Alaska Attorney - Staff or Senior

Job Title: Attorney (Staff or Senior DOE)

Program: Alaska Program

Employment Type: [X] Salary [ ] Hourly

[ ] Part-time [X] Full-time

[ ] Temporary [X] Regular

Reports to: Alaska 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 with the possibility of an office in Anchorage. Applicants residing anywhere in Alaska strongly preferred and prioritized; exceptionally qualified candidates located outside of Alaska are invited to apply.

Is this position in the Bargaining Unit? [X] Yes [ ] No
Job Classification: Attorney (Staff or Senior)
*Because this position is in the Bargaining Unit, some fees may be required depending on where the candidate lives as a condition of employment.

How to apply:

Please apply online by completing our application and submitting a cover letter, resume, three references, and three writing samples. The position will remain open until filled with applications reviewed on a rolling basis. The desired start date is as soon as possible. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls please.

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 Alaska Staff or Senior Attorney will work as part of a highly motivated, dynamic and collaborative team in the Alaska program to protect Alaska’s wildlife, public lands, and oceans. Organizational priorities in Alaska include protecting and recovering imperiled terrestrial and marine species and securing the habitat they need, fighting toxic mining projects, stopping road developments through intact wildlands, defending old-growth forests, opposing destructive industrial fisheries, halting new and phasing out existing onshore and offshore oil and gas projects, and stopping federal public land giveaways. This position may require work on other program and organizational priorities as well.

The primary focus of this role is impact litigation, with additional administrative advocacy and environmental campaign work. The attorney will build and maintain effective relationships with partners and co-plaintiffs, including Alaska Native Tribes and Tribal entities. Media advocacy is a prominent aspect of this role. The ideal candidate will have excellent legal research and writing, relationship building, communication, time management, and public speaking skills, with an ability to think strategically and creatively, respond gracefully to shifting priorities, timelines and emergent needs, and contribute to a positive, collaborative, and enjoyable workplace.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and litigate cases for the protection of Alaska’s wildlife, public lands and oceans;
• Draft legal comments on environmental and cultural analyses, permitting processes, proposed rules and other agency actions;
• Regularly and consistently produce high-quality, well-researched, creative, and accurate written legal work;
• Review, analyze, and translate scientific research into legal writing and actions;
• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations and activists, Alaska Native Tribes and Tribal entities, community members, scientists, agency personnel, and decisionmakers;
• Represent the Center in coalitions and meetings related to active campaigns and litigation;
• Advocate for administrative policies and species and habitat protections by drafting petitions for rulemakings and Endangered Species Act listing and critical habitat petitions;
• Conduct media advocacy, including writing press releases and statements, drafting opinion editorials, and delivering effective interviews to reporters;
• Engage the public through campaign activities such as action alerts and public speaking;
• Collaborate with the Alaska program team on the program’s goals, priorities and strategies;
• May include supervision of law clerks and legal fellows;
• 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 the Alaska bar;
• Minimum three years (Staff Attorney) or eight years (Senior Attorney) of civil environmental and natural resources litigation experience;
• Experience with the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the National Historic Preservation Act and/or Clean Water Act preferred;
• Familiarity and cultural competency working with Alaska Native Tribes, Tribal entities, Native organizations, and Native communities strongly preferred;
• Scientific literacy with a background in wildlife, biology, ecology, natural resources, or climate science preferred;
• 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, although if the candidate is located in Anchorage, there is a possibility of an in-person 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 will require travel within Alaska for meetings, conferences, hearing, field visits, and court appearances – sometimes to rural locations on rough roads and/or using boats or small bush planes for access. Also includes some travel down to the lower 48 for meetings and conferences.

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