Public Lands Attorney (Staff or Senior)

biologicaldiversity; Nevada (IA); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Home office stipend

Job summary

Center for Biological Diversity is seeking an Attorney (Staff or Senior) to support the Great Basin Program. The role focuses on applying federal laws like ESA and NEPA to protect public lands and imperiled species in the Great Basin and northern Mojave Deserts of NV and UT.

Strong litigation, advocacy, and collaboration skills are essential. The position is remote, with a potential travel component, and reports to the Great Basin Director.

Qualifications

• Law school graduate admitted to a state bar.
• 3+ years (Staff Attorney) or 8+ years (Senior Attorney) of environmental and natural resources litigation experience.
• Experience litigating under ESA, NEPA, FLPMA, APA.
• Strong writing, research, and oral advocacy skills.
• Ability to manage a full docket with deadlines and high-quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Track and comment on harmful proposals and projects.
• Litigate to challenge projects in federal and state courts; engage in administrative advocacy.
• Analyze pending state and federal legislation.
• Participate in strategic planning and execution of legal and campaign strategies.
• Develop cases to advance the Center's Great Basin Program.
• Coordinate with regional, local, and national partners.
• Collaborate with scientists and related experts.
• Prepare external communications and speak at conferences.
• Travel occasionally for meetings, conferences, hearings, and field visits.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Environmental litigation

Public lands law

Written and oral advocacy

Time management

Independent work

Team collaboration

Diversity and inclusion

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent

Job description

Job Title: Attorney (Staff or Senior DOE)

Program: Great Basin

Employment Type: [X] Salary [ ] Hourly

[ ] Part-time [X] Full-time

[ ] Temporary [X] Regular

Reports to: Great Basin Director

Direct Reports to this position: N/A

Salary Range: DOE: Staff Attorney: $72,500 - $89,500; Senior Attorney: $89,500 - $131,500

Location: This is a remote position in Nevada, Utah, California, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, or Idaho.

Is this position in the Bargaining Unit? [X] Yes [ ] No
*Because this position is in the Bargaining Unit, some fees may be required depending on where the candidate lives as a condition of employment.

ABOUT THE CENTER

The Center for Biological Diversity, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, believes the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence of a vast diversity of wild animals, plants and people. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law, activism and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that humans, other species and all communities need to survive and thrive.

We want those who come after us to inherit a world where the wild is still alive.

POSITION SUMMARY

The position will involve using applicable laws, including the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Federal Land Policy and Management Act, Administrative Procedures Act, various Nevada environmental statutes, and others, to engage in a range of efforts to protect federal public lands and imperiled species in the Great Basin and northern Mojave Deserts of Nevada and Utah from mining, energy development, public lands sell offs or transfers, water grabs and other harmful activities. The position requires a dynamic, dedicated, organized, and self-motivated individual with experience in public lands law and litigation. The focus of this position will be to support existing work and to expand the scope of work with a broader litigation focus.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Track, analyze, and comment on harmful proposals including plan amendments and revisions and site-specific projects as appropriate.
• Litigate to challenge harmful projects in federal and state court. Engage in administrative advocacy, such as commenting on proposed plans, projects, and rulemakings and the preparation of petitions for rulemaking.
• Analyze pending state and federal legislation.
• Participate in strategic planning and execution of both legal and campaign strategies.
• Develop cases to further the goals of the Center's Great Basin Program.
• Work with regional, local, and national partners.
• Work with scientists and other related experts.
• Work with relevant staff to prepare external communications; and give talks at relevant conferences.
• Occasional travel required (meetings, conferences, hearings, oral arguments, field visits, etc.).
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Law school graduate, admitted to a relevant state bar;
• Minimum three years (Staff Attorney) or eight years (Senior Attorney) of environmental and natural resources litigation experience;
• Experience developing strategic litigation and litigating under relevant federal statutes, specifically: ESA, NEPA, FLPMA, APA;
• Knowledge of federal laws relating to public lands and endangered species management and protection;
• General knowledge of water law;
• Knowledge of or ability to quickly get up to speed on biology of, and threats to public lands and imperiled species in the Great Basin and northern Mojave deserts;
• Excellent writing, research, and oral advocacy skills;
• Ability to manage a full work docket with shifting timelines, priorities and emergent needs with a commitment to meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality standards;
• Experienced communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work both independently and as part of an effective team;
• Competence in and commitment to principles of justice, equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion;
• Ability to work 40+ hours per week, including some long days and weekends.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position will work remotely from a home office. The typical schedule is Monday-Friday with some morning, night and weekend work required at times due to deadlines. Stable and fast internet from your home office is required if working remotely (the Center provides a home office stipend). The position may require travel for meetings, conferences, hearing, field visits, and court appearances.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of this job with or without a reasonable accommodation. This is not a complete description of all workplace conditions, and conditions are subject to change per the Organization’s discretion.

Cognitive

Ability to process and analyze information: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently

Exchange accurate information: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently

Communicate and express oneself with others: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently

Interaction with other colleagues: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently

Interaction with the public/co-collaborators: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently

Physical

Reading (ingest data): [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently

Working on a computer: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently

Typing: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently

Writing by hand: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Sitting: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently

Walking: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Standing: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Lift/Carry 0-25 lbs: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Lift/Carry 25-75 lbs: [X] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Hiking: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Climbing up or down stairs: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Bending: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Squatting: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Reaching overhead: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Repetitive motions: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [X] Frequently

Ability to drive: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Location Conditions

In person required (versus remote work): [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Travel required*: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Night or weekend work: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

Work in outdoor conditions: [ ] Rarely [X] Occasionally [ ] Frequently

*Attendance at our remote annual all-staff retreat is encouraged. This could require travel and 4-5 days of time away from home each year.

BENEFITS (Subject to change—see Handbook for more details)

For regular staff working 30+ hours a week

• 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.
• Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) provided for reimbursement of eligible wellness expenses.
• 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.

For all regular staff

• 403(b) plan with employer match and increasing employer paid contributions.
• Generous time off policies, including 13 paid holidays per year and 5 “personal” days awarded each year.
• Vacation accrual starts at a rate of 15 days annually, but it may be higher commensurate with experience, and paid sick days accrue at a rate of 10 days per year.
• 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.

The Center complies with all federal and local laws regarding work authorization for new hires. We welcome and encourage anyone interested to apply to any of our open positions. Everyone, regardless of current work authorization, will be considered.

Exempt Classification: Exempt

Applicable Exemption: Professional

• Reasoning behind this classification: Attorneys are classified as “learned professionals” as their work is primarily intellectual and requires a high level of specialized knowledge gained through extensive education