Lead Counsel, Clean Transportation

Duration

This is a three-year fixed term position with the opportunity for extension.

Location

This position may be based remotely anywhere within the U.S.

Overall Function

The Lead Counsel, Clean Transportation, will serve as a senior member of Environmental Defense Fund’s U.S. Legal and Regulatory team. The Lead Counsel will develop and implement strategies on highly complex legal and policy matters to reduce climate and health harming pollution and to enhance equity, with a focus on pollution from the transportation sector.

The Lead Counsel will help manage and collaborate with a team of attorneys, scientists, economists, policy specialists, and other experts, and will engage with key external partners and allies. The position will focus on developing, advancing, and defending key state and federal transportation sector policies before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), other agencies, and the courts, including EPA pollution standards for new light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles, and California mobile source standards. As a part of this, the Lead Counsel will be responsible for planning, executing, overseeing, and reporting on initiatives, as well as serving as a key influential negotiator to advance our goals. The Lead Counsel will also support efforts to defend the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate and energy provisions with a focus on transportation sector-related tax credits before the Department of Treasury and in other venues.

The Lead Counsel reports to EDF’s Distinguished Counsel & Associate Vice President, Clean Air Strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop litigation strategy in highly complex cases to effectively advance EDF’s climate, clean energy, and health priorities. Represent EDF in litigation defending and advancing climate and health-protective policies.
• Interpret complex key court decisions and lead the development of briefs, motions, and other litigation documents, supporting Legal & Regulatory and EDF goals.
• Advocate for and advance climate and health-protective policies before federal and state policy makers, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Treasury, the California Air Resources Board and other decisionmakers, partners, and policymakers.
• Lead the preparation of detailed legal and policy submissions and comments in the context of complex regulatory proceedings, as well as administrative petitions and other formal administrative requests.
• Participate in advancing EDF DEI goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
• Develop, strengthen, and maintain strategic partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders including public health, environmental, and environmental justice allies.
• Analyze key legal authorities and develop legal memoranda in support of strategic decision making.
• Collaborate with EDF technical experts and consultants to develop reports and whitepapers to influence public policy and engage in public education and outreach.
• Advise, supervise, and mentor junior staff and legal interns, as applicable.
• Assist Development staff in fundraising efforts, including drafting funding proposals and reports for benefactors and foundations.
• Coordinate and collaborate across the Legal & Regulatory team and EDF to ensure effective communication of progress.
• Maintain strong relationships with allies and professionally represent EDF at internal and external events with senior stakeholders.
• Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in the practice area, a Juris Doctorate degree from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association, and active bar membership in good standing required.
• Demonstrated expertise in the Clean Air Act required.
• Demonstrated history of success in advocating for state and federal policy reforms through advocacy or legislative efforts.
• Tax law experience or familiarity with IRA transportation credit provisions a plus.
• Ability to think strategically and work on fast-paced, dynamic issues.
• Excellent oral and written communication, presentation, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
• Attentive to detail, proactive, and highly organized.
• Strong problem solving, research, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Strong ability to recognize and build on political opportunities for progress.
• Experience developing innovative solutions to highly complex problems that impact the organization’s objectives and success.
• Ability to plan workload, manage competing priorities, meet tight deadlines, and adapt to shifting strategies in response to new events and information.
• Ability to represent EDF in litigation, before senior government officials, and in external partnerships.
• Strong ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team across multiple time zones.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 5-10% of the time.

We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. We take into account factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity and local norms.

Please note that pay ranges are country specific. As a result, the stated currency is not meant be converted into any other currency.

$153,000-$165,000

USD

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