Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Office Location: San Antonio, TX, USA. 

Position Type: Full-Time

Reports to: CEO

Direct Reports: Data Engineering, Soil Science, Product (PastureMap), MRV Team (Measurement, Reporting, & Verification) and with the ability to make strategic hires as needed once fully onboarded into the role 

Primary Focus: Strategic technology leadership, product innovation, data architecture, modeling, MRV optimization, external partnerships

CTO Job Description:

Grassroots Carbon is at the forefront of regenerative ranching and soil carbon storage, delivering nature-based climate solutions that drive meaningful environmental and business impact. Through a data-driven approach, we integrate soil sampling, land management practices, and ecological modeling to deliver trusted, verified carbon removal credits that are valued by global corporate buyers.

As Chief Technology Officer (CTO), you will lead the development and execution of our technology strategy, ensuring that our digital infrastructure—from modeling to software development—supports the seamless, scalable generation of high-integrity carbon credits. You will oversee the development and automation of the entire MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) pipeline of ranch screening & eligibility assessment, data collection, soil carbon stock quantification, and underwriting of carbon storage potential.

This role is an opportunity to shape the future of soil carbon markets through the development of cutting-edge technology in data collection, continuous innovation in carbon quantification, delivery of insights that drive regenerative practice implementation, and increased efficiencies in third-party verification for credit generation. Additionally, you will spearhead Grassroots Carbon’s industry leadership efforts to calibrate, validate, and advance soil carbon and ecosystem modeling —ensuring that our quantification processes meet and exceed the highest standards of scientific rigor and market credibility.

Your leadership will drive the scalability of our carbon credit generation capabilities, optimize PastureMap, and enhance data integrity, enabling Grassroots Carbon to remain at the forefront of climate tech innovation.

If you are a bold, entrepreneurial technology leader passionate about leveraging innovation for sustainability and high-growth impact, we want you on our team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Technology Strategy & Leadership
• Define and execute a long-term technology roadmap that enhances Grassroots Carbon’s ability to scale, innovate, and drive efficiencies in our ability to deliver high-quality soil carbon removal credits and verified ecological outcomes 
• Lead the integration of soil, ecological, and land management data into a trusted, validated quantification system that meets the highest standards of carbon crediting and verification.
• Develop and drive a data architecture strategy that ensures robust data quality, security, and compliance.
• Soil Carbon & Ecosystem Modeling 
• Use the latest data science techniques to drive continuous advancement of soil sampling strategies, laboratory analyses, and Earth-observation capabilities to improve carbon quantification accuracy and efficiency.
• Lead efforts to validate, calibrate, and advance predictive soil carbon and ecosystem models for more accurate and scientifically rigorous carbon quantification.
• Oversee continuous enhancements to carbon quantification methodologies, ensuring Grassroots Carbon remains at the cutting edge of nature-based carbon solutions.
• Product & Data Innovation
• Oversee the development and optimization of PastureMap alongside the Director of Product, ensuring it serves as an intuitive, indispensable tool for ranchers to manage their herds while also capturing the data necessary to generate carbon credits. 
• Drive efficiencies in PastureMap’s role in supporting third-party verification of carbon quantification methodologies and ensure seamless alignment with evolving regulatory and voluntary carbon markets.
• Establish robust data ingestion and processing pipelines to feed Grassroots Carbon’s modeling and insight platforms. 
• Carbon Credit Generation & Compliance
• Enhance ranch screening and eligibility processes using advanced modeling and data analytics to streamline landowner enrollment.
• Oversee baseline soil carbon stock quantification and underwriting of carbon storage potential based on ranching management history and projected future practices/grazing programs.
• Ensure compliance with global carbon crediting standards while optimizing the MRV process for transparency and efficiency.
• Team Leadership & Growth
• Build, lead, and scale a high-performing technology team, including data/software engineers, data scientists, soil scientists, product developers, and MRV specialists.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement, ensuring that Grassroots Carbon remains at the forefront of climate tech.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Align technology development with business strategy, carbon solutions, rancher success, and marketing to ensure seamless execution.
• Work closely with stakeholders across the company to identify and implement data-driven insights that drive value for both ranchers and corporate buyers.
• External Partnerships & Industry Engagement
• Serve as the company’s technology ambassador, forging strategic partnerships with scientific institutions, industry leaders, technology providers, and regulatory bodies
• Collaborate with leading research institutions and universities, regulatory bodies, and carbon credit registries and rating agencies to to advance rangeland research and ensure high-integrity carbon credits are commercially scalable
• Stay ahead of emerging carbon credit methodologies, climate tech innovations, and market trends, ensuring Grassroots Carbon remains an industry leader.
• Represent Grassroots Carbon in industry working groups, conferences, and regulatory discussions to shape the future of soil carbon crediting.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science or related field preferred. Master’s or Ph.D. desired
• High level of expertise in Big Data and Machine Learning
• Leadership, drive, passion, and relentless optimism with 10+ years of experience in technology development and/or product management with 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Track record for successfully launching and scaling software and/or data products with a deep understanding of machine learning, user experience design principles, and customer-centric development.
• Creative problem solver, self-motivated, and proactive.
• Excellent leadership, organizational and time management skills.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Capable of managing multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative team player willing to go the extra mile.
• Passion for being at the forefront of the regenerative movement.
• Basic understanding of soils, carbon credit markets, and/or regenerative land management practices is helpful
• Previous startup experience is preferred but not required. Understanding that this is a fast-paced and high-growth company is required

