OFFICE LOCATION
United States
#PDN
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 includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor.
Our 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. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”
The Nature Conservancy is one of the 2024 Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces in North America, an award that recognizes people-first organizations around the globe. Presented by the Inspiring Workplaces Group (IW), the awards recognize best-performing organizations that have created a positive and inclusive work culture for their employees. TNC is ranked fourth overall and the #1 non-profit in North America.
What We Can Achieve Together
The Nature Conservancy is seeking a talented attorney with experience and a demonstrated interest in providing advice and direction on complex employment law matters affecting its staff across the globe. As the Senior Attorney, you will join TNC’s dynamic Global Legal Team of over 100 attorneys and legal professionals who are each vital to achieving TNC’s important conservation goals. You will be a member of the Global HR Legal Team, reporting to the Senior Attorney team lead. You will work closely with the People Team, Ethics & Compliance, senior management, and with local and regional legal teams, assisting with day-to-day and sensitive employment matters, internal investigations, interpretation of local legal requirements, application of global policies and procedures, compliance monitoring, and litigation management.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU
As a member of the Global HR Legal Team, you will provide employment law support to TNC HR professionals, attorneys, and business units located across all 50 states and in various countries throughout the world (approximately 65% U.S. and 35% non-U.S.). You will be relied upon to timely and effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, complex legal concepts and options to project managers, high-level managers, the Board of Directors, and to other TNC attorneys as you work to manage organizational risk while taking into account TNC polices, standard operating procedures, culture, values, and mission. You will bring an enthusiastic openness to working in a global environment with people of many different countries, cultures, and languages and a commitment to professionalism, collegiality, and teamwork, along with the ability to work independently on various projects.
Responsibilities & Scope
Expectations for the Senior Attorney will include, but are not limited to, the lawyer’s ability to:
- Provide guidance to clients on a wide variety of domestic and international employment law matters, including but not limited to advising on employment laws, performance management, reductions-in-force, separation agreements, employee claims, independent contractors, interns/volunteers, policies and practices and related business issues where the Conservancy operates worldwide.
- Manage pre-litigation employment disputes, respond to EEOC and other agency charges, manage outside litigation counsel, and negotiate separation and settlement agreements.
- Track and ensure compliance with new and changing employment laws applicable to Conservancy business units globally.
- Maintain up-to-date templates used by the HR team, including waivers, offer letters and contracts, severance agreements, guidelines on best practices, and performance management and position elimination tools.
- Advise clients on Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) compliance and equivalent safety and security regulations internationally.
- Advises other attorneys based on recognized substantive expertise and judgment.
- Serve an advisory role organization-wide on key issues or major projects.
- Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, other lawyers, conservation professionals, and third parties.
- Influences decision-makers at all levels of the Conservancy through strong communication skills.
- Independently manage outside counsel effectively on complex issues that may have regional or global impact, including but not limited to charges of discrimination and/or litigation.
- May supervise and/or provide guidance to less experienced attorneys and/or paralegals and other support staff.
- Assist in establishing and implementing policies and procedures that support organizational goals and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
- Perform special projects as requested by department management.
- Serve as one of the primary legal contacts for Human Resources.
- Provide timely, accurate, and quality work product.
What You’ll Bring
- Juris Doctorate or equivalent. LL.M. degree from a U.S. law school is required if law degree was acquired outside of the U.S.
- License to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
- At minimum seven (7) years’ relevant experience as an attorney in a law firm or in-house environment with at least four (4) years’ experience advising clients on employment law matters, with emphasis on harassment/discrimination, leave and disability, litigation and negotiation of claims, performance management, discipline and discharge, employee policies and standard operating procedures, and wage and hour laws.
- Law firm and/or in-house experience communicating complex legal concepts to multi-state/multi-national clients, other attorneys, and management.
- Written and oral communication skills.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience providing legal counsel to clients on employment matters located outside of the United States.
- Fluency in non-English languages, especially Spanish, French, and/or Portuguese.
- Experience in additional areas of practice, especially contracts, non-profit law, litigation, ERISA, and/or immigration.
- Experience managing other attorneys and/or legal support staff.
- Experience delivering employment law training programs to attorneys and non-legal staff.
- Experience developing, managing, and implementing multiple projects at once in a large, complex, and multi-national company or organization.
What We Bring
Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become 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, we impact conservation throughout the world!
The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan including employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.
We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!
This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.
SALARY INFORMATION
This position may be based in any country where TNC has an established entity, taking into consideration legal restrictions, such as non-national ratios and immigration processing times. For U.S. based applicants only, the starting pay range for this position is generally within the range of $140,000- $185,000 for annual base salary and is based on location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. For all other applicants, pay ranges will be in local currency, the pay range will be based on the local labor market, and not tied to the above pay range. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment and used to determine your actual pay range.
APPLY NOW
Please apply to Job # at www.nature.org/careers, or apply directly here. Submit required cover letter and resume separately using the upload buttons. Click “submit” to apply for the position or “save for later” to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited. Failure to complete required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration. If you experience technical issues, please refer to our applicant user guide or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
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.
