader strategic growth.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role focuses intensely on Scope 3 emissions reduction and land-based carbon removals within the agricultural supply chain. You will be at the heart of ETG's efforts to move from generic sustainability claims to verified, data-driven insetting projects. This includes a heavy emphasis on agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and potential new technologies like biochar to sequester carbon in tropical landscapes. There is also a significant social sustainability component integrated into the climate work. By establishing credible carbon projects, this role helps secure new revenue streams for smallholder farmers through carbon rights and premiums. You will ensure that carbon interventions are not just environmental exercises but also contribute to the economic resilience of the farming communities that ETG serves.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the primary challenges is managing data quality and consistency across decentralized origin operations. Collecting accurate field data from thousands of smallholder farmers in different countries requires robust protocols and tireless capacity building for local teams. Navigating the logistical and technical hurdles of ground-level implementation while maintaining the high standards required by international verifiers is a constant balancing act. Additionally, the regulatory and market volatility of the voluntary carbon market poses a challenge. Keeping pace with evolving standards like the GHG Protocol Land Sector Guidance and shifts in corporate appetite for insetting versus offsetting requires agility. You must be able to future-proof projects today against standards that may become more stringent in the coming years.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with a technical review of carbon calculations from a new agroforestry pilot in West Africa, followed by a call with origin coordinators to troubleshoot data collection protocols. You might then shift gears to work on a Project Design Document for a registry submission, ensuring all permanence and leakage risks are appropriately addressed through scientific evidence. In the afternoon, you could collaborate with the commercial team to draft a proposal for a major chocolate brand, explaining how a specific insetting intervention will impact their FLAG targets. The day might conclude with a meeting with external consultants or carbon accounting platform providers to discuss system integrations, or a deep dive into the latest climate science updates to ensure ETG’s methodologies remain cutting-edge.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

As this is a technical leadership role in a growing department, there is significant potential to shape ETG’s long-term climate strategy. Success in this role could lead to a broader executive mandate overseeing global climate and nature-based solutions across all eight of ETG's business verticals. The role provides a high degree of autonomy, allowing you to define the technical direction of the company’s carbon agenda. Moreover, the high-level exposure to Tier-1 commodity clients and international NGOs provides a powerful platform for professional networking and influence within the global sustainability community. You will be recognized as a key expert within a major global player, potentially moving into senior strategic roles that oversee integrated environmental and social impact programs at scale.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact daily with the Agroforestry & Environment program team and origin sustainability staff, who rely on your technical guidance for field implementation. The commercial team and account managers are also key partners, as they depend on your data to build credible business cases and climate reports for their corporate clients. Externally, your network will include carbon registries and verifiers (such as Verra, Gold Standard, or SustainCERT) to ensure project compliance. You will also manage relationships with technical consultants, NGOs, and potentially donor organizations. Finally, while indirect, your work deeply impacts the farmers at origin, whose carbon rights and livelihoods are central to the integrity of the insetting projects you design.

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