POSITION TITLE: Manager & Senior Attorney, Financial Strategies (Internal)

PROGRAM: Climate & Energy

SUPERVISOR: Climate & Energy Program Director

LOCATION: Remote

SALARY RANGE: Compensation for this management role is 8% above Senior Attorney salary

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

**Note: This is an INTERNAL position open to current CIEL staff only**

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) uses the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society. The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) uses the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society. Through innovative legal advocacy and global campaigning, cutting-edge research and analysis, and strategic communications, CIEL’s Climate and Energy Program works to halt the drivers of climate change and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, protect human rights and the planet from the impacts of the climate crisis and responses to it, and hold states and corporations accountable for their contributions to climate-related harm.

The Manager & Senior Attorney, Financial Strategies is a seasoned attorney and capable supervisor with significant experience in the fields of finance, corporate, and/or securities law and a demonstrated commitment to working in the public interest to confront the climate crisis. This role will produce cutting edge legal analysis, design legal strategies for litigation and non-litigation advocacy; develop and implement education and advocacy campaigns to raise awareness among financial actors, media, and decision-makers; mobilize financial actors and institutions to mitigate climate risk, including by reducing their support for fossil fuels; and supervise and mentor other team members to achieve program and team goals.

In collaboration with the Program Director and other members of the Climate & Energy team, the Manager & Senior Attorney will develop and deliver legal advocacy strategies designed to compel financial actors to address climate-related financial risk and align their conduct with a rapid and equitable transition to a fossil-free future. Day-to-day, this looks like: sharing leadership in and execution of campaigns that target key financial actors, such as institutional investors, banks (private and public), and insurance companies; researching, writing, and reviewing legal and policy analyses, briefing papers, expert comments, and public-facing materials; engaging in advocacy with diverse stakeholders (in both the finance and regulatory spaces); representing CIEL in coalitions, public meetings, and workshops; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with civil society partners, relevant financial organizations, and government agencies; and ensuring highest quality work product.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy development and implementation (35%)

• Help lead CIEL’s strategies aimed at accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels, including by identifying potential litigation pathways to hold corporate and financial actors accountable for their contributions to climate change and related harm
• Advise on and help implement financial advocacy strategies in support of campaigns to halt oil and gas expansion projects
• Maintain a working knowledge of subject matter related to the Program’s work, including knowledge of relevant financial developments, political, legislative, and regulatory frameworks, and monitor ongoing activities affecting Program goals

Management & Supervision (25%)

• Provide day-to-day supervision, management, and ongoing feedback for assigned staff and consultants.
• Work with CIEL Leadership to develop work plans and budgets in line with both short-term and long-term goals, and participate in fundraising activities as appropriate.
• Assist Program Director and other Managers as needed to provide work planning and implementation support to the C&E team.

• Assist in information flow within the C&E program and with other CIEL programs.

Legal research and writing (20%)

• Prepare and review legal and policy analyses, briefing documents, written comments and educational materials for submission to courts, financial institutions, governments, civil society partners, and the media
• Assist in the development of reports, briefing papers, fact sheets, press releases, and other public-facing online and print materials to educate, inform, and engage CIEL funders, supporters, press, target institutions, and the public

Collaboration, partnerships, and communication (15%)

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with personnel of partner organizations and networks, as well as relevant agencies and intergovernmental organizations, to advance CIEL’s goals
• Represent CIEL in public meetings and workshops, hearings, and other processes as assigned
• Coordinate with relevant staff within the C&E program and in other CIEL programs to ensure consistency and integration across programs in support of CIEL’s organization-wide strategic priorities
• Support information flow within the team and among CIEL staff
• Perform other job-related duties as requested or assigned by the Program Director

Administration (5%)

• Meet deadlines, prioritize tasks, and ensure high-quality work product
• Meet periodically as requested, with supervisor and other team members
• Support fundraising during proposal, renewal, and reports processes, and other communications
• Participate in weekly staff and team meetings and other organizational activities, including performance evaluations and monthly timesheets.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum Qualifications:

• J.D. or equivalent law degree
• 5-7 years’ experience in litigation or legal practice involving securities law, corporate law, and/or financial transactions, including at least two years in a public interest context
• Demonstrated experience supervising or providing management to others
• Demonstrated experience in and comfort with non-profit, public interest legal advocacy, and corporate accountability campaigns
• Familiarity with developments in climate law and policy, including ongoing climate litigation, state action, and commitments from corporate and financial actors
• Exceptional research, writing, and communication skills; demonstrated ability to write clearly and compellingly for a variety of audiences, including corporate and financial decision-makers, policymakers, and the general public
• Demonstrated ability to conduct complex legal and policy analysis
• Commitment to incorporating principles of justice, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of the work.
• Ability to successfully work on multiple priorities concurrently, including having strong planning and organizational skills, and ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to work both separately and in close coordination with a team.
• Able to travel internationally, and for periods of 1-2 weeks (public safety guidelines permitting).
• Active membership in at least one bar association

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with international, environmental, and/or human rights law or similar fields
• Public speaking experience
• Ability to communicate effectively in one or more languages in addition to English
• Experience with Google Suite (including Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Chat) and Asana

Team Management Expectations

• Organization Focus
  • Understand, practice, and promote CIEL values, mission, and strategic direction
  • Be a good steward of resources
  • Walk the walk—be the staff member you expect your team to be
  • Be aware of your limits and invest in self-care, including managing workload and time away from work
• Results-Driven
  • Clear expectations for all staff members aligned to strategic priorities
  • On-going systems for accountability to monitor progress
  • Provides the right balance of support and autonomy, includes delegation and clearly defined decision-making
• Investment in Individuals
  • Interactions and approach that take into account the specific management needs of the individual
  • Feedback not just on work product but on the growth and development of the individual and their sense of belonging in their position
  • Regular feedback loops that go beyond annual performance reviews

A successful candidate will demonstrate the following competencies:

• Action-Oriented: Makes things happen. Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of curiosity, proactivity, and constructiveness.
• Nimble Learning: Approaches unfamiliar tasks proactively and with an open mind. Can quickly adapt to new situations and to draw on past successes and failures to solve current problems.
• Effective Communication: Understands the value of effective communication. Can deliver messages in a clear, compelling, and concise manner. Actively listens, checks for understanding, and adjusts content and style to meet the needs of different stakeholders.
• Collaborates: Brings people together to leverage their skills, talents, and knowledge to achieve a common purpose. Creates synergy resulting in a combined effort with greater results than what can be achieved by individuals.
• Resourcefulness: Is able to make the best of limited resources and find a way to get things done even when the odds are against them. Can look beyond the obvious for viable approaches to accomplish the goal.