Life Cycle Assessment Lead

Join us on the journey to get to net zero

At Carbon Direct, we dedicate our scientific, software, and business expertise to empower organizations around the world to take climate action.

Our Mission

Enable organizations to reduce, remove, and utilize their emissions with carbon science

We are a purpose-driven carbon management firm dedicated to helping organizations around the world reach their climate goals. We make carbon science accessible and actionable with our end-to-end platform.

Global citizens with global impact

Whether a scientist, developer, or carbon markets expert, we are united by our mission to take climate action now. We are experts in our fields and we act with confidence. Located across 4 countries and 10+ states in the U.S., we offer both remote-friendly work options and dynamic, in-person experiences with offices located in Seattle, WA and Oakland, CA.

Diverse backgrounds bring diverse perspectives

We recognize that teams with diverse backgrounds and different experiences are powerful. Bringing together a variety of perspectives only enhances how we can effectively address the climate crisis. Together, we are creating an environment where everyone is celebrated and anyone can succeed.

Position Overview:

Carbon Direct is seeking a highly motivated and experienced individual to join our team as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Lead. In this pivotal role, you will combine expert knowledge of LCA fundamentals with a comprehensive understanding of the market for LCA services to oversee commercial and technical aspects of Carbon Direct’s LCA offerings. This will include performing key LCA analysis, implementing quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), driving efficiency improvements, and positioning our company to capitalize on increasing demand for LCA services, driven in part by emerging regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will be a proven leader with a deep understanding of carbon management and greenhouse gas accounting, and a track record of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Oversight: Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all LCA activities within Carbon Direct, including setting goals, defining priorities, and developing go to market strategies to enhance our LCA capabilities and service offerings.
• Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC): Establish and maintain robust QA/QC processes to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of LCA results, methodologies, and data sources.
• Client Engagement: Collaborate closely with clients to understand their specific LCA needs, provide expert guidance and insights, and deliver high-quality LCA solutions tailored to their sustainability objectives and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Data Management: Oversee the management of large datasets related to product life cycles, ensuring data integrity, accuracy, and compliance with relevant standards and protocols.
• Efficiency Improvements: Identify opportunities to streamline LCA workflows, optimize resource allocation, and improve efficiency in data collection, analysis, and reporting processes.
• Technical Expertise: Stay abreast of the latest developments in LCA methodologies, tools, and standards, and provide technical guidance and support to internal teams and clients.
• Regulatory Compliance: Monitor emerging regulatory requirements related to carbon emissions, including CBAM and other carbon pricing mechanisms, and position Carbon Direct to capitalize on new opportunities and requirements.
• Reporting and Communication: Prepare clear and concise reports and presentations to communicate LCA findings, recommendations, and insights to clients, stakeholders, and internal teams.
• Project Management: Lead and coordinate multiple LCA projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality results within budget constraints.

Qualifications:

• Master's or PhD degree in environmental science, engineering, sustainability, or related field; or a bachelor’s degree with demonstrated leadership experience in LCA practice.
• Experience in conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), with a track record of overseeing LCA initiatives and driving efficiency improvements.
• Strong understanding of LCA methodologies, including ISO standards and environmental impact assessment frameworks.
• Proficiency in LCA software tools such as SimaPro, GaBi, or OpenLCA.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and draw actionable insights.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively communicate across internal teams (including with part-time/academic staff members) and with external stakeholders.
• Passion for sustainability and environmental stewardship, with a commitment to driving positive change.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional certification in life cycle assessment (e.g., LCA Certified Professional).
• Experience working with clients in diverse industries, such as consumer goods, manufacturing, energy, or transportation.
• Familiarity with sustainability frameworks and standards (e.g., ISO 14040/14044, GHG Protocol) and their application in business settings.
• Proficiency in data visualization tools and techniques to communicate LCA results effectively (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
• Familiarity with data science tools and methods including Python.
• Knowledge of emerging topics in sustainability, such as circular economy principles, product stewardship, and environmental product declarations (EPDs).

Salary

$162,000-$198,000

Benefits

While we love our work, our lives aren’t defined by it. At Carbon Direct, we offer a robust benefits package that considers the whole person, their partners, and their families – and we’re always looking to improve.

Our U.S. benefits* include:

• Comprehensive nationwide medical, dental, and vision coverage. See a preview of our coverage here.
• Time off as needed: Flexible vacation policy and ten company-wide holidays, plus annual winter break between Christmas and New Year's
• 16 weeks of fully paid parental and family leave with no tenure requirement
• Remote-friendly work culture with annual company-wide retreats
• Reimbursement for your work-from-home setup and monthly work-from-home stipend

*Please note that the benefits described apply to U.S.-based employees only. For our international employees, our benefits package varies by each country and its statutory requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Carbon Direct is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. We adhere rigorously to our equal employment opportunity policies in connection with all employment decisions, including hiring, compensation and promotion.