Alaska Attorney - Staff or Senior

Center for Biological Diversity•Anchorage, AK

8d•$72,500 - $131,500•Remote

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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;
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.

Nice To Haves

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;

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.

Benefits

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.