Deputy Managing Attorney, Rocky Mountain Regional Office (Clean Energy)

Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountain Office seeks a Deputy Managing Attorney to lead a regional team of lawyers and advocates who are working to advance an equitable transition from fossil fuels to clean energy in Colorado, Arizona, and elsewhere in our region. The position will be based in our Denver, Colorado office. 

The person in this position would manage at least two other attorneys and lead the office’s clean energy practice.  That practice uses litigation and advocacy before state energy regulators and courts to, among other things, challenge utility investments in coal- and gas-fired power plants; promote the growth and accessibility of clean energy resources such as solar, wind, storage, and efficiency; advance building and vehicle electrification; and elevate the voices of environmental justice communities in utility commission proceedings and other fora.  Depending on office needs, this attorney may, from time to time, also engage in matters beyond the clean energy practice area.

We seek an attorney with at least eight years of litigation experience handling largely energy-related matters and with strong management skills, emotional intelligence, and cultural competency.  The successful candidate would work with the Managing Attorney and one other Deputy Managing Attorney to ensure effective management, development and support of a growing, diverse team of lawyers, a senior policy advocate, and professional staff.

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization in the nation. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups to engage on the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. We are guided by a passionate, ambitious vision for the future for people and our planet: until justice stands for all, we will never rest.  We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protection. We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters is in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Miami, Honolulu, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Chicago, Seattle, Bozeman, and Washington, DC.

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak, Earthjustice staff are working two days a week in the office. In the Fall of 2022, the Executive Leadership Team will evaluate whether to adjust our hybrid work plan. This position is located in Denver, CO.

Responsibilities:

Management (approximately 35%)

• Serve as direct supervisor of at least two attorneys who are primarily focused on litigating clean energy matters before state regulators and the courts.
• Lead the office’s clean energy strategic planning efforts to ensure that program resources are dedicated to the matters that have the potential to make broad, impactful change.
• Work with the Managing Attorney and members of the leadership team to oversee program-related budgeting and other financial matters.
• Work with team to implement internal operational policies and procedures.  
• Effectively supervise and lead Rocky Mountain Clean Energy team. Assist direct reports in career advancement by providing feedback, identifying and encouraging appropriate training and professional development opportunities, and creating individually tailored development plans. 
• Help ensure the advancement of Earthjustice’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and values.
• Create a respectful and inclusive work environment for the team and model respectful and inclusive behavior.  Promptly identify and address micro-aggressions, implicit biases, and other equity or inclusion concerns.  Value and uplift individual differences and talents to improve employee satisfaction and the quality of collective work.
• Facilitate staff engagement with one another to strengthen teamwork, interaction, and collaboration. Create or identify strategic opportunities for team building.

Litigation and Program Implementation and Leadership (65%) 

• Work with the Managing Attorney to develop RMO Program direction and strategy; coordinate with Clean Energy Program leadership and team members to ensure organization-wide synergy and consistency; participate in program-wide strategic planning efforts.
• Continue and enhance where needed the Program’s work at public utility commissions and other state fora to halt utility investments in coal- and gas-fired power plants, promote an expeditious and equitable transition to 100% clean energy, and to advance electrification.
• Perform all aspects of litigation including case investigation and claim assessment, use compelling precedent and evidence, develop written discovery, conduct depositions, and lead evidentiary hearings or trials; understand which arguments are likeliest to succeed in a particular forum and develop effective precedent on which to build impactful future cases.
• Craft well-researched and clear documents in support of advocacy efforts.
• Cultivate new and diverse allies and coalition partners in support of our program goals, advance our efforts to combat environmental racism and injustice, and ensure that social justice considerations inform every aspect of our work.
• Collaborate and manage relationships with co-counsel, clients, and coalition partners.
• Serve as spokesperson for Earthjustice, clients, and partners in Clean Energy matters.
• Work effectively with other departments within Earthjustice, including, Communications, Development, and Policy and Legislation Departments, as well as with other regional offices.

Qualifications

• Law school graduate admitted to, or qualified and willing to apply for admission to, the Colorado state bar.
• A minimum of 8 years of litigation experience, including significant experience in clean energy cases (experience working clean energy cases in the Rocky Mountain region is a plus).
• Ability to effectively manage and lead a diverse team with emotional intelligence (self-awareness and understanding of the impact of one’s behavior) and cultural humility (an understanding of the need for learning about different cultures, backgrounds, and orientation, and implementation of that learning in daily management practices). Past supervisory experience and relevant management and cultural sensitivity training is a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent management skills, including the ability to deliver constructive performance feedback, support a team through structural change, promote the career development of staff, and foster effective communication, collaboration, decision-making, and mutual respect.
• Ability to manage a litigation docket effectively, lead a litigation team, and work collaboratively with colleagues and partner organizations.
• Knowledge and experience with public utility law, other relevant state and federal energy laws, and/or the energy industry preferred.
• Strong capacity for strategic thinking, including in designing and implementing effective advocacy.
• Proficiency at working with technical experts and communicating their findings in clear and persuasive advocacy documents.
• Strong skills in communicating litigation and advocacy goals and messages to the media and supporters.
• Ability to work independently and in collaboration with client partners and staff.
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed for case work, court appearances, and presentations.
• Commitment to serving the public interest, and a passion for the role of Earthjustice and its mission.
• Awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations. Spanish language proficiency a plus.
• Commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
• Ability and desire to contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
• Spanish Speakers strongly encouraged to apply.

We offer a mission- and employee-focused work environment and a competitive compensation package, including excellent benefits. Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity.

Compensation is based on experience and location.

Salary range in Denver, CO is $178,000 - $197,800

To Apply: Interested applicants should submit all application materials online via Jobvite including:

• Resume.
• One- to two-page cover letter that explains (1) your interest in and approach to a collaborative workplace and effective management, (2) why you are drawn to this position, and (3) whether there are particular legal, environmental, or justice issues that inspire you.
• Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that primarily reflects your work.
• List of three references. 

Preference will be given to candidates who apply by August 12, 2022. After that, applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies.

Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected.  As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the position.

For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco:  Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

For positions located within the City of Los Angeles:  We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.