What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Counsel Markets position at Wildlife Conservation Society?
Position Summary: WCS’s Markets Program works to engage the private sector together with governments, communities, and consumers to deepen our conservation impact and drive conservation finance toward WCS’s key land- and seascapes. Current examples of our activities include: REDD and other climate finance mechanisms to offer results-based payments to local land rights holders who mitigate carbon emissions from land use change; sustainable commodity interventions and enterprises that improve agricultural and livelihood outcomes for smallholder farmers while reducing deforestation at key forest frontiers; and conservation finance schemes in WCS field programs, including conservation trust funds.
WCS is seeking a full-time Associate General Counsel to provide a broad range of legal services in support of WCS’s Markets program initiatives, including the development of carbon markets projects (particularly REDD ), high integrity forest investments, sustainable commodity enterprise investments, and other commercial transactions that the Markets program supports. This position will develop and negotiate legal agreements and contracts, develop and structure legal tools, frameworks, and models, build institutional capacity, and provide oversight and counsel to a wide range of project stakeholders including WCS’s country programs, national and subnational governments, and community partners. International travel will be required. Start date is September 15, 2023, or another mutually agreed date.
Principal Responsibilities:
Review, draft and negotiate legal agreements for REDD projects, including development and financing, credit offtake and sales (e.g., ERPAs), escrow, marketing, implementation, government authorization, benefit sharing, and vendor agreements; and provide legal advice and support on the structure and implementation of government and non-government-led carbon REDD projects, including transaction negotiations.
Serve as vital member of the Markets conservation enterprise investment team as in-house counsel, advising and supporting the team on the structure, negotiation, and execution of investments globally, including leading on the creation and review of incorporation documents, investment and product offtake agreements and engagements with supply chain initiatives.
Prepare legal agreements and provide legal structuring advice and support for commercial investment projects working with the Forest and Climate Change Theme, including High Integrity Forest Investment Initiative (HIFOR), expansion of peatland protection, and the Catalyst initiative based on the Reforest Fund platform for new restoration.
Review, draft and negotiate a variety of agreements with a broad range of counterparties including, for example: grants, cooperative agreements and contracts with U.S. government agencies, non-U.S. governments, multilateral organizations (e.g., World Bank, United Nations), private foundations and other funding sources; fee for service agreements, memoranda of understanding, consulting agreements, NDAs and data sharing agreements with individuals, private foundations, for profit companies and other U.S. and international NGOs; consent agreements with local communities to participate in project activities following Free, Prior and Informed Consent processes; and commercial agreements (e.g., purchase and sale agreements, leases, licenses) with a variety of counterparties
Manage relationships with outside counsel in various jurisdictions as necessary.
Assist and advise Markets team on legal compliance (e.g., tax, investment regulatory, corporate, license to operate, U.S. tax exempt organization rules) as needed and in consultation with OGC colleagues and outside counsel.
With and on behalf of the Markets Program, advise and confer with our WCS country programs, partners, and governments related to carbon markets and sustainable investments.
Build institutional and staff capacity of WCS country programs and partner governments to resolve compliance issues related to carbon markets and sustainable investments.
Advise on miscellaneous business, operational and institutional risk management issues.
Perform other duties as assigned by the General Counsel and Executive Director of Markets.
Qualification Requirements
Job Qualifications:
Juris Doctorate degree (or its equivalent) and license to practice in good standing in New York or another jurisdiction acceptable to WCS.
Minimum 8-10 years of relevant legal experience working in or advising at an international level, including experience working cross-culturally.
Must be comfortable working with language barriers, time differences and managing legal issues in several non-U.S. jurisdictions simultaneously.
Excellent legal analytical ability and judgment.
Experience with complex commercial matters.
Strong legal drafting skills and extensive contract review and negotiation experience, preferably for a broad range of clients and types of agreements.
Experience managing outside counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Ability to manage heavy workload and competing priorities, and to complete assignments competently under tight deadlines consistent with the expectations of commercial actors.
Ability to interact confidently and personably with a wide range of people in a multi-cultural environment including executives, outside counsel, representatives of government, field scientists and staff.
Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
Ability to work effectively as part of a service-oriented, client-focused team, and to be a pleasant, collegial and supportive colleague.
Fluency in written and spoken English, and excellent communication skills.
Proficiency in digital and administrative skills relevant to the legal profession.
Excellent organizational skills and acute attention to detail.
Willingness and ability to travel (0-25%).
Preferred Competencies:
Commitment to WCS’s mission and values including a passion for nature conservation.
Familiarity with carbon markets and sustainable investment models.
Working knowledge of international law and legal systems.
Experience in the nonprofit or NGO sector, preferably working in or advising a U.S. charity internationally.
