Staff or Senior Attorney - Energy Justice Program

Salary Range: Staff Attorney: $72500 $89500; Senior Attorney: $89500 $131500

Location: Applicants residing in or ready to relocate to the DC area preferred; exceptional candidates who will work remotely will also be considered.

ABOUT THE CENTER
The Center for Biological Diversity a national 501(c)3 nonprofit 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 Staff or Senior Attorney will work as part of a highly driven dynamic and supportive team in the Energy Justice Program. Organizational priorities for the Program include challenging federal state and utility attacks on distributed renewable energy and energy democracy; holding utilities accountable for egregious behavior harming ratepayers especially poor communities and communities of color wildlands and the climate; and generally stripping the social license of fossil utilities which are at the frontline of driving the climate emergency.

The main duties of this role include innovative impact litigation and administrative advocacy as well as advancing justicecentered campaigns at both the federal and state levels. The attorney will litigate federal and state court and administrative cases build and maintain effective relationships with partners conduct media advocacy and engage the public through campaign activities. The ideal candidate will have excellent research writing and public speaking skills and be a proactive and confident selfstarter with an ability to think strategically creatively and quickly. The position may require work on other organizational priorities as well. The attorney will report to and work closely with the Energy Justice Legal Director and closely collaborate with the Programs other lawyers campaigners policy specialists and media colleagues.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work closely with Energy Justice program staff to identify develop and litigate cases rulemaking petitions and administrative and regulatory advocacy instruments before state and federal regulatory agencies to advance program goals;
• Draft legal briefs petitions and technical comment letters on environmental issues permitting processes proposed rules and other actions across numerous state and federal regulatory agencies;
• Produce consistently highquality work including delivering regular legal work such as briefs memos petitions technical comment letters or oral arguments as needed;
• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations and activists and decisionmakers;
• Represent the Center in coalitions and meetings related to active campaigns and litigation;
• Conduct media advocacy including drafting 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 regularly including on case development feedback and review of writing and strategic thinking with the Energy Justice legal director and team;
• May include supervision of law clerks and legal fellows;
• Occasional travel required (meetings conferences hearings oral arguments field visits etc.;
• Perform other jobrelated duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Law school graduate (no later than Spring 2021 admitted to (or prepared to waiver into) D.C. Bar;
• Minimum three years of civil litigation experience for Staff Attorney and eight years for Senior Attorney environmental and energy law experience at federal and/or state levels highly preferred including familiarity with Utility Commission processes;
• Familiarity working with environmental justice communities preferred;
• Excellent writing communication research and oral advocacy skills;
• Driven and gogetter attitude to identify opportunities solve problems and take initiative to drive projects forward;
• Strong work ethic time management and organizational skills;
• Ability to develop cases and manage a full docket of multiple matters at once;
• Literacy in energy law and energy justice;
• A demonstrated commitment to social justice and environmental protection;
• Ability to work independently and as a part of an effective and closeknit team; and
• Commitment to principles of justice equity and inclusion.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position will preferably work from the DC Office with a typical schedule of MondayFriday with some morning night and weekend work required at times due to deadlines but the Program is open to remote work depending on circumstances where stable and fast internet from your home office is required (the Center provides a home office stipend). The position will require travel for meetings conferences hearing field visits and court appearances. The DC Office is open all week but the Team generally comes in 23 days/week.

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 Organizations 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/cocollaborators: 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 025 lbs: X Rarely Occasionally Frequently

Lift/Carry 2575 lbs: X Rarely Occasionally Frequently

Climbing up or down stairs: X Rarely Occasionally Frequently

Bending: X Rarely Occasionally Frequently

Squatting: X Rarely Occasionally Frequently

Reaching overhead: X Rarely 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

BENEFITS (Subject to changesee 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 HRAs.
• 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 12week 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.

Application process:

Please apply online and email a cover letter resume a writing sample of no more than 10 pages and at least 2 references to Howard Crystal at . Please include in your cover letter your earliest possible start date. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; the position will remain open until filled. No telephone calls please. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.