Senior Attorney, Carbon Finance

The Nature Conservancy•Arlington, TX

17h•$125,000 - $175,000•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Attorney provides legal advice and direction on complex matters for assigned global programs and strategies including, but not limited to, Impact Finance and Markets, Tackle Climate Change and Policy and Public Funding, with a focus on climate and carbon-related matters. The Senior Attorney works with client teams to structure and implement complex projects, including transaction negotiation, corporate entity structuring and governance, carbon credit generation and carbon credit sales. The Senior Attorney may also support other global transactions with for-profits, NGOs and sovereigns. The Senior Attorney ensures that transactions and activities are legally sound and consistent with the Conservancy’s mission, authority, policies, and procedures. They apply strong analytical and risk management skills to serve organizational needs efficiently and effectively and clearly articulate complex legal concepts, including questions of first impression, and options to client teams. The Senior Attorney works within the Corporate Services Legal Team and may also support other functions, including advising on corporate governance matters for TNC subsidiaries. The Senior Attorney will build relationships across the Conservancy using their ability to clearly communicate complex legal concepts to non-lawyers to facilitate transactions. The Senior Attorney will provide legal advice and transactional support for global teams, including teams working on carbon markets, climate initiatives, global conservation transactions, and related activities. This role will focus on structuring, drafting, and negotiating agreements and transactional documents to implement complex carbon and climate‑related transactions, including carbon credit generation and sales, carbon offtake and pre‑payment agreements, financing arrangements, as well as supporting global transactions with for-profit entities, NGOs, sovereign and quasi-sovereign counterparties including drafting and review of other commercial and philanthropic agreements. They will work closely with multidisciplinary client teams to support the structuring and implementation of complex projects, including advising on corporate entity structuring, governance, and management issues for global programs, subsidiaries, and affiliated entities. They will ensure that all transactions and activities are legally sound and consistent with the Conservancy’s mission, authority, policies, and procedures. They will apply strong analytical judgment, complex transactional, and risk‑management skills to serve organizational needs efficiently and effectively and will clearly articulate complex and novel legal issues, including questions of first impression, to non‑lawyer stakeholders with professionalism and humility. The Attorney will work within the Corporate Services Legal Team and may also support other functions across the Conservancy, including advising on corporate governance matters for TNC subsidiaries and affiliated entities. The attorney will be part of a specialized team of attorneys and paralegals. The Attorney will build strong, collaborative relationships across the Conservancy and will use their ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and practically to facilitate high‑value transactions and organizational decision‑making.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate or equivalent and license to practice law in at least one jurisdiction.
Five (5) years relevant legal experience, including significant experience drafting and negotiating complex agreements.
Demonstrated carbon markets and climate expertise, for example, working with carbon projects, carbon-related regulations, carbon offtake & pre-payment agreements, and different carbon credit methodologies.
Strong corporate transactional background, including demonstrated experience in corporate structuring and corporate governance.
In-house experience and/or law firm experience advising sophisticated clients and senior management with a global presence.
Demonstrated ability to work closely as part of a team handling multiple projects and transactions concurrently.
Sound business and deal sense.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing, directing, managing multiple projects and implementing strategic program goals.
Working knowledge of current trends in carbon markets and climate policy.
Familiarity with carbon regulations in multiple jurisdictions.
Experience working with tax-exempt organizations, including on tax and funding matters.
Experience with engaging and collaborating with outside counsel, including country-specific local counsel.
Experience working across cultures and cultural sensitivity.
Flexibility and collegiality.

Responsibilities

Provides legal advice and direction on complex matters for assigned global programs and strategies, focusing on climate and carbon-related matters.
Works with client teams to structure and implement complex projects, including transaction negotiation, corporate entity structuring and governance, carbon credit generation and sales.
Supports other global transactions with for-profits, NGOs, and sovereigns.
Ensures transactions and activities are legally sound and consistent with the Conservancy’s mission, authority, policies, and procedures.
Applies strong analytical and risk management skills to serve organizational needs efficiently and effectively.
Clearly articulates complex legal concepts, including questions of first impression, and options to client teams.
Advises on corporate governance matters for TNC subsidiaries.
Builds relationships across the Conservancy by clearly communicating complex legal concepts to non-lawyers to facilitate transactions.
Structures, drafts, and negotiates agreements and transactional documents for carbon and climate-related transactions, including carbon credit generation and sales, carbon offtake and pre-payment agreements, and financing arrangements.
Supports global transactions with for-profit entities, NGOs, sovereign and quasi-sovereign counterparties.
Drafts and reviews commercial and philanthropic agreements.
Advises on corporate entity structuring, governance, and management issues for global programs, subsidiaries, and affiliated entities.
Applies strong analytical judgment, complex transactional, and risk-management skills.
Articulates complex and novel legal issues to non-lawyer stakeholders.
Works within the Corporate Services Legal Team and may support other functions.
Builds strong, collaborative relationships across the Conservancy.
Facilitates high-value transactions and organizational decision-making through clear communication of complex legal concepts.