Director, Environmental Justice

Lawyers for Good Government • Full-time • Remote (Washington, DC, US) • $155k / year • 2w ago

As the Director, Environmental Justice, you will play a pivotal leadership role within L4GG’s Climate Change & Environmental Justice (CCEJ) Program. This role will involve strategic direction, team leadership, high-level policy advocacy, and fostering collaborations with grassroots organizations, community leaders, and legal partners. You will manage and expand L4GG’s growing legal initiatives in climate justice, decarbonization, and environmental resilience, leveraging significant federal funding opportunities to support local communities most impacted by climate change.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Program Management/Expansion

Lead the strategic vision and execution of L4GG’s Climate Change & Environmental Justice initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and the broader fight for environmental justice.
Direct the Decarbonization and Climate Resilience Funding Clinic overseeing supervising attorneys that are managing the Clinics’ operations and ensuring that resources, funding, and legal services are effectively deployed to support communities impacted by climate change.
Oversee the launch of the Fund Protection Clinic, which will engage pro bono attorneys to help federal grantees in defense of federal funding.
Manage and mentor a growing team of attorneys, paralegals, and volunteers, fostering a collaborative, high-performance work environment that meets the needs of diverse, frontline communities.
Cultivate key partnerships with government agencies, coalitions, and community organizations to advance policy initiatives and support clients in securing funding for decarbonization and climate resilience projects.

Stakeholder Engagement & Thought Leadership:

Strengthen relationships with grassroots organizations and other legal advocacy groups, ensuring that L4GG’s work is deeply embedded in local communities and responsive to their needs.
Represent L4GG in high-profile public forums, conferences, and media, presenting on legal issues related to clean energy financing and equitable climate policy.
Act as a trusted advisor to policymakers and agency leaders, providing expert legal counsel on the implementation of IRA programs and other federal funding initiatives.

Legal and Policy Advocacy

Shape and drive L4GG’s policy advocacy efforts at the federal, state, and local levels, focusing on climate justice, renewable energy access, clean water, and environmental protections, with an emphasis on vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Oversee complex legal research and analysis of emerging environmental laws, policies, and regulations, including those related to preserving grant funding distributed by the US EPA under the Inflation Reduction Act and other federal funding programs.
Serve as one of L4GG’s legal experts on environmental justice and climate resilience issues, representing the organization in national coalitions and public forums.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building:

Lead, mentor, and manage a growing team of attorneys and legal professionals focused on environmental justice issues.
Foster a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive work environment that promotes professional development and high performance.
Oversee the allocation of resources, ensuring the team is positioned to meet both short- and long-term strategic goals.
Provide guidance to staff on complex legal matters, ensuring the highest standard of legal and ethical practices.

Communications & Fundraising Support

Partner with L4GG’s Communications and Development teams to amplify the organization’s work through public-facing campaigns, policy briefs, and media outreach.
Assist in the development of fundraising strategies and grant proposals to secure funding for L4GG’s environmental justice initiatives.
Support communications efforts to ensure that the CCEJ program’s successes, challenges, and goals are effectively communicated to external audiences, donors, and stakeholders.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

J.D. from an accredited law school, with a strong foundation in environmental law, energy law, or climate policy.
8+ years of experience in environmental justice, climate law, energy policy, or water law, with at least 5 years in a leadership role or managing legal teams.
Proven track record of policy advocacy at the federal, state, or local levels, particularly in areas related to climate justice, decarbonization, and clean energy.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to represent L4GG at the national level, speak publicly, and engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
Experience leading teams of attorneys, staff, and volunteers, particularly in a remote work environment.
Deep understanding of climate justice issues and experience working with communities disproportionately impacted by climate change (e.g., communities of color, Indigenous peoples, low-income groups).
Project management experience, including the ability to manage multiple, complex initiatives simultaneously and ensure program success.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with state-level energy policy and the regulatory framework governing clean energy and water resources.
Strong background in published legal writing, such as law review articles, policy reports, or influential briefs.
Prior experience in nonprofit management, with a focus on program expansion and sustainable growth.
High level of technological competence, including experience using digital tools and platforms for case management, legal research, and team collaboration.