Senior Paralegal

This position plays a strategic role in coordinating legal operations, corporate governance, compliance, and entity management activities primarily across Latin America and the Caribbean, including regulatory filings, banking compliance, board governance, fundraising compliance, legal project management, apostille and notarization services, training, knowledge management, and cross-functional stakeholder coordination.

Under minimal supervision of a TNC attorney, the Senior Paralegal provides an advanced level of expertise to support and coordinate legal services for assigned business units or projects, ensuring that transactions and activities are legally sound and consistent with TNC’s mission, authority, policies, and procedures. The Senior Paralegal applies advanced knowledge and skills to serve organizational needs in a highly efficient and effective manner. They can effectively articulate relevant legal concepts and internal policies and procedures to others. They have a solid understanding of the concept of legal liability and risk management.

The Senior Paralegal is responsible for ensuring compliance with organizational policies, procedures, legal requirements, and binding commitments while providing guidance to staff on related matters. This role manages and maintains official legal records and files in both electronic and paper formats, ensuring accurate document retention and organization. The Senior Paralegal drafts and revises a variety of moderately complex legal documents, contracts, correspondence, memoranda, and transaction-related materials for attorney review and approval. Additional responsibilities include processing legal financial and accounting documentation, preparing check requests and wire instructions, providing notary and apostille services as needed, and coordinating with internal stakeholders and external parties across multiple jurisdictions. The position may also support budget development and limited budget management activities, assist in the preparation and delivery of training programs, and provide comprehensive administrative support by scheduling meetings, preparing minutes, tracking signatures, and monitoring responses and critical deadlines.

This is a hybrid role where the chosen candidate will be expected to come to the Arlington, VA office.

Are you looking for work you can believe in? At TNC we strive to embody a philosophy of “Work that You Can Believe In.” This is a place where you can feel like you are making a difference every day. Your legal and organizational skills will provide necessary support for our ongoing mission to preserve the land and waters on which all life depends.

As Senior Paralegal you will work with other members of the legal team to acquire and protect conservation real property, review grant agreements for funds that support land protection work, draft and revise real estate and non-real estate contracts for implementing nature-based solutions to climate change, and work with preserve staff to ensure preserve activities function safely and smoothly. Real estate transactional legal experience is essential and should include familiarity with all phases of a real estate acquisition, including due diligence, title review, and closing coordination. You will have exceptional communication and organizational skills, be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to track and prioritize many items concurrently.

• Bachelor’s degree plus at least 5 years of combined legal and administrative experience OR equivalent qualifications acquired through coursework and/or related job experience in area(s) of specialization.

• Relevant legal experience with (describe for specific position, i.e., real estate transactions, regulatory compliance, contracts administration).

• Fluency in English and Spanish, and willingness to learn and work in Portuguese.

• Willingness to become a certified notary.

• Experience conducting research on the Internet and in other legal resources.

• Attention to detail and organizational skills.

• Experience in project and/or process management for efficient workflow.

• Experience with MS Office and other relevant technology.

• Communication, critical thinking and writing skills, including experience editing and drafting legal documents.

Desired Qualifications

• Portuguese language proficiency.

• Paralegal certification or degree.

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $70,000 - $80,000. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring:

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.