Distinguished Counsel & AVP, US Legal and Regulatory

Duration

This is a four-year fixed-term position with full benefits and the opportunity for extension.

Location

This position is hybrid out of either EDF's Washington, DC or Boulder, CO office.

Overall Function

The Distinguished Counsel & Associate Vice President (AVP), Legal and Regulatory is a key strategic leader of EDF’s U.S. Legal and Regulatory team. In close collaboration with the Distinguished Counsel & AVP, U.S. Clean Air Strategies, this position provides leadership and advances priorities under the strategic guidance of the SVP, General Counsel. In addition to leading a team of attorneys, analysts, consultants, and other experts, this position will be responsible for developing, implementing, and leading high impact strategies on complex legal and regulatory initiatives that advance and protect EDF's climate, public health and environmental priorities. Ensuring the legal durability and protections needed to achieve EDF’s mission, the Distinguished Counsel & AVP will have particular focus on high-impact areas such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits, tariffs and trade, clean power, grid modernization, affordable and equitable solutions, legal durability and innovation, and fundraising.

The Distinguished Counsel & AVP reports to the SVP, General Counsel and will engage directly with senior policymakers, leading legal and regulatory experts, private sector leaders and associations, and NGO partners and allies.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, direct, and lead EDF's legal and regulatory interventions and implement high-impact legal strategies that protect and promote EDF’s mission, particularly in the areas of IRA tax credits, tariffs and trade, clean energy laws and regulations, grid modernization, affordable and equitable solutions, and legal durability and innovation.
• Lead and oversee challenging and nuanced legal cases, participation in complex regulatory proceedings, and negotiations.
• Plan and direct strategic objectives, work plans, and key results, adapting approaches to rapidly changing regulatory and legal contexts as needed.
• Develop, manage, and allocate the legal resources, budget, staff and outside counsel to accelerate strong environmental policy at the local, state, regional, and national level.
• Participate in advancing EDF DEI goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the experiences feel connected, included and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
• Monitor and evaluate metrics to assess and bolster the effectiveness and impact of legal and regulatory strategies in achieving EDF's goals.
• Ensure alignment of legal and regulatory efforts and strategies in collaboration with the Distinguished Counsel & AVP and under the guidance of the SVP, General Counsel.
• Manage, develop, support, and mentor a team of attorneys, analysts, consultants, and other experts.
• Identify, develop, and strengthen strategic relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including with Political Affairs and policy leaders and colleagues.
• Collaborate with the Development team to secure resources for key initiatives, drafting and contributing to proposals, reports, and outreach materials to support fundraising.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key policymakers, stakeholders, and allies, and represent EDF in engagements professionally with senior policymakers, private sector leaders, legal experts, and NGO allies.
• Develop strategies for strengthening legal durability and innovation to ensure lasting progress in alignment with science-based climate imperatives and law.
• Monitor and analyze emerging legal and regulatory trends, ensuring EDF remains prepared for future legal and environmental challenges.
• Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience legal success in litigating positive environmental outcomes, a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) froman accredited law school, and current membership with good standing in the State Bar required.
• Expertise in federal tax law, IRA provisions, clean energy and grid modernization, as well as extensive understanding of administrative law and proceedings, federal energy and environmental law, legal advocacy, and litigation.
• Familiarity with tariffs and trade law, and innovations in environmental law and policy.
• Extensive existing relationships with key policymakers and stakeholders.
• History of achieving high impact progress in advancing solutions through regulatory and administrative advocacy in highly complex proceedings, litigation, policy strategy, legislative efforts, and strategic engagement.
• Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to represent an organization’s interests in litigation and complex policy proceedings, before senior government officials, with senior leaders in the private sector, and in vibrant partnerships with non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop innovative strategies, forge and operationalize path-breaking ideas and solutions, and create, recognize and build on key opportunities and relationships for progress.
• Experience managing and mentoring attorneys and interns, technical experts, operations staff, and budgets.
• Excellent legal research, analytical, public speaking, advocacy, and written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively and to effectively and respectfully lead staff in a dynamic and creative environment with colleagues and partners of varied backgrounds and experience across multiple time zones.
• Proactive and organized with the ability to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to adapt plans and strategies in response to new events and information.
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed.