Senior Associate General Counsel

The Organization:

Established in 1970, NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization that combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 700 scientists, lawyers, and other environmental specialists to confront the climate crisis, protect the planet's wildlife and wild places, and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.

NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).

The organization’s unique approach combines the power of law, science, policy, and public engagement to create solutions for lasting change.

On any given day, NRDC takes polluters to court. It advocates in city halls, statehouses, and government chambers. It publishes ground-breaking scientific research. NRDC works alongside communities to make them healthier and more resilient. It activates public pressure to make government officials and corporations do the right thing. NRDC works across the globe, taking its proven solutions to other governments and communities. This mix of strategies is now more critical than ever before.

How We Work:

Advocacy

From mayors’ offices to Congress to international negotiating tables, we work at every level to persuade decision makers to adopt solutions for lasting environmental change. We mobilize strategic coalitions and the grassroots power of millions of activists to urge elected officials to put the public interest ahead of polluting industries.

Entertainment Partnerships

We aim to increase awareness and advocacy for our priority environmental issues by partnering with a wide range of media, brands, celebrities, musical and cultural festivals, art institutions, and social media platforms.

Equity Partnerships

We are pursuing an integrated approach to addressing persistent and connected threats of environmental inequality, racial injustice, and socioeconomic insecurity. We work with frontline groups to advance community-driven solutions, to help build power in communities most harmed by inequities, and to push for long-lasting change.

Global Collaborations

We have worked internationally for decades in select countries as well as global forums. We use scientific, economic, and policy expertise to spearhead crucial environmental breakthroughs around the world.

Litigation

We litigate across a broad range of environmental and public health issues, often working closely with NRDC’s subject-matter experts. Our attorneys may also represent other nonprofit organizations, community groups, and individuals.

Science

Our Science Office bridges the gap between science and the people, wildlife, and ecosystems it serves. We aim to harness science as a tool to support a greater environmental movement that centers communities most harmed by environmental and climate impacts.

Position Overview:

NRDC is seeking a Senior Associate General Counsel with expertise in employment law and labor relations.

Office of the General Counsel (“OGC”) provides in-house legal support to all NRDC programs and departments. This leader will:

o Oversee the vertical within the OGC team comprising employment, labor, and benefits.

o Manage and oversee other OGC attorneys and will provide legal counsel to key partners

across NRDC, such as the People & DEI Team (“PODEI”).

o NRDC is in the process of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement with the NRDC Union; once completed, this position will be responsible for implementation and oversight of the CBA.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide guidance to PODEI and others on consistent application of employment policies, including performance management, accommodations, employee classification, engagement structures, outside engagements, and employee relations matters.
• Oversee compliance with employment requirements applicable to NRDC’s multistate U.S. workforce, including city, state and federal wage‑and‑hour standards, leave laws, pay‑transparency obligations, discipline, termination, and hiring and onboarding rules.
• Advise on Africa‑border considerations related to international staff (e.g. Africa, China, India, UK), coordinating with local counsel as needed to align with jurisdiction‑specific expectations.
• Develop strong relationships with key PODEI managers and stakeholders, and work collaboratively to address evolving and emergent matters.
• Draft, revise, and maintain employment‑related policies, handbooks, and compliance frameworks to ensure alignment with legal requirements and organizational needs.
• Review PODEI-related vendor agreements, including data‑processing and confidentiality provisions, to ensure responsible handling of workforce data by third parties.
• Develop and deliver training for managers, PODEI personnel, and staff on employment‑law obligations, workplace conduct expectations, and changes in relevant legal requirements.
• Coordinate with PODEI to deliver other OGC trainings to relevant NRDC staff.
• Advise on legal requirements relating to employee benefits programs, including health and welfare plans, retirement plans, disability benefits, and related administrative practices.
• Provide legal support for compensation‑related matters in coordination with HR and senior leadership.
• Evaluate employment and employee related data practices for legal risk, establish priorities for process improvements, and advise on appropriate solutions for compliance issues and employment disputes.
• Monitor legislation, regulations, judicial developments, and government enforcement activities relating to benefits, compensation and employment law; advise on necessary updates to programs, plan documents, or processes.
• Advise on employee relations matters and manage any litigation, investigations, disputes, settlement negotiations, or claims, including managing outside counsel.
• Staff relevant NRDC committees, such as the NRDC Board HR subcommittee and the Benefits Committee.
• Support the implementation of NRDC’s first collective bargaining agreement and future bargaining and related activities.
• Manage, delegate, and provide guidance and mentorship to direct reports on a day-to-day basis, and other colleagues on specific projects or matters.
• The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The Leader:

NRDC seeks an experienced employment law and labor relations executive who brings a breadth of experience and understands the critical role of in-house counsel within a leading global enterprise.

Strong candidates for this role will have a deep appreciation for, and commitment to, NRDC’s mission, values and DEI principles and will possess a majority of the following qualifications and attributes:

Skills, Experience, Competencies

• 8+ years of experience with federal, state, and/or international legal issues in the exempt organization field in the areas of employment, labor and benefits matters; at least 4 years of in-house experience and/or subject matter leadership strongly preferred.
• Experience successfully managing junior attorneys and paralegals.
• Experience working within a union environment.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex legal concepts clearly and succinctly, including to lay audiences, in both formal training and informal advising.
• High-level of emotional intelligence and ability to collaborate across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Excellent drafting, research, and written and oral communication skills.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical ability, sound judgment, strategic orientation, and interpersonal maturity.
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, handle multiple assignments and meet deadlines independently and with strong attention to detail.
• Integrity, professional discretion and ability to handle sensitive/confidential matters.
• Flexibility and ability to work well independently on multiple projects with a wide variety of people, at all levels of the organization.
• Competence with and commitment to diversity and inclusion; ability to be an effective partner with diverse colleagues, leaders and partners.
• Experience in anti-discrimination matters, hiring preferences, immigration, and pay equity audits a plus.
• Ability to travel to NRDC offices as needed, approximately 15-20%

Education & Accreditation:

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school required.
• Current license in good standing to practice law.

Location:

• New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Chicago, Denver
• NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month.

Compensation:

• NRDC offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment.
• Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer.
• For this position, the salary range is $180,000 to $200,000.