Staff Attorney, Conservation Programs

Staff Attorney, Conservation Programs

The Staff Attorney for Conservation Programs works in concert with Ocean Conservancy's program and Government Relations (GR) teams to turn our conservation priorities into legal and policy action on a wide range of marine conservation issues including fisheries management, marine mammals, endangered species, climate/energy, plastic pollution, water quality and ecosystem protection.

The Staff Attorney will:

• Collaboratively develop and deliver on legal strategies for OC's conservation priorities in partnership with program and GR staff
• Advance OC's regulatory and litigation challenges to produce measurable conservation wins
• Meet advocacy filing deadlines — comment periods, testimony, amicus briefs, etc.
• Become the conservation programs' and Government Relations team's go-to legal partner for fast-turnaround position development, including cross-programmatic legal topics such as NEPA, ESA and MMPA, as well as program specific legal topics like fisheries management (Magnuson-Stevens Act)
• Serve as a trusted, embedded legal partner to conservation program teams, with advocacy products cleared quickly and reliably

Primary responsibilities include:

• Legal Strategy & Conservation Advocacy : Research and analyze ocean conservation and management law, regulation and policy to support program work
• Regulatory Engagement & Litigation Oversight : Oversee Ocean Conservancy's conservation-related litigation and coordinate with outside counsel on matters where OC is a party
• Cross-Functional Collaboration : Partner with the executive team, program staff, conservation science staff and Government Relations to align legal strategy, tactics and positions with OC's broader conservation goals
• Program-Embedded Legal Support : Serve as the primary legal point of contact for conservation program teams
• General Organizational Legal Support : Collaborate with Ocean Conservancy's General Counsel on general legal issues facing the organization

Required skills/qualifications/experience include:

• Mission alignment with Ocean Conservancy's conservation goals
• Three or more years of marine conservation legal experience required
• Political and institutional fluency (Hill, agencies, courts)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, along with demonstrated advocacy skills, the ability to collaborate effectively with coalition partners and the ability to communicate complex legal, policy or technical concepts to policy and lay audiences
• Experience drafting regulatory comments, testimony or legislative language
• Deep familiarity with federal marine conservation laws and administrative procedure; ability to anticipate change, develop ideas and apply them within a holistic understanding of the organizational context.
• A strategic thinker with creativity, energy, discipline and commitment to oversee delivery of multiple projects and the ability to adapt to external changes.
• A high-level performer who remains attentive to details and adheres strictly to deadlines and deliverables while keeping a larger strategic vision in mind.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to facilitate cross-program work and to work effectively with partners to affect change and build political will.
• Highly collaborative with an appreciation of the benefit of a multi-disciplinary team approach.

Education/training:

• Law degree and admission to a state bar with five or more years of legal experience required.
• Graduate or undergraduate degree in marine or environmental science and familiarity with federal marine conservation laws preferred.

Compensation:

Ocean Conservancy is committed to fair pay practices and posts expected salary ranges for each of its positions. Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate's specialty skills, years of experience, location and unique background. The expected salary range for this role is $105,000 - $120,000 annually.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Ocean Conservancy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.