Deputy Managing Attorney, Clean Energy Program

Earthjustice•Washington, DC

About The Position

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals, and communities to engage the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer. Founded in 1971, Earthjustice is the nation’s premier nonprofit environmental law organization with a distinguished track record of achieving significant and lasting environmental protections. We wield the power of the law and the strength of partnerships to protect people’s health; preserve magnificent places and wildlife; speed the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy; and combat climate change. We partner with other organizations, supporters, and citizens to engage the critical environmental issues of our time, and to bring about positive change. Our headquarters is in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Miami, Honolulu, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Chicago, Seattle, Bozeman, and Washington D.C. Earthjustice’s Clean Energy Program (CEP) is comprised of more than 50 attorneys and professional staff, based in locations across the country. Earthjustice’s Clean Energy Program litigates and advocates in state and federal courts and before energy regulators across the country to advance an equitable clean energy transition. Our work includes expanding and increasing access to clean energy resources; advocating for the closure of coal-fired power plants; opposing efforts to build new gas-fired power plants; and advocating for the cleanup of coal waste. We represent and partner with diverse clients individually and as part of coalitions. Position Summary: The Deputy Managing Attorney (DMA) will directly supervise approximately five to seven attorneys and will collaborate with a group of CEP senior leaders who work across the program to support all team members and advance our program goals. The position may be based in any of the Clean Energy Program’s core offices of Washington D.C., New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. We seek an attorney with at least ten years of legal advocacy experience, including litigation, and experience leading and developing a team of attorneys. The successful candidate will serve as a key member of the CEP senior leadership team to ensure effective management, development, and support of a growing, diverse team of lawyers, senior research and policy advocates, and professional staff. The DMA will maintain a litigation/advocacy docket focused primarily on state public utility commissions and may also include state and federal court litigation, policy advocacy, or other state and federal agencies. The DMA will report to the Managing Attorney, Clean Energy. This position will be approximately 65% management duties and 35% litigation/advocacy duties.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate (JD) degree or equivalent non-US or other law degree.
A minimum of 10 years of legal advocacy experience, including litigation.
Licensed to practice law in the US jurisdiction in which the position is located, or willing and qualified to apply for and be admitted to membership within 14 months of employment.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively.
Entrepreneurial with the ability to identify and seize new opportunities, and work collaboratively as part of regional and national teams.
Excellent management skills, including ability to promote the career development of staff, and foster effective communication, collaboration, decision-making, and mutual respect in a diverse team, applying emotional intelligence and cultural humility.
Ability to give and receive regular formal and informal positive and constructive feedback in a direct, timely, constructive, respectful, and consistent manner, and to incorporate debriefing into the team’s operations.
Experience and interest in coaching, guiding, and mentoring staff.
Strong capacity for strategic thinking, including in designing and implementing effective litigation and legal advocacy; goal-setting; and translating high-level vision into actionable plans.
Proficiency in working effectively with coalition partners, technical experts, and other stakeholders.
Commitment to serving the public interest, and a passion for the role of Earthjustice and its mission.
Ability to contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.

Nice To Haves

Strong skills in communicating litigation and advocacy goals and messages to the media and supporters, preferred.

Responsibilities

Directly supervise a diverse, geographically dispersed team of program attorneys with emotional intelligence and cultural competency. Responsible for managing direct reports’ workload and assisting direct reports in career development by providing continuous and consistent performance feedback; mentoring; identifying and encouraging appropriate training and professional development opportunities; and working with them to create and achieve professional development goals.
Provide mentorship and coaching for direct reports with supervisory responsibility to ensure effective management and continuous growth.
Work with Managing Attorney and other leaders in CEP to offer an effective and rewarding program to Associate Attorneys.
Provide effective leadership for members of case teams who may be direct reports or may report to other CEP managers.
Create or identify strategic opportunities for team building and staff engagement to strengthen teamwork, cohesion, and collaboration.
Work with the Managing Attorney and other staff to recruit, evaluate, and hire qualified candidates for open positions.
Work with Managing Attorney, other leaders in the organization, and CEP staff to develop and implement program direction and strategy as well as internal operational policies and procedures.
Work with other departments to advance our work within CEP and organization-wide, including Communications, Policy and Litigation, and Development.
Model and encourage a learning culture, including giving high-quality feedback and demonstrating appreciation for receiving feedback; demonstrating an openness to differing perspectives; and acting as a coach and mentor.
Model and encourage respectful and inclusive work environment for the team and model respectful and inclusive behavior. Promptly identify and address micro-aggressions, implicit biases, and other equity or inclusion concerns. Help ensure the advancement of Earthjustice’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and values.
Travel as needed.
Other duties as assigned.
Work with Managing Attorney, the other Deputy Managing Attorneys and Directors, and team to develop and implement litigation and advocacy strategies to accelerate the clean energy transition through state-level advocacy, including especially at state public utility commissions.
Supervise and perform all aspects of litigation and advocacy.
Craft well-researched excellent quality documents in support of advocacy efforts.
Build and maintain effective working relationships with co-counsel, clients, and coalition partners.
Cultivate new and diverse allies and coalition partners in support of our program goals, including advancing equity and environmental justice.
Serve as an ambassador and spokesperson for Earthjustice and our clients.
Travel as needed.
Other duties as assigned.