Senior Attorney

USA The Nature Conservancy; Massachusetts; Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

health care benefits

flexible spending accounts

401(k) plan with an 8% employer match

parental leave

accrued paid time off

life insurance

disability coverage

employee assistance program

other life and work well‑beingBenefits

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy's Global Legal Team seeks a Senior Attorney to provide legal services on complex matters across the Conservancy’s programs, focusing on conservation real estate and financing. The role supports risk management and ensures legal soundness of transactions and activities.

This remote position, anywhere in the United States, will operate on Eastern Time Zone hours and may supervise paralegals and other attorneys or outside counsel as needed.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate and US bar admission.
• 5 years relevant legal experience or 3+ years with regional expertise.
• Experience negotiating complex transactions and real estate transactions.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal services on complex matters to advance Conservancy priorities.
• Manage risk and ensure transactions are legally sound and compliant.
• Advise programs and support multiple decision-makers in a matrixed organization.
• Supervise paralegals, and potentially other attorneys or outside counsel.

Skills

Juris Doctorate

Bar admission / license to practice in

Education

Juris Doctorate or equivalent

License to practice law in at least one US jurisdiction

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together:

The position will primarily work with TNC’s Northeast Division within the United States, with additional work as assigned across the United States. The Senior Attorney will provide legal services on complex matters to advance Conservancy priorities and appropriately manage risk for assigned programs and ensure that transactions and activities are legally sound and consistent with the Conservancy’s values, mission, policies and procedures. The Senior Attorney will clearly articulate complex legal concepts and options to assigned programs. They will be responsible for providing legal advice and support regarding matters relating to all aspects of the Conservancy’s programs for assigned business units, particularly conservation real estate and financing matters. The Senior Attorney may also provide advice on complex non‑real estate conservation projects; contracts and grants, legal support for the Conservancy’s engagements and relationships with large corporations, advice regarding dam removal projects, public policy, tax‑exempt law issues and philanthropy. They will work as part of a team of attorneys, paralegals and support staff. While this is a remote role that may be located anywhere in the United States, this position will be expected to work on Eastern Time Zone hours. This position may have supervisory responsibility for paralegals and may be asked to supervise other attorneys, legal volunteers, and/or outside counsel.

Projects in the Northeast Division:

• Kennebec River Restoration
• Living Shorelines in New England
• Northeast Habitats & Highways

We’re Looking for You:

At TNC we strive to embody a philosophy of work that you can believe in, where you are helping to address the most pressing environmental issues and making a difference every day. You can help make an impact on nature and its fate in a rapidly changing world; apply practical and innovative solutions; and achieve results through teamwork and new partnerships. The Nature Conservancy’s Global Legal Team is seeking an experienced transaction attorney with real estate experience and strong communication, collaboration and problem‑solving skills. The ideal candidate will have excellent judgment and be able to advise multiple decision‑makers about uncertain risks and challenging choices in a matrixed organization. They will also have the emotional intelligence, authenticity, integrity and disposition to build trust and guide the organization forward in ways that are equitable, fair and inclusive, while navigating difficult or potentially contentious conversations in result‑oriented, non‑confrontational ways.

What You’ll Bring:

• Juris Doctorate or equivalent and license to practice law in at least one jurisdiction in the United States.
• 5 years relevant legal experience or at least 3 years relevant legal experience coupled with assumption of significant responsibilities for a geographic area or subject matter expertise.
• Experience negotiating complex transactions and agreements.
• Experience with real estate transactions.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in one or more of the following areas of law: environmental law, Federal Indian law, energy law, tax‑exempt law, complex grants and contracts, and/or land use law.
• Experience in tax‑exempt law and legal issues related to charitable contributions.
• In‑house experience and/or law firm experience advising sophisticated clients and senior management.
• Experience developing, directing and managing multiple projects and implementing strategic program goals.
• Multi‑lingual skills and multi‑cultural experience appreciated.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $100,000 - $160,000. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science‑based organization, we create innovative, on‑the‑ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor. One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Benefits and Perks:

• health care benefits
• flexible spending accounts
• 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match
• parental leave
• accrued paid time off
• life insurance
• disability coverage
• employee assistance program
• other life and work well‑being benefits

Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

Our Recruiting Process:

This role will be unposted once a strong candidate pool is identified. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role. The recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received.

Other Resources:

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law. TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process.

About TNC:

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has grown to become one of the most effective and wide‑reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and over 400 scientists, we impact conservation in 79 countries and territories: 37 by direct conservation impact and 42 through partners. To conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Our vision is a world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives.