Soil Scientist/Auditor

Company Description

We are SGS – the world's leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for sustainability, quality and integrity. Our 99,600 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.

Job Description

The Soil Scientist will perform soil morphology, soil sampling, interpreting soil analyses, and modeling in project conditions from farmland to international wildland environments. And will conduct auditing practices in ecosystem services markets, soil health/production programs.

• Evaluating and implementing soil carbon models.
• Assisting with and conducting desktop and field validations and verifications of AFOLU carbon offset projects.
• Assessment/development/implementation of soil sampling inventories to evaluate soil carbon projects and data management.
• Quantifying various attributes from soil data, including statistical metrics.
• Establishing bulk density and carbon stocking levels, and calculating biological sequestration, from soil data collected using a wide range of methods.
• Designing and conducting soil inventory and performing inventory analysis.
• Monitoring contract compliance and results of ALM activities to assure adherence to government regulations and/or carbon market requirements.
• Assessing deforested lands to ensure proper reclamation to the most suitable end uses.
• Implementing projects for conservation of wildlife habitats and soil and water quality.
• Conducting ecosystem surveys and related studies.
• Participating in inventory/planting audits.
• Mapping various forest attributes, conducting geospatial analysis, and producing field maps.
• Supporting management with special projects and workflow process improvements and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Master's degree in Soil Science or related field
• Course of study centered on agronomy. Prefer 15+ credit hours in soil science, sufficient to be used as the educational requirement for Certified Professional Soil Scientist credentials.
• Experience with soil carbon models, like DNDC, Roth C, etc., is a plus, though not a requirement.
• At least 6 credit hours in statistics.
• 5+ years of relevant experience

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability to rapidly develop expertise in soil carbon offset project protocols such as Climate Action Reserve, American Carbon Registry (ACR), and Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).
• Knowledge and working experience in the voluntary and compliance carbon offset and cap-and-trade market preferred
• Soil carbon sampling methodology review and implementation
• Soil mapping from large scale (high intensity soil survey) to smaller scales
• Soil suitability studies for a wide range of land uses
• Soil suitability studies for habitat and wetland restoration projects
• Preparation and presentation of educational programs for landowners on Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU)protocols, methodologies, issues, and opportunities
• Experience using GPS and integrating field-acquired data into ArcMap for project documentation and processing.
• Strong understanding of the voluntary carbon market (especially the emerging Agricultural Land Management Sector) and GHG Programs (VCS, ARB, CAR, ACR, etc.).
• Experience developing and implementing project scopes to meet time and cost constraints.
• Desire and ability to rapidly develop expertise in soil carbon offset project protocols such as Climate Action Reserve, American Carbon Registry (ACR), and Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).
• Strong knowledge of soil sampling design, applications, and implementation

Our Benefits

We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role.

• Health: Medical, dental and vision insurance, company-paid life, accident and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts
• Wealth: Competitive pay ($84,800-$113,000/year), matching 401(k) with immediate vesting upon enrollment, generous employee referral program
• Happiness:
  • Professional Growth: Online training courses, virtual and classroom development experiences, education assistance program
  • Work-Life Balance: Paid-time off, company holidays, floating holidays
  • Team Building: Employee engagement and recognition programs, wellness, philanthropic and DE&I initiatives

Physical Demands of the Job

Frequency (Never = 0%; Seldom = 1 to 5%; Occasional = 5 to 33%; Frequent = 34 to 66%; Constant = 67 to 100%)

• Stand - Occasional (5% - 33%)
• Move or traverse - Occasional (5% - 33%)
• Use hands - Frequent (34% - 66%)
• Reach with hands and arms - Occasional (5% - 33%)
• Climb or balance - Seldom (1% - 4%)
• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl - Occasional (5% - 33%)
• Talk/hear - Constant (67% - 100%)
• Taste/Smell - Never (0%)
• Lift/carry/push/pull - Seldom (1% - 4%)
• Keyboarding - Frequent (34% - 66%)
• Ability to focus on task - Frequent (34% - 66%)
• Visual strain - Never (0%)
• Tasks requiring limited muscle effort, for example lifting to 5 kgs - Seldom (1% - 4%)
• Tasks requiring light physical effort, for example lifting 5 kgs to 10 kgs - Seldom (1% - 4%)
• Tasks requiring medium physical effort, for example lifting 10 kgs to 20 kgs - Seldom (1% - 4%)
• Tasks requiring heavy physical effort, for example lifting > 20 kgs - Seldom (1% - 4%)

Additional Information

SGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such we recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristics protected by law.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts the company’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

If you are applying for a position within the United States and you have difficulty completing the on-line employment application because of a disability, please call 201-508-3149 for assistance and leave a message. You will receive a call back.  Please note, this phone number is not for general employment information, but is only for individuals who are experiencing difficulty applying for a position due to a disability.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.