Southeast Attorney - Staff or Senior

Overview

Job Title : Staff or Senior Attorney

Program : Southeast Program

Employment Type : Salary (exempt – this position is not eligible for over-time)

Part-time : No; Full-time : Yes

Temporary : No; Regular : Yes

Reports to : Southeast Program Director

Direct Reports : none

Salary Range : Staff Attorney : $72,500 - $89,500; Senior Attorney : $89,500 - $131,500, depending on experience.

Location : Southeastern U.S., remote may be available

In Bargaining Unit : Yes

Job Classification : Staff or Senior Attorney

Note : Because this position is in the Bargaining Unit, some fees may be required depending on where the candidate lives as a condition of employment.

Position Summary

The Center for Biological Diversity seeks a Staff or Senior Attorney for its Southeast Program, focusing on legal advocacy for imperiled species and public lands in the Southeast United States. Primary duties include impact litigation, administrative and policy advocacy, and strategic campaign planning to address key threats to imperiled species and advance program campaigns. This includes rapid response litigation, media outreach, and working within diverse coalitions. Familiarity with Southeast regional issues and dynamics is desired but not required.

How to apply

Please apply online by completing our application and submitting a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and reference list. The position will remain open until filled. The desired start date is as soon as possible. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls, please.

Deadline to apply : September 30, 2025

ABOUT THE CENTER

The Center for Biological Diversity, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, believes the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence of a vast diversity of wild animals, plants and people. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law, activism and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that humans, other species and all communities need to survive and thrive. We want those who come after us to inherit a world where the wild is still alive.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Southeast Program defends imperiled species and their habitats and seizes proactive opportunities to protect them. Attorneys bring cutting edge cases designed to have a conservation impact addressing biodiversity threats. The Staff or Senior Attorney will manage an active docket of environmental cases; track relevant legislation and policy; and may participate in strategic litigation decision making for the program. The ideal candidate will have excellent research, writing, and public speaking skills with an ability to think strategically and creatively. Attorneys are motivated and use their experience in law and activism to develop cases and win campaigns. The working environment is dynamic, exciting, fun, and supportive.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with frontline communities and conservation organizations in local and regional coalitions to proactively protect vulnerable species, ecosystems, and public lands and waters while also opposing destructive projects;
• Identify, develop, and litigate cases, rulemaking petitions, and administrative actions to further the program's campaign goals;
• Draft legal and / or scientific comments on proposed rules and environmental review documents;
• Work closely with the Southeast Program Manager and other Center staff on legal and campaign strategies and actions;
• Draft legal briefs, petitions and technical comment letters on environmental issues, permitting processes, proposed rules, and other actions across numerous state and federal regulatory agencies;
• Produce consistently high-quality work, including delivering regular legal work such as briefs, memos, petitions, technical comment letters, or oral arguments, as needed;
• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations and activists and decisionmakers;
• Represent the Center in coalitions and meetings related to active campaigns and litigation;
• Conduct media advocacy, including drafting press releases, fact sheets, drafting opinion editorials, and delivering effective statements to reporters;
• Engage the public through campaign activities such as action alerts and public speaking;
• Collaborate regularly with the Southeast Program Manager and team on case development, feedback and review of writing, and strategic thinking;
• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations, coalitions, government officials, and scientists;
• May include supervision of law clerks and legal fellows;
• Occasional travel required (meetings, conferences, hearings, oral arguments, field visits, etc.);
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Senior Attorney Specific Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position will preferably work from a regional office with a typical schedule of Monday-Friday with some morning, night and weekend work required at times due to deadlines, but the program is open to remote work depending on circumstances, where stable and fast internet from your home office is required. Travel for meetings, conferences, hearings, field visits, and court appearances is required.

You may need to travel to courthouses and various hearings and meetings. Occasionally travel to remote locations on Tribal lands to meet with Tribal leaders. Work in the field, occasionally in the elements with nature.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of this job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

BENEFITS

(Subject to change—see Handbook for more details). For regular staff working 30+ hours a week :

For all regular staff :

JEDAI STATEMENT

The Center for Biological Diversity deeply values and is committed to sustaining and promoting both biological and cultural diversity. We welcome, embrace and respect diversity of people, identities and cultures. We are committed to fostering an organizational culture of diversity and inclusion. The Center believes staff and board diversity is critical to saving life on Earth.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

The Center complies with all federal and local laws regarding work authorization for new hires. We welcome and encourage anyone interested to apply to any open positions. Everyone, regardless of current work authorization, will be considered.

Exempt Classification

Exempt : Professional

Reasoning behind this classification : Attorneys are classified as "learned professionals" as their work is primarily intellectual and requires a high level of specialized knowledge gained through extensive education.

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