Scientific Advisor

We are seeking an experienced and knowledgeable Scientific Advisor. With our core focus on scaling carbon removal for maximum climate impact, we're searching for a team player with proven experience in scientific and engineering-oriented problem solving and a passion for climate solutions. 

Job title: Scientific advisor 
Term:  Full-time, permanent 
Location: Helsinki, Finland (hybrid on-site, preferred), or Europe (remote) 
Reports to:  Head of Science 
Working language: English 
Earliest possible start: January 2025 

About Puro.earth:

Puro.earth is the world’s leading crediting platform for engineered carbon removal. We are on a mission to mobilize the economy to reward carbon net negative emissions. We help carbon removal projects accelerate carbon dioxide removal (CDR) at an industrial global scale. We do this through the Puro Standard, the world’s first standard focused solely on carbon removal that durably stores carbon from the atmosphere for 100+ years. 

If you’re committed to tackling the climate crisis, join our ever-growing team as a scientific advisor to mobilise carbon removal to durable storage to counteract climate change.

The core part of the work involves creating and maintaining the Puro Standard methodologies for carbon removal and other Puro Standard documents to create practically implementable pathways to certify and credit durable, science-based carbon removal. This work further entails various related tasks which help to operationalize the carbon removal methodologies in practice, such as:

• Staying abreast of the scientific developments relevant to carbon removal methodologies, 
• Managing methodology working groups and engaging with inter-disciplinary stakeholders, both scientists and project developers, 
• Providing training and learning materials for the methodologies and relevant scientific topics, 
• Assessing proposals for new methodologies, 
• Supporting frontline operations by providing answers and background information on methodological and science-related questions to CO2 removal project developers, 
• Supporting operational certification work by providing scientifically relevant content to templates, questionnaires and similar supporting documents, and 
• Participating in / presenting at scientific working groups and conferences.

The output of the work consists primarily of written materials of scientific relevance, such as the Puro Standard methodologies, other Standard Documents, training materials, responses to customer questionnaires and other similar documents. 

This role will allow you to collaborate with world-leading science, scientific specialists and cutting-edge projects. With appropriate experience, this role will be an enjoyable and interesting position that offers the ability to progress and communicate scientific endeavours to support carbon removal to a broad audience. 

Skills:

This role requires deep understanding of natural sciences gained through a background in e.g. chemistry, physics, biology, Earth science, or environmental science. Although no laboratory work or field measurements will be performed in-house, you must understand the principles and design of scientific experiments and associated data collection, as the work entails e.g. analysing laboratory reports and assessing the scientific validity of experimental measurement approaches. Ideally, you will have experience from both laboratory and in-field measurements in an academic and/or industry setting. 

A balanced theoretical and practical understanding of scientific results and concepts is essential for this role as much of the work relates to analysing emerging and evolving results from ongoing research. Furthermore, as the field of engineered carbon removals is constantly evolving, you must be able to constantly develop your knowledge and practically apply it to a shifting commercial landscape. 

Clear and simple communication of scientific concepts and ideas is an integral part of this role. In addition to visualising and communicating your scientific understanding, you will also lead and participate in inter-disciplinary working groups, and subsequently transform your knowledge and learnings into operationalizable science-based methodology documents for carbon removal. Therefore, an excellent command of scientific writing and the ability to distil complicated scientific concepts into operationalizable requirements are paramount. 

Key responsibilities: 

A Ph.D. in natural sciences or a related discipline (e.g. chemistry, physics, biology, Earth science, or environmental science). 
At least 3-5 years of scientific work experience which exemplifies in-field application of theoretical knowledge.  on the scientific and technical aspects of engineered carbon removal, you will be expected to: 

• Develop and manage large technical documents, 
• Communicate scientific concepts in simple terms to a broad audience, 
• Analyse, visualise, and communicate the characteristics of complicated biogeochemical systems, 
• Manage a library of scientific publications, and 
• Participate and present in inter-disciplinary working groups, meetings, and conferences taking concise notes from complex dialogue.

Qualifications​ 

• A Ph.D. in natural sciences or a related discipline (e.g. chemistry, physics, biology, Earth science, or environmental science). 
• At least 3-5 years of scientific work experience which exemplifies in-field application of theoretical knowledge. 
• An excellent command of scientific writing in English. 
• Strong communication skills. 
• Strong project management skills. 
• Strong cooperation skills and ability to work in a team. 
• Proficiency in managing scientific reference libraries and large scientific documents. 
• A solid understanding of quantitative or engineering-oriented problem-solving. 
• Based in Europe or a suitable time zone to conform to Finnish / EU working hours, and the ability to spend occasional short periods of time in Helsinki when required. 
• Ability to occasionally accommodate meetings in the late afternoon / early evening due to the global presence of Puro.earth. 

Preferred 

• Previous experience in engineered carbon removal technologies, voluntary carbon markets, or renewable energy credits. 
• Previous experience in assessing validity of scientific projects or developing requirements for them (e.g. research proposal or technology assessments, regulatory experience). 
• An understanding of the relevant operational and commercial aspects of carbon removal (e.g. sustainability, greenhouse gas accounting, carbon crediting). 
• Proficiency in tools for scientific visualization, programming, and writing (e.g. python/matplotlib, LaTeX) 
• Experience working in a start-up environment. 
• Based in the Helsinki capital region or nearby to enable hybrid on-site presence.

What We Offer:

• A competitive compensation package commensurate with experience. 
• Support for potential relocation. 
• Flexibility in the ways of working, and a culture that understands the importance of work-life balance. 
• A supportive, friendly, and like-minded community of colleagues which appreciates diversity and inclusivity. 
• An opportunity to connect and work with both internal and external carbon removal and climate change experts on a global scale. 
• An exciting opportunity to be at the frontline of the carbon removal industry in the leading carbon removal standard globally. 
• An opportunity to grow and develop within the role and forge your own path as a climate change/carbon removal expert. 

Apply: 

To apply for this role, please send your CV and cover letter as a single pdf file to recruitment@puro.earth with the title “Scientific advisor - <your name>”. 

At Puro.earth, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Puro.earth hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.