Associate General Counsel

Associate General Counsel

Save the Redwoods League (SRL) seeks an Associate General Counsel who is inspired by the opportunity to use law as a tool for conservation. This role partners with the General Counsel and Legal Department to steward the organization's legal, governance, and risk frameworks in service of protecting and restoring California's redwood forests for generations to come. Responsibilities span corporate and board governance, conservation transactions, policy development, and other legal matters that enable SRL's mission.

Designed for a California-licensed attorney with 7–12 years of experience, this role provides hands-on involvement in a wide variety of legal matters, offering a unique opportunity to support and advance the mission of a values-driven nonprofit organization. The successful candidate will bring sound judgment, high integrity, and a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach to advising staff, executive leadership, and the Board of Directors of an accredited California land trust with a complex and evolving business model.

The Associate General Counsel will serve as a trusted thought partner, engaging across functions and disciplines to navigate legal and strategic questions that shape the organization's work. This role supports all departments and the Board, helping ensure strong governance, thoughtful risk management, and legally sound decision-making that advances conservation outcomes.

If you are a California attorney motivated by purpose-driven work and thrive at the intersection of law, governance, conservation, and mission-driven leadership, we encourage you to apply.

Key Responsibilities

1. Cross-functional Legal Work and General Counsel Support

• Support the General Counsel on strategic cross-functional legal issues, helping to identify and assess legal risks and provide solutions-oriented legal guidance.
• Assist the General Counsel to support all SRL departments and program needs, advising on a wide variety of matters across several different practice areas, e.g. intellectual property, conservation transactions, nonprofit law, Tribal law, human resources, government affairs, insurance, lobbying, litigation and dispute resolution, marketing and development matters, and commercial contracts. Coordinate and oversee the work of outside counsel as needed.

• Collaborate with Legal Counsel and Legal Coordinator on internal legal operations, processes and staff training. Contribute to legal department planning, prioritization and continuous improvement.
• Support Legal Counsel, as needed, on drafting, editing and reviewing SRL templates, commercial contracts, grant agreements, licenses, and other transactional documents.
• Conduct legal research, draft memoranda and prepare recommendations for staff, Board, and executive leadership.
• Participate in organization-wide initiatives and strategic projects requiring legal input.

2. Corporate Compliance and Risk Management

• Advise, in coordination with the General Counsel, on California nonprofit and corporate law, tax-exempt organization requirements, state and federal reporting obligations, and Land Trust Alliance compliance.
• Draft, review, update and implement organization-wide policies and procedures to support legal compliance and effective risk management.
• Coordinate and support internal cross-functional meetings, and collaborate with other department leaders regarding strategic priorities and associated legal workflow.
• Be a reliable source of business and legal advice as a trusted senior organizational leader.
• Support SRL fiscal and operational checks and balances.
• Provide guidance and training for staff on legal or compliance-related issues.

3. Board Governance and Executive Support

• Serve as a core partner to the General Counsel regarding corporate governance, organizational risk management, and compliance matters.
• Support oversight and maintenance of SRL Board governance framework, advise on best practices, and assist with the review and preparation of Board materials including background memos, resolutions, and minutes.
• Assist the General Counsel in overseeing Board policy development and compliance, as well as onboarding training for new Board Members and Councilors.

Qualifications and Experience

Required

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar.
• 7–12 years of relevant legal experience, with demonstrated strength in one or more of the following:
  • Corporate and Board governance
  • Nonprofit law, corporate law, complex environmental or conservation transactions
  • Policy development and organizational compliance
  • In-house counsel or law firm work advising nonprofits or for-profit corporations
• Strong legal research, writing and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, learn new areas of law quickly, and communicate clearly with senior leaders and Board Members.
• High level of organization, strong work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Preferred / Strongly Valued

• Prior in-house nonprofit or mission-driven organization experience.
• Familiarity with California nonprofit public benefit corporations.
• Experience supporting boards of directors or board committees.
• Experience with land conservation, real estate, public policy or environmental organizations.
• Interest in developing expertise across the broad legal skillset that this type of position requires.

Personal Attributes

• A genuine personal commitment to protecting and restoring redwood forests, aligned with SRL's mission and values.
• High-integrity, impeccable ethics, and a strong work ethic.
• Collaborative solutions-oriented mindset with strong emotional intelligence.
• Comfort working in a non-adversarial consensus-driven environment.
• Ability to balance legal rigor with practical mission-focused advice.
• Commitment to SRL Diversity, Equity and Inclusion values.

Working Conditions and Location

• Hybrid position based in San Francisco, California, with a minimum two day in-office presence aligned with Legal Department and organizational needs.
• Periodic travel within California, including occasional visits to forest and field sites.
• Some evening or weekend work depending on organizational needs.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Save the Redwoods League is fully committed to our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Goals. The League welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.

Why join us?

At Save the Redwoods League, you'll work with a dedicated, diverse, and passionate team that believes in the power of nature to heal and inspire. You'll contribute meaningfully to the protection of one of the world's most extraordinary ecosystems and help shape a more connected, climate-resilient future.

We provide excellent benefits including paid vacation, sick time, medical, dental, public transit subsidy, life insurance and a generous 401K match! Relocation Assistance available for those who qualify.