• Equity participation
• Health Insurance plan with $0 deductible and $0 co-pay
• Dental, and vision insurance plans
• Flexible spending account option. 
• Open Paid Time Off Policy, plus 9 paid holidays per year as listed in our Company Handbook
• Participation in our 401(k) savings plan
• Company-paid Life and AD&D coverage

Why Join Grassroots Carbon?

• High-Growth Opportunity: Join a rapidly scaling company at the intersection of technology, sustainability, regenerative agriculture and climate impact.
• Tangible Impact: Lead innovations that directly contribute to carbon reduction and regenerative land management at scale.
• Industry Leadership: Work with a mission-driven, high-performing team that is shaping the future of soil carbon markets.
• Entrepreneurial Culture: Have the autonomy to build, innovate, and lead within a fast-paced, results-driven organization.

About Grassroots Carbon: 

Grassroots Carbon is the leading grasslands restoration and soil carbon storage company based in San Antonio, TX focused on empowering U.S. ranchers to implement regenerative land management practices on grasslands across the U.S.  In addition to enhancing soil health and promoting biodiversity, these regenerative practices have tremendous potential to combat climate change by drawing down and removing large quantities of atmospheric carbon dioxide into the soil. By partnering with Grassroots Carbon, ranchers have access to additional revenue opportunities via our carbon credit program. More than 41 percent of U.S. grasslands are used for grazing, accounting for over 350 million acres, but less than 5 percent of that land is managed regeneratively. These lands hold the potential to remove at least 500 million metric tons of carbon dioxide a year. We are on a mission to convert millions of acres of degraded grasslands into healthy, thriving ecosystems that sequester massive amounts of carbon, working alongside strong partnerships spanning Audubon Conservation Ranching to Understanding Ag. Grassroots Carbon has built a foundation of scientific rigor, quality, and transparency to advance this mission and has secured long-term contracts with leading companies including Microsoft, Shell, Marathon Oil, HEB, Shopify, and Nestle to reduce their carbon impact and reach their sustainability goals.

*Grassroots Carbon is proud to be a portfolio company of Soilworks Natural Capital*

About Soilworks Natural Capital:

Grassroots Carbon is proud to be a portfolio company of Soilworks Natural Capital which provides shared services to our fast-growing company. Soilworks is a private equity fund that invests in, incubates, and acquires companies to help accelerate the Regenerative Agriculture movement and is on a mission to prove Regenerative grazing is the most profitable way to ranch. Soilworks principles include better and healthier food, restoring plant and animal diversity, regenerating soil to store water and carbon, and creating more profitable family farms. Soilworks was launched by the co-founders of Scaleworks, a technology venture equity fund based in San Antonio, TX.

We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. We strongly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and background leads to a better environment for our employees and a better experience for our users and our customers. We are an equal-opportunity employer and do not discriminate against protected characteristics. All candidates will be given the same consideration.

*No visa sponsorship is available for this position*