SELC Seeks Office Director for Charlottesville, VA Headquarters

The Southern Environmental Law Center is seeking an attorney to serve as director of its Charlottesville, Virginia Office. This is a rare opportunity to join one of the nation's most effective environmental advocacy organizations, and to lead an office addressing some of the most important and challenging facing both the Southeast and the nation.

About SELC and the Charlottesville Office:
With offices across the region (Charlottesville, VA; Chapel Hill, NC; Atlanta, GA; Asheville, NC; Charleston, SC; Washington, DC; Richmond, VA; Birmingham, AL; and Nashville, TN), SELC uses law and policy expertise to protect the South’s natural resources—its land, air, water, coast and wetlands—and to preserve its rural countryside and community character. Although SELC's regional focus is the Southeast, much of our work is national in scope and impact.

SELC works in Congress and state legislatures to inform environmental law; in regulatory agencies to implement environmental laws and policies; and in the courts to stop the worst abuses of southern resources and set precedents to ensure their lasting protection. SELC works collaboratively with over 100 national, state, and local groups to enhance their efficacy and achieve our common conservation goals. SELC's legal and policy staff comprises some of the nation’s leading experts in their respective fields, and over its 26-year history, SELC has earned a reputation as one of the most effective environmental organizations in the country.  SELC currently has a staff of 100, including 51 attorneys. 

SELC’s organizational structure integrates regional strategy and expertise with place-based action and results directed from its three core offices in Charlottesville, Chapel Hill, and Atlanta.  The Charlottesville office houses 12 lawyers responsible for SELC’s advocacy work in Virginia, and serves as SELC’s headquarters.

About the position:
The Charlottesville Office Director will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the office and its success, excluding regional headquarters functions.  This includes the full range of the organization's legal and policy work in Virginia, and institutional development and fundraising in Virginia.  The Office Director will work in close partnership with the Executive Director, Deputy Director, and Director of Development, all of whom are located in Charlottesville.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing, implementing, and leading the overall legal and policy advocacy program of the office.
• Hiring and supervising attorneys and other Virginia staff.
• Serving as principal SELC spokesperson in Virginia and working closely with the development and communications departments to strengthen and secure financial support for the organization and deliver its messages to various audiences.  This includes making face to face calls to help build relationships and raise funds from individuals and foundations.
• Representing SELC in collaborations with other organizations and in other institutional relationships.

Compensation:  The salary range for this position is $90,000-130,000, commensurate with experience, plus an excellent benefits package.

Qualifications: SELC is seeking a talented, multifaceted lawyer who is a recognized leader and manager capable of both steering our work internally and building positive relationships with the environmental community, financial supporters, and key state leaders. The ideal candidate will be an excellent lawyer with 10 or more years experience; significant litigation, policy advocacy, or environmental practice experience; good presentation and people skills; a strong personal commitment to SELC's mission; and an understanding of the region and its environmental challenges and opportunities.

To Apply: If you have these qualifications and are seeking one of the most interesting, challenging, and rewarding environmental advocacy positions available, please send your  letter of interest, resume, law school transcript, and at least three references to Hayley Parrish, Southern Environmental Law Center, 201 West Main Street, Suite 14, Charlottesville, VA  22902, or e-mail to VAjobs@selcva.org.  Please indicate clearly Office Director on subject line.

SELC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, is continually seeking to diversify its staff, and strongly encourages applications from persons of all racial and ethnic backgrounds.