Staff or Senior Attorney - Alaska

at  Center for Biological Diversity

GENERAL POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Center for Biological Diversity seeks a highly skilled, motivated, creative, and experienced staff or senior attorney to defend Alaska’s wildlife, lands, and oceans. The attorney will develop and implement the Center’s legal work in Alaska to advance organizational priorities including phasing out fossil fuels, protecting and recovering imperiled species and their habitat, fighting destructive fisheries and toxic mining projects, defending old growth forests, and advocating for habitat-focused restoration, and halting other harmful development. The attorney will build and maintain effective relationships with partners, including Alaska Native Tribes and Native organizations, conduct media advocacy, and engage the public through campaign activities. The position may require work on other organizational priorities as well. The attorney will report to and work closely with the Alaska Director, and will work with other programs at the Center to advance Alaska litigation and campaigns, including the Oceans, Public Lands, Climate Law Institute, Endangered Species, and Carnivore Conservation programs.
This is a remote work position with a home office stipend.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Essential Qualifications and Skills:

• Admitted to Alaska bar.
• Minimum three years of experience.
• Minimum eight years litigation experience to qualify as a Senior Attorney.
• Exceptional writing, research, and oral advocacy skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with proven record of meeting deadlines.
• Strong work ethic and ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Ambitious, motivated, and enthusiastic attitude to achieve conservation wins in the complex and challenging state of Alaska.
• A demonstrated commitment to bold environmental protection.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• Familiarity working with Alaska Native Tribes, organizations, and communities.
• Experience with Alaska-specific laws, including the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
• Scientific literacy with background in wildlife, natural resources, or climate science.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

In-person req. (versus remote work) - Occasionally
Travel Required - Occasionally
Reading - Constantly
Typing - Constantly
Sitting - Frequently
Lift/Carry 0 – 25 lbs. - Occasionally
Lift/Carry 25 – 75 lbs. - Rarely
Hiking - Occasionally
Walking - Occasionally
Speaking - Frequently
Driving - Occasionally

MAIN DUTIES:

• Develop and litigate cases for the protection of Alaska’s wildlife, lands, and oceans.
• Advocate for administrative and legislative policies through scientific and legal comments, petitions for rulemakings, oral testimony, and policy analysis.
• Write Endangered Species Act listing petitions to protect and recover imperiled species.
• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations and activists, Tribes, scientists, agency personnel, and decisionmakers.
• Represent the Center in coalitions and meetings related to active campaigns and litigation.
• Conduct media advocacy, including writing press releases, fact sheets, drafting opinion editorials, and delivering effective statements to reporters.
• Engage the public through campaign activities such as action alerts and public speaking.
• Collaborate with the Alaska Director to develop the Center’s Alaska goals, priorities, and strategies, and provide legal and policy expertise and support for the Alaska Director.
• Provide legal and policy support to other staff in the organization.
• Occasional travel required (meetings, conferences, oral arguments, field visits, etc.)