Senior Attorney, Impact and Carbon Finance

The Nature Conservancy•Arlington, TX

9d•$150,000 - $200,000•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 design, structure and implement complex projects, including transaction negotiation, corporate entity structuring and governance, carbon credit generation and carbon credit sales. The role will support the development and growth of a growing portfolio at TNC, with the opportunity to provide embedded support on legal, business and strategic matters. The Senior Attorney may also support other global transactions with for-profits, NGOs and sovereigns, including but not limited to impact investing projects led by TNC's NatureVest team. 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 Impact Legal Team and the broader 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.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate or equivalent and license to practice law in at least one United States jurisdiction.
Five (5) years relevant legal experience, including significant experience drafting and negotiating complex agreements.
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.
Carbon markets and/or climate experience is preferred, such as working with carbon projects, carbon-related regulations, carbon offtake & pre-payment agreements, and different carbon credit methodologies.
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

Provide legal advice and transactional support for global teams, including teams working on carbon markets, climate initiatives, global conservation transactions, and related activities.
Focus on structuring, drafting, and negotiating agreements and transactional documents to implement complex carbon and climate‑related transactions, including finance agreement, carbon credit generation and sales, and carbon offtake and pre‑payment agreements, 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.
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.
Ensure that all transactions and activities are legally sound and consistent with the Conservancy’s mission, authority, policies, and procedures.
Apply strong analytical judgment, complex transactional, and risk‑management skills to serve organizational needs efficiently and effectively.
Clearly articulate complex and novel legal issues, including questions of first impression, to non‑lawyer stakeholders with professionalism and humility.
Build strong, collaborative relationships across the Conservancy and use their ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and practically to facilitate high‑value transactions and organizational decision‑making.
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.
Be part of a specialized team of attorneys and paralegals doing impact-related transactional work.