Earthjustice is the nation’s largest, oldest, and most active public-interest environmental law organization. Our team of more than 550 staff — including more than 200 lawyers —wields the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect public health, address environmental injustice, defend and restore magnificent places and irreplaceable ecosystems, and transition our economy to 100% clean energy while working to protect people and the planet from climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, tribes, individuals, and communities to address the environmental crises of our time. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve this by hiring excellent staff who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Miami, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman, and Washington, D.C.
Earthjustice seeks a Managing Attorney for its Washington D.C Regional Office (DCRO). The DCRO is one of Earthjustice’s largest and oldest offices and has been a driving force for the environmental movement with respect to litigation and policy advocacy regarding federal environmental and human health protections. Historically, the office has been at the forefront of litigation and advocacy related to clean air, especially EPA’s implementation of the federal Clean Air Act (CAA). The office also works to reduce climate pollutants; ensure safe drinking water, clean rivers, and equal access to sanitation; protect people from the dangers of hazardous wastes; and secure strong energy efficiency standards for the nation. A significant focus of our public health work is preventing environmental harms to children, disproportionately impacted communities of color, and low-income communities. For more information about the office’s work, visit http://earthjustice.org/about/offices/dc.
The Managing Attorney will supervise a team of over twenty DCRO staff, including fifteen attorneys and one director-level leader. The Managing attorney will work with these staff and Earthjustice leadership to develop and refine the DCRO’s substantive strategy. The Managing Attorney will supervise the DCRO’s litigation and policy advocacy, oversee day-to-day operations, develop and maintain relationships with clients, partners, and funders, represent the DCRO on internal advisory bodies and in organizational strategic planning, and serve as a primary public face of the office. The Managing Attorney will coordinate closely with the Policy and Legislation, Communications and Development teams to support the goals of the DCRO, and work closely with the VP of Litigation for Healthy Communities on substantive strategy, resource identification, priority setting, office culture, and people management.
This position is centered in our office located in Washington, D.C., and requires regular in-person attendance there.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Program:
- Lead the DCRO in shaping its litigation and legal advocacy docket and related strategies, consistent with institutional priorities and strategic plan objectives, and, as appropriate, participate directly in related litigation.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with clients, community and organizational partners, government agencies, and coalitions.
- Work collaboratively with the Earthjustice Policy and Legislation and Communications teams, with other Earthjustice Regional and Program Offices, and with Earthjustice leadership to advance programmatic and institutional goals.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with key funders to support the work of the DCRO, working in partnership with our Development department. Serve as a primary public face of the office and the organization on issues related to the work of the DCRO, including by working effectively with the news media, government officials, and donors. Actively collaborate with the VP of Litigation for Healthy Communities on vision, strategy, goals, priority setting, metrics, people management, and administrative matters.
- Ensure that the DCRO maintains a top-notch legal program that is consistent with the values, policies, and priorities of Earthjustice.
- Serve as an active member of the Managing Attorneys group to help provide institutional leadership and set broader institutional priorities and direction.
Management:
- Manage and lead a diverse team in a diverse environment with an emphasis on emotional intelligence, cultural competency, collegiality, and maintaining a positive and cohesive team dynamic.
- Directly supervise staff and oversee the administrative functions of the office.
- Manage, mentor, and develop the professional and administrative staff, helping them to hone their legal and professional skills to reach their full potential.
- Support organizational and management changes through strategic thinking, transparent communication, and inclusive leadership consistent with the objectives of an evolving organization.
- Communicate institutional vision, policies, objectives, and initiatives to staff within the DCRO, to keep them abreast of organizational changes and developments.
- Develop practices and policies within the DCRO that promote a respectful and inclusive workplace, and that foster community and teamwork among a diverse group of lawyers and non-lawyers.
- Recruit and hire qualified candidates to support and grow a diverse and highly effective team.
- Provide staff with consistent and ongoing performance feedback, and act as a coach and mentor, while providing career development opportunities with appropriate training, encouragement, and supervision
- Promote an inclusive work environment and model inclusive behaviors for the DCRO and for cross-organizational teams.
- Other duties as assigned.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Program:
- Outstanding litigation skills, including the ability to supervise a complex litigation docket and to guide litigation across a range of subject matters, while nurturing the development of budding litigators.
- Strong commitment to Earthjustice’s mission
- Demonstrated ability to successfully develop and implement strategic vision for litigation or advocacy programs that deploy multifaceted approaches to achieve identified goals.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with experience working with political and community leaders and the media.
- Litigation experience under relevant federal environmental statutes (such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource jobshiringnearme.org and Recovery Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and/or the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act), or deep familiarity and experience with public interest litigation that requires similar legal and technical expertise.
- Commitment to making Earthjustice a highly effective, cutting-edge litigation and legal advocacy shop.
- Entrepreneurial approach with proven ability to identify new opportunities that have lasting impact while also working collaboratively with other subject matter, regional, and national teams.
- Experience and comfort working collaboratively with community based or frontline advocates or organizations, and ability to provide leadership and guidance to teams working with a diverse array of clients and partners.
- Experience and comfort dealing with health data and other science-based materials in the advocacy context.
- Proven ability to productively and respectfully partner with other organizations, including community-based organizations; to achieve objectives; and to maintain positive long-term relationships with clients, partners, and agencies.
- Commitment to fundraising and developing ongoing relationships with donors, especially individual donors and foundation representatives.
- Proven ability to manage operations, including budgets and programs.
- Familiarity with environmental, nonprofit, or professional legal communities engaged in environmental and human health-related advocacy is a significant plus.
- Willing to travel as needed.
- Commitment and ability to be physically present in the Washington, D.C. Office on a regular basis.
Management:
- Experience in and commitment to managing diverse staff by fostering mutual respect, effective internal communication, collaboration, inclusivity, and transparent decision-making.
- Demonstrated experience and interest in coaching, guiding, and mentoring a diverse workforce (including attorneys and non-attorneys) at different stages of their careers to continuously improve their effectiveness and reach their full potential.
- Deep appreciation for and meaningful experience in cultivating a diverse workplace that lives the values of justice and inclusivity, that provides the support needed for all team members to thrive, and that is sensitive to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.
- Understanding of how racism and institutional bias affect present-day legal systems, and how race and power dynamics can impact supervisory relationships and organizational culture.
- Significant experience recruiting, hiring, developing and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
- Highly effective litigator with substantial experience in environmental or public interest law, and 10+ years of litigation experience, including significant federal court experience.
- Member in good standing of the D.C. bar, or able to waive in.
- Excellent management skills with at least 5 years of experience managing litigation or legal advocacy teams in a diverse and inclusive environment.
- Self-awareness and understanding of the impact of behavior and emotional intelligence in the workplace.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits that are comprehensive and competitive. We also offer an extremely congenial work environment and a casual dress code.
Salary is based on the number of years of relevant experience and location.
Salary range in Washington, D.C.: $221,040 – $245,600
We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits that are comprehensive and competitive. We also offer an extremely congenial work environment and a casual dress code. As a 501(c)(3) organization, Earthjustice is a qualifying employer for purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit the following online via the Jobvite system:
- Cover letter addressing
- your interest in, and qualifications for, serving as a Managing Attorney
- why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and the work of the DCRO
- your leadership and management experience
- aspects of your background that demonstrate ability to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in work with partners, clients and colleagues.
- Resume
- Three professional references
- Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that primarily reflects your work.
Preference will be given to candidates who apply by February 16, 2025. After that, applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies.
Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the position.
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