Experience in the formation and governance of corporate entities in the U.S. and other jurisdictions.
Experience in structuring, negotiating and drafting Public-Private initiatives and partnerships.
Fluency in another language, preferably French.
Additional Requirements:
WCS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. EOE/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled
Salary Range
$150,000 - $185,000
WCS is seeking a full-time Associate General Counsel to provide a broad range of legal services in support of WCS’s Markets program initiatives, including the development of carbon markets projects (particularly REDD ), high integrity forest investments, sustainable commodity enterprise investments, and other commercial transactions that the Markets program supports. This position will develop and negotiate legal agreements and contracts, develop and structure legal tools, frameworks, and models, build institutional capacity, and provide oversight and counsel to a wide range of project stakeholders including WCS’s country programs, national and subnational governments, and community partners. International travel will be required. Start date is September 15, 2023, or another mutually agreed date.
Principal Responsibilities:
Review, draft and negotiate legal agreements for REDD projects, including development and financing, credit offtake and sales (e.g., ERPAs), escrow, marketing, implementation, government authorization, benefit sharing, and vendor agreements; and provide legal advice and support on the structure and implementation of government and non-government-led carbon REDD projects, including transaction negotiations.
Serve as vital member of the Markets conservation enterprise investment team as in-house counsel, advising and supporting the team on the structure, negotiation, and execution of investments globally, including leading on the creation and review of incorporation documents, investment and product offtake agreements and engagements with supply chain initiatives.
Prepare legal agreements and provide legal structuring advice and support for commercial investment projects working with the Forest and Climate Change Theme, including High Integrity Forest Investment Initiative (HIFOR), expansion of peatland protection, and the Catalyst initiative based on the Reforest Fund platform for new restoration.
Review, draft and negotiate a variety of agreements with a broad range of counterparties including, for example: grants, cooperative agreements and contracts with U.S. government agencies, non-U.S. governments, multilateral organizations (e.g., World Bank, United Nations), private foundations and other funding sources; fee for service agreements, memoranda of understanding, consulting agreements, NDAs and data sharing agreements with individuals, private foundations, for profit companies and other U.S. and international NGOs; consent agreements with local communities to participate in project activities following Free, Prior and Informed Consent processes; and commercial agreements (e.g., purchase and sale agreements, leases, licenses) with a variety of counterparties
Manage relationships with outside counsel in various jurisdictions as necessary.
Assist and advise Markets team on legal compliance (e.g., tax, investment regulatory, corporate, license to operate, U.S. tax exempt organization rules) as needed and in consultation with OGC colleagues and outside counsel.
With and on behalf of the Markets Program, advise and confer with our WCS country programs, partners, and governments related to carbon markets and sustainable investments.
Build institutional and staff capacity of WCS country programs and partner governments to resolve compliance issues related to carbon markets and sustainable investments.
Advise on miscellaneous business, operational and institutional risk management issues.
Perform other duties as assigned by the General Counsel and Executive Director of Markets.
Qualification Requirements
Job Qualifications:
Juris Doctorate degree (or its equivalent) and license to practice in good standing in New York or another jurisdiction acceptable to WCS.
Minimum 8-10 years of relevant legal experience working in or advising at an international level, including experience working cross-culturally.
Must be comfortable working with language barriers, time differences and managing legal issues in several non-U.S. jurisdictions simultaneously.
Excellent legal analytical ability and judgment.
Experience with complex commercial matters.
Strong legal drafting skills and extensive contract review and negotiation experience, preferably for a broad range of clients and types of agreements.
Experience managing outside counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Ability to manage heavy workload and competing priorities, and to complete assignments competently under tight deadlines consistent with the expectations of commercial actors.
Ability to interact confidently and personably with a wide range of people in a multi-cultural environment including executives, outside counsel, representatives of government, field scientists and staff.
Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
Ability to work effectively as part of a service-oriented, client-focused team, and to be a pleasant, collegial and supportive colleague.
Fluency in written and spoken English, and excellent communication skills.
Proficiency in digital and administrative skills relevant to the legal profession.
Excellent organizational skills and acute attention to detail.
Willingness and ability to travel (0-25%).
Preferred Competencies:
Commitment to WCS’s mission and values including a passion for nature conservation.
Familiarity with carbon markets and sustainable investment models.
Working knowledge of international law and legal systems.
Experience in the nonprofit or NGO sector, preferably working in or advising a U.S. charity internationally.
Experience in the formation and governance of corporate entities in the U.S. and other jurisdictions.
Experience in structuring, negotiating and drafting Public-Private initiatives and partnerships.
Fluency in another language, preferably French.
Additional Requirements:
WCS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. EOE/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled
Salary Range
$150,000 - $185,000
Salary : $150,000 - $185,000
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