Senior Associate General Counsel

Overview

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.  As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions.  

Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America’s foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.).  

Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.org 

 Position Summary

NRDC is seeking a Senior Associate General Counsel with expertise in employment law and labor relations. Office of the General Counsel (“OGC”) provides in-house legal support to all NRDC programs and departments. This position will oversee the vertical within the OGC team comprising employment, labor, and benefits. They will manage and oversee other OGC attorneys and will provide legal counsel to key partners across NRDC, such as the People & DEI Team (“PODEI”). NRDC is in the process of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement with the NRDC Union; once completed, this position will be responsible for implementation and oversight of the CBA.

Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions: 

• Provide guidance to PODEI and others on consistent application of employment policies, including performance management, accommodations, employee classification, engagement structures, outside engagements, and employee relations matters. 
• Oversee compliance with employment requirements applicable to NRDC’s multistate U.S. workforce, including city, state and federal wage‑and‑hour standards, leave laws, pay‑transparency obligations, discipline, termination, and hiring and onboarding rules. 
• Advise on Africa‑border considerations related to international staff (e.g. Africa, China, India, UK), coordinating with local counsel as needed to align with jurisdiction‑specific expectations.
• Develop strong relationships with key PODEI managers and stakeholders, and work collaboratively to address evolving and emergent matters. 
• Draft, revise, and maintain employment‑related policies, handbooks, and compliance frameworks to ensure alignment with legal requirements and organizational needs. 
• Review PODEI-related vendor agreements, including data‑processing and confidentiality provisions, to ensure responsible handling of workforce data by third parties.  
• Develop and deliver training for managers, PODEI personnel, and staff on employment‑law obligations, workplace conduct expectations, and changes in relevant legal requirements. 
• Coordinate with PODEI to deliver other OGC trainings to relevant NRDC staff. 
• Advise on legal requirements relating to employee benefits programs, including health and welfare plans, retirement plans, disability benefits, and related administrative practices.  
• Provide legal support for compensation‑related matters in coordination with HR and senior leadership. 
• Evaluate employment and employee related data practices for legal risk, establish priorities for process improvements, and advise on appropriate solutions for compliance issues and employment disputes. 
• Monitor legislation, regulations, judicial developments, and government enforcement activities relating to benefits, compensation and employment law; advise on necessary updates to programs, plan documents, or processes. 
• Advise on employee relations matters