Great Basin Staff or Senior Attorney

Job Title: Attorney (Staff or Senior DOE)
Program: Great Basin

Employment Type: [X] Salary [ ] Hourly

[ ] Part-time [X] Full-time

[ ] Temporary [X] Regular
Reports to: Great Basin Director
Direct Reports to this position: N/A

Salary Range: DOE: Staff Attorney: $72,500 - $89,500; Senior Attorney: $89,500 - $131,500

Location: This is a remote position in Nevada, Utah, California, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, or Idaho.

Is this position in the Bargaining Unit? [X] Yes [ ] No
*Because this position is in the Bargaining Unit, some fees may be required depending on where the candidate lives as a condition of employment.

How to apply: Please apply online by completing our application and submitting a cover letter, resume, and writing sample. The position will remain open until filled with applications reviewed on a rolling basis. The desired start date is 9/1/2026. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls please.
ABOUT THE CENTER

The Center for Biological Diversity , a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, believes the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence of a vast diversity of wild animals, plants and people. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law, activism and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that humans, other species and all communities need to survive and thrive.

We want those who come after us to inherit a world where the wild is still alive.
POSITION SUMMARY

The position will involve using applicable laws, including the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Federal Land Policy and Management Act, Administrative Procedures Act, various Nevada environmental statutes, and others, to engage in a range of efforts to protect federal public lands and imperiled species in the Great Basin and northern Mojave Deserts of Nevada and Utah from mining, energy development, public lands sell offs or transfers, water grabs and other harmful activities. The position requires a dynamic, dedicated, organized, and self-motivated individual with experience in public lands law and litigation. The focus of this position will be to support existing work and to expand the scope of work with a broader litigation focus.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

- Track, analyze, and comment on harmful proposals including plan amendments and revisions and site-specific projects as appropriate.

- Litigate to challenge harmful projects in federal and state court. Engage in administrative advocacy, such as commenting on proposed plans, projects, and rulemakings and the preparation of petitions for rulemaking.

- Analyze pending state and federal legislation.

- Participate in strategic planning and execution of both legal and campaign strategies.

- Develop cases to further the goals of the Center's Great Basin Program.

- Work with regional, local, and national partners.

- Work with scientists and other related experts.

- Work with relevant staff to prepare external communications; and give talks at relevant conferences.

- Occasional travel required (meetings, conferences, hearings, oral arguments, field visits, etc.).

- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

- Law school graduate, admitted to a relevant state bar;

- Minimum three years (Staff Attorney) or eight years (Senior Attorney) of environmental and natural resources litigation experience;

- Experience developing strategic litigation and litigating under relevant federal statutes, specifically: ESA, NEPA, FLPMA, APA;

- Knowledge of federal laws relating to public lands and endangered species management and protection;

- General knowledge of water law;

- Knowledge of or ability to quickly get up to speed on biology