Assistant General Counsel, Advocacy

Overview

Now in its second century, Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Audubon’s mission is engaging people in bird conservation on a hemispheric scale through science, policy, education and on-the-ground conservation action.  By mobilizing and aligning its network of Chapters, Centers, State and Important Bird Area programs in the four major migratory flyways in the Americas, the organization will bring the full power of Audubon to bear on protecting common and threatened bird species and the critical habitat they need to survive.  And as part of BirdLife International, Audubon will join people in over 100 in-country organizations all working to protect a network of Important Bird Areas around the world, leveraging the impact of actions they take at a local level.  What defines Audubon’s unique value is a powerful grassroots network of nearly 500 local chapters, 23 state offices, 41 Audubon Centers, Important Bird Area Programs in 50 states, and 700 staff across the country.  Audubon is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).

Position Summary

The National Audubon Society is seeking an experienced and collaborative attorney to provide legal advice on matters related to policy advocacy at the federal, state and local level in a rapidly growing advocacy program executed in Washington, D.C. and in states around the country.  This position requires knowledge and experience advising clients on legal issues related to policy advocacy including IRS, FEC and LDA compliance as well as IRS (c)(4) and Political Action Committee operations, compliance, and reporting.

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Associate General Counsel will be a critical leader on cross-departmental advocacy teams, helping to shape the organizations’ efforts to implement transformative policy solutions and mobilize bird lovers and others to turn policy ideas into real protections for birds and the places they need. They will join a service-oriented Office of General Counsel and arrive during an exciting time of organizational growth and innovation driven by organization leadership and advanced everyday by dedicated, highly collaborative team members and partners in New York, Washington, DC and across the country.

Essential Functions

• Assistant Counsel is responsible for handling a wide variety of advocacy-related legal matters for all departments of the National Audubon Society, including advising headquarters and state staff on advocacy-related activities including lobbying, events, and fundraising; reviewing advocacy-related materials; meeting reporting requirements; training staff on compliance with lobbying and political activity requirements, and managing coordination with relevant outside counsel as necessary.
• Assistant Counsel will also draft legal policies, forms, agreements, board materials and other documents as necessary;
• Experience in lobbying, tax, governance, grants, development and staff training is required.
• Individual must be able to work well independently, develop their own client base, and handle administrative tasks associated with the position.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum 6 years’ experience in the relevant fields.
• Juris Doctorate degree.
• Excels at advising a wide variety of clients and working collaboratively with others.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• High ethical standards and demonstrated work ethic.
• Excellent listening, oral and written skills.
• Excellent research and analytical skills.
• Excellent judgment.
• Experience developing new programs and process a plus.
• Sense of humor and perspective.
• Belief in the mission a plus.