South Africa Biodiversity Attorney

Earthjustice is the United States’ leading environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, preserve magnificent places and wildlife, advance clean energy, and combat climate change. We are here because the Earth needs a good lawyer.

Earthjustice’s International Program works across borders to protect the global environment. Drawing on deep experience in human rights law, environmental law, and energy law and policy, we collaborate with partners around the world using strategic legal advocacy to reduce dependence on dirty fossil fuels, accelerate deployment of clean energy, protect biodiversity, and defend human rights.

Earthjustice’s International Program is seeking an attorney to advise us on scoping and developing work with our partners in South Africa and the Southern African region to protect biodiversity and support community-centered conservation.  

Through its International and Oceans Programs, Earthjustice works in partnership with public interest legal organizations in South Africa to establish, strengthen, and enforce national and international legal protections for the environment and communities.

The primary responsibility of the position is to work with and help advise Earthjustice’s International Program to identify opportunities to collaborate with partners and communities for using legal, administrative, and other advocacy strategies to protect biodiversity in South Africa and the Southern African region. The first phase of the role will include targeted scoping to sharpen priorities and support effective strategy development as well as stakeholder mapping to understand gaps and needs. The scoping process will focus on protecting both terrestrial and marine biodiversity, with attention to protecting community access to resources for subsistence and cultural practices.

This is a remote role based within South Africa, with periodic travel as needed. The position is offered as a one-year term, with annual renewal contingent upon performance and business needs. 

The successful candidate will be engaged as an employee of an Employer of Record (EOR) rather than employed by Earthjustice directly. 

Responsibilities:

• Supporting Earthjustice’s engagement with organizations, advocates, and affected communities working on biodiversity-related issues in South Africa and across Southern Africa, including coordinating communication between Earthjustice and civil society organizations;
• Identifying opportunities for Earthjustice to advance biodiversity protection and community access to cultural and subsistence resources through administrative advocacy, litigation, and related legal strategies in South Africa and the Southern Africa region;
• Assisting Earthjustice to identify opportunities to support partner organizations in South Africa and the Southern Africa region in developing and implementing legal, regulatory, law reform, and other advocacy strategies to protect biodiversity;
• Drafting and reviewing legal and policy memoranda for Earthjustice’s International Program;
• Engaging with technical experts to understand the drivers for biodiversity loss, conservation priorities, and effective strategies for biodiversity protection;
• Participating in regular virtual meetings with Earthjustice’s International Program and Oceans teams, providing updates, and coordinating work to ensure alignment and effective collaboration.
• Attending in-person meetings with partners and experts in South Africa, the Southern Africa region, and, as needed, with Earthjustice staff in the United States and other countries (required business travel expenses will be reimbursed).

Qualifications:

• An LLB or equivalent qualification required; an LLM, particularly in administrative or environmental law, would be an advantage;
• Admitted as a legal practitioner in South Africa;
• 3+ years of legal experience in environmental, public interest, administrative, constitutional, human rights, natural resources, or related legal practice areas;
• Strong legal research, writing, analysis, and strategic thinking skills;
• A sound understanding of legal and procedural requirements for environmental decision-making and legal challenges; and
• Able to travel internationally to the United States and other countries.
• Experience supporting or developing litigation, legal advocacy, law reform, or regulatory strategies preferred;
• Experience collaborating with public interest organizations in Africa preferred; and
• Familiarity with biodiversity, conservation, environmental justice, or community-rights issues in South Africa preferred.

Salary & Benefits:

The salary for this role will be $45,000 USD annually. The final contract amount and pay will be in ZAR-South African Rand.

The successful candidate will be engaged as an employee of an Employer of Record (EOR) rather than employed by Earthjustice directly.  Benefits will be provided through the EOR and may differ from those offered to Earthjustice employees.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit the following materials via Jobvite. Applications submitted by Friday November 6, 2026 will be given priority, and applications received after the priority deadline may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the role is filled. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

•    CV
•    Letter of Interest

Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application.

Please note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work to be performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.