Staff or Senior Attorney - Alaska

POSITION SUMMARY

Salary Ranges:

Staff Attorney (minimum 3 years litigation experience): $69,000-85,000 DOE

Senior Attorney (minimum 8 years litigation experience): $85,000-125,000 DOE

General position overview:

The Center for Biological Diversity seeks a highly skilled, motivated, creative, and experienced staff or senior attorney to defend Alaska’s wildlife, lands, and oceans. The attorney will develop and implement the Center’s legal work in Alaska to advance organizational priorities including phasing out fossil fuels, protecting and recovering imperiled species and their habitat, fighting destructive fisheries and toxic mining projects, defending old growth forests, advocating for habitat-focused restoration, and halting other harmful development. The attorney will build and maintain effective relationships with partners, including Alaska Native Tribes and Native organizations, conduct media advocacy, and engage the public through campaign activities. The position may require work on other organizational priorities as well. The attorney will report to and work closely with the Alaska Director, and will work with other programs at the Center to advance Alaska litigation and campaigns, including the Oceans, Public Lands, Climate Law Institute, Endangered Species, and Carnivore Conservation programs.

This is a remote work position with a home office stipend.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Main duties:

• Develop and litigate cases for the protection of Alaska’s wildlife, lands, and oceans.
• Advocate for administrative and legislative policies through scientific and legal comments, petitions for rulemakings, oral testimony, and policy analysis.
• Write Endangered Species Act listing petitions to protect and recover imperiled species.
• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations and activists, Tribes, scientists, agency personnel, and decisionmakers.
• Represent the Center in coalitions and meetings related to active campaigns and litigation.
• Conduct media advocacy, including writing press releases, fact sheets, drafting opinion editorials, and delivering effective statements to reporters.
• Engage the public through campaign activities such as action alerts and public speaking.
• Collaborate with the Alaska Director to develop the Center’s Alaska goals, priorities, and strategies, and provide legal and policy expertise and support for the Alaska Director.
• Provide legal and policy support to other staff in the organization.
• Occasional travel required (meetings, conferences, oral arguments, field visits, etc.)

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Essential Qualifications and Skills:

• Admitted to Alaska bar.
• Minimum three years of experience.
• Minimum eight years litigation experience to qualify as a Senior Attorney.
• Exceptional writing, research, and oral advocacy skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with proven record of meeting deadlines.
• Strong work ethic and ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Ambitious, motivated, and enthusiastic attitude to achieve conservation wins in the complex and challenging state of Alaska.
• A demonstrated commitment to bold environmental protection.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills:

• Familiarity working with Alaska Native Tribes, organizations, and communities.
• Experience with Alaska-specific laws, including the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
• Scientific literacy with background in wildlife, natural resources, or climate science.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position will work remotely from a home office, but it will require travel within Alaska for meetings, conferences, field visits, and court appearances – sometimes to rural locations using boats or small planes for access. Also includes some travel down to the lower 48 for meetings and conferences.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

In-person req. (versus remote work) - Occasionally

Travel Required - Occasionally

Reading - Constantly

Typing - Constantly

Sitting - Frequently

Lift/Carry 0 – 25 lbs. - Occasionally

Lift/Carry 25 – 75 lbs. - Rarely

Hiking - Occasionally

Walking - Occasionally

Speaking - Frequently

Driving - Occasionally

BENEFITS

·     Fully paid medical premiums for staff, and greatly discounted for families.

·     Fully paid dental and vision premiums for staff and their families.

·     Generous employer contribution to HSA and HRA’s.

·     Center paid premiums for Short Term and Long Term Disability provided for all staff.

·     Center paid premiums for Basic Life Insurance for all staff.

·     Discounted premiums for pet discount program.

·     403(b) plan with employer match and increasing employer paid contributions.

·     Generous time off policies, including 13 paid holidays per year, 5 “personal” days per year and 10 paid sick days awarded each year.

·     Vacation accrual starts at 15 days annually, but it may be higher commensurate with experience.

·     Center Paid Time Off for parental leave, personal leave, caretaker leave and even pet caretaker leave.

·     After 5 years of service, all employees receive a 12-week paid sabbatical.

·     Relaxed work atmosphere and dress code.

JEDAI STATEMENT

The Center for Biological Diversity deeply values, and is committed to sustaining and promoting, both biological and cultural diversity. We welcome, embrace and respect diversity of people, identities and cultures. We are committed to fostering an organizational culture of diversity and inclusion. The Center believes staff and board diversity is critical to saving life on Earth.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please apply on our website (https://biologicaldiversity.bamboohr.com/careers/91?source=aWQ9Mjc%3D) by submitting a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, three writing samples of your legal work, and three references. The position will remain open until filled, with a priority deadline of August 9. The desired start date is as soon as possible. No telephone calls, please. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.