| Job Title: |
Deputy Managing Attorney, Clean Energy Program |
| Job Location: |
Washington, DC; San Francisco; New York; Philadelphia; Los Angeles; Chicago |
| Job Type: |
Full-time |
| Compensation: |
171,200 - 211,400 |
| Job Category |
Attorney |
| Job Description: |
Earthjustice’s Clean Energy Program seeks a Deputy Managing Attorney to join our team of lawyers and advocates who are working across the country to advance an equitable transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, and to hold polluters accountable. The position will be based in our Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, or Los Angeles office. Earthjustice has temporarily closed its offices and transitioned staff to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This Deputy position would manage up to seven attorneys and professional staff and help lead the Clean Energy Program’s state energy practice, which uses litigation and advocacy before state energy regulators and courts to challenge utility investments in coal- and gas-fired power plants; promote the growth and accessibility of clean energy resources such as solar, wind, storage, demand response, and efficiency; and advance building and vehicle electrification.
We seek an attorney with strong management skills, emotional intelligence, cultural competency. and at least eight years of litigation experience to both litigate and to work with a Managing Attorney and other Deputy Managing Attorneys to ensure effective management of a growing, diverse team of lawyers and associated professional staff.
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups to engage on the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. 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 people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters is in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Miami, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Chicago, Seattle, Bozeman, and Washington, DC.
Earthjustice presently has two programs focused on cleaning up the power sector and accelerating a clean energy transition — the Coal Program and Clean Energy Program. The former focuses on ending our nation’s reliance on dirty, expensive, and outdated coal-fired power, cleaning up coal’s toxic legacy, and blocking a rush to build new gas generation that would crowd out clean energy development. The latter focuses on breaking down barriers and increasing access to clean energy resources; advancing electrification; and opposing efforts to build new gas-fired power plants. Recognizing the synergies that exist across these dedicated teams, we are combining these highly effective programs into one Clean Energy Program, covering the work of both teams. The merged Clean Energy Program will be led by a Managing Attorney, two Deputies who oversee the program’s state energy practice, a Director who provides substantive leadership and coordination of state-level energy work done both in the Program and by various Earthjustice regional offices, and two Deputies who oversee other areas of work done by the Program.
Due to Covid-19, Earthjustice staff are temporarily working remotely from approved locations.
We offer a mission- and employee-focused work environment and a competitive compensation package, including excellent benefits. Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity.
Compensation is based on experience and location.
Salary Ranges:
New York, NY; San Francisco, CA $190,200 - $211,400
Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA $180,700 - $200,800
Philadelphia, PA $171,200 - $190,200
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 given 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.
For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
For positions located within the City of Los Angeles: We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. |
| Job Requirements: |
Responsibilities
Management (approximately 60%)
- Serve as direct supervisor of up to seven attorneys and professional staff.
- Ensure direct reports with supervisory responsibility are properly executing those functions.
- Collaborate with Program managers, supervisors, and direct reports to manage relationships and workloads across the Program.
- Work with the Program’s leadership to recruit, evaluate, and hire qualified candidates for open positions.
- Work with the Managing Attorney, other Deputies, and Director to oversee budgeting and other financial matters.
- Work with Legal Practice staff and Regional Office staff to implement internal operational policies and procedures.
- Assist direct reports in career advancement by identifying and encouraging appropriate training and professional development opportunities, and creating development plans.
- Advance a learning culture by providing direct reports with consistent performance feedback – both positive and constructive, acting as a coach and mentor, and ensuring that case teams are debriefing after completion of significant stages of projects.
- Help ensure the advancement of Earthjustice’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and values.
- Create a respectful and inclusive work environment for the team, and model respectful and inclusive behavior. Promptly address micro-aggressions, implicit biases, and other equity or inclusion concerns brought to their attention.
- Resolve interpersonal conflict among team members and bring in outside facilitators as needed.
- Communicate regularly with the team and encourage staff to raise concerns and to provide ongoing feedback.
- Facilitate staff engagement with one another to strengthen teamwork, interaction, and collaboration. Create or identify strategic opportunities for team building.
- Value and uplift individual differences and talents to improve employee satisfaction and the quality of collective work. Celebrate successes and help team members understand and manage setbacks.
- Understand teams’ strengths and areas for development.
Litigation & Program Leadership (approximately 40%)
- Assist the Managing Attorney, other Deputies, and Director in developing Program direction and strategy.
- Work with the Managing Attorney, other program leadership and staff to develop the Program’s work at public utility commissions and other state forums to halt utility investments in coal- and gas-fired power plants, promote an expeditious and equitable transition to 100% clean energy, and advance electrification.
- Develop and litigate cases from beginning to end, performing all aspects of litigation including written discovery, depositions, and evidentiary hearings or trials.
- Cultivate new and diverse allies and coalition partners in support of our program goals, and advance our efforts to combat environmental racism and injustice, and ensure that social justice considerations inform every aspect of our work.
- Collaborate and manage relationships with co-counsel, clients, and coalition partners.
- Serve as spokesperson for Earthjustice, clients, and partners.
- Work effectively with other departments within Earthjustice, including Regional Offices, Communications, Development, and Policy and Legislation.
Qualifications:
- Law school graduate admitted to, or qualified and willing to apply for admission to, the state Bar where they are located.
- 8+ years of litigation experience.
- Ability to effectively manage and lead a diverse team with emotional intelligence (self-awareness and understanding of the impact of one’s behavior) and cultural humility (an understanding of the need for learning about different cultures, backgrounds, and orientation, and implementation of that learning in daily management practices).
- Excellent management skills including delivering constructive performance feedback, supporting a team through structural change, promoting the career development of staff, and fostering effective communication, collaboration, decision-making, and mutual respect.
- Experience and interest in coaching, guiding, and mentoring staff.
- Commitment to and experience in developing team skills and talents to meet the evolving needs of an organization.
- Ability to manage a litigation docket effectively, lead a litigation team, and work collaboratively with colleagues and partner organizations.
- Knowledge and experience working with state public utility commissions or other energy forums preferred.
- Knowledge and experience with public utility law, other relevant state and federal energy laws, and/or the energy industry preferred.
- Strong capacity for strategic thinking, including in designing and implementing effective advocacy.
- Proficiency at working with technical experts.
- Strong skills in communicating litigation and advocacy goals and messages to the media and supporters.
- Ability to work independently and in collaboration with client partners and staff.
- Ability and willingness to travel as needed for case work, court appearances, and presentations.
- Commitment to serving the public interest, and a passion for the role of Earthjustice and its mission.
- Awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.
- Commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
- Ability and desire to contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences. |
| How to Apply |
Application link: https://app.jobvite.com/j?aj=o45hifws&s=Gwen_S._Cherry_Black_Women_Lawyers_Association
Interested applicants should submit via Jobvite:
- Resume
- One- to two-page cover letter that explains (1) your interest in and approach to a collaborative workplace and effective management, (2) why you are drawn to this position, and (3) whether there are particular legal, environmental, or justice issues that inspire you.
- Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that primarily reflects your work.
- List of three references.
Preference will be given to candidates who apply by February 15, 2022. 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. |
| Closing Date |
Mar 31, 2022 |
