NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to 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 was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C. 

Position Summary:
NRDC is seeking a Senior Associate General Counsel with expertise in employment law and labor relations. The General Counsel team provides in-house legal support to all NRDC programs and departments. This position will oversee the vertical within the General Counsel team comprising employment, labor and benefits. They will manage and oversee a team of two or more attorneys and will provide legal counsel to key partners across NRDC, such as the People & DEI Team. This role will take a lead role in the collective bargaining process with the NRDC Union and serve on the Management Bargaining Team.  

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 following essential functions: 

• Oversee all compliance matters related to employment, labor and benefits matters.  
• Advise NRDC’s People & DEI team on U.S. and international (China, India) employment-related matters, including hiring, wage and hour compliance, compensation and benefits, employee relations, performance management, internal investigations, claims, remote work issues, leaves of absence and accommodations, and discipline and terminations. 
• Work with and manage outside counsel, including with respect to handling claims and external investigations.  
• Evaluate employment 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 employee relations matters and manage any litigation, investigations, disputes, or claims. 
• Collaborate with key stakeholders on the implementation of NRDC’s first collective bargaining agreement with the NRDC Union and serve on the Management Bargaining Team. 
• Provide guidance and mentorship to direct reports and colleagues on the OGC team. 

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.  

Minimum Education & Experience:  

• Law degree from an accredited law school 
• 8+ years of related experience 
• Experience successfully managing team members  
• Experience working within a Union (CBA) environment 
• And/or equivalent education or experience 

Skills, Abilities, Competencies  

• Experience with federal and state legal issues in the exempt organization field in the areas of employment, labor and benefits matters. 
• 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. 
• Non-legal experience with advocacy or political organizations a plus. 
• Competence with and commitment to diversity and inclusion; ability to be an effective partner with diverse colleagues, leaders and partners. 
• Ability to travel to NRDC U.S. based offices as needed, approximately 15-20% 
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles 

 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS   

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within the described work environment. 

Frequently: Perform desk-based computer tasks 

Frequently: Ability to interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary 

Frequently:  Attend planned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers 

Occasionally: Ability to attend events and activities in the office or offsite  

Work is sometimes performed primarily in office.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations.  Hours of employment may sometimes require working flexible and/or longer hours, including nights and weekends, when necessitated by projects. The job includes work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters. 

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

We offer 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 $173,000 to $190,000.  

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month. 

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws. 

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. 

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. 

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.