The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks an Environmental Justice Staff Attorney be based at their Philip Merrill Environmental Center headquarters located in Annapolis, MD.

THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION

Established in 1967, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home through education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally-affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally—after decades of failed efforts—be removed from the Clean Water Act’s impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.

CBF has a staff of approximately 190 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 15 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary.

CBF’s headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world’s first U.S. Green Build Council’s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center—one of the world’s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings—in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

CBF has an annual budget of approximately $26 million and is supported by more than 275,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

The purpose of the Environmental Justice Staff Attorney is to continue CBF’s environmental justice initiative as it relates to furthering the goals of a healthier and cleaner Bay. This position has overlapping responsibilities both as an advocate developing relationships with people in under-represented and diverse communities, and as an attorney identifying and asserting legal arguments on behalf of these communities. Now in its second year, the attorney will play a significant role in continuing the implementation of this position, which is designed to defend the right of all people to a healthy environment. The attorney will focus on communities within the Chesapeake Bay watershed that bear a disproportionate share of pollution that harms the health of residents and impact the state of the Chesapeake Bay. As a legal advisor, the attorney will work together with individuals from community groups, non-profit organizations, and State officials to advance CBF’s mission.

Essential functions include:
• Within the context of CBF’s Chesapeake Bay Blueprint goals, focus on securing relief from air pollution, water pollution, hazardous waste sites, and other hazards that negatively impact the environment and health of under-represented and diverse communities.
• Work with CBF’s Environmental Protection and Restoration department and other departments to coordinate outreach programs for diverse communities within the Chesapeake Bay watershed
• Work closely with the Vice President of Litigation to investigate, develop, and litigate cases.
• Review projects the Litigation Department considers and determine if there is an Environmental Justice component to them.
• Participate in policy and media advocacy on environmental justice matters.
• Engage in a wide range of tasks involved in complex litigation, including, where appropriate, factual investigation, legal research, discovery, briefing, witness preparation, and oral advocacy.
• Work directly with community members educating them about the environmental conditions of their neighborhoods and empowering them to fight for better environmental conditions.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Licensed or eligible to practice law in D.C., DE, MD, VA, PA or WV.
• 2-5 years litigation or related experience.
• Excellent research, analytic, writing and communication skills.
• Strong work ethic, initiative, sound judgment and creativity.
• Experience working on behalf of under-represented communities or individuals.
• Strong desire to fight for the right of all to a healthy environment.
• Ability to work on diverse teams or with a diverse range of people.

To apply, please send cover letter, resume, and salary requirements through the job posting on the CBF website listed below. This position is open until filled by a suitable candidate.

http://www.cbf.org/about-cbf/jobs-internships/jobs/environmental-justice-staff-attorney.html

CBF offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a tax deferred annuity plan. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

CBF encourages diverse candidates to apply and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. CBF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.