Assistant General Counsel

Assistant General Counsel, The Public Interest Network

Denver, CO

The Public Interest Network is hiring a driven, passionate and detail-oriented Assistant General Counsel for our in-house legal department. Our legal department provides legal services to groups in our national network of environmental and public interest organizations on a wide variety of matters and practice areas.

Key Responsibilities

The Assistant General Counsel will focus on a subset of the overall responsibilities of The Public Interest Network’s Legal Department. This position requires exercising discretion and independent judgment in making decisions in matters of significance. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Corporate and Tax Compliance: Fostering sound corporate governance practices, maintaining the organizations’ good standing with federal and state corporate and tax regulators.
• Election Law and Campaign Finance: Advising groups on options and structures for election-related work, including advising on non-partisan voter registration drives, neighborhood voter contact programs, tracking and reporting to FEC and state agencies, and guidelines for fundraising and communications.
• First Amendment and Charitable Solicitation: Representing the organizations’ right to conduct door-to-door and street canvassing.
• Contracts: Drafting and reviewing contracts, leases and grant agreements.
• Risk Management: Working with the organizations’ leaders to adopt policies that protect the organizations from legal exposure.
• Employment Practices: Advising on employment matters and benefits systems.

Qualifications

A J.D. and state bar membership in good standing is required. The ideal candidate will have excellent academic credentials, ideally one to five years of legal experience working in one or more of the practice areas described above, and a strong desire and commitment to nonprofit and political work. 

Successful candidates will also bring the following skills and attributes to the position:

• Excellent verbal and written communication, research and negotiation skills;
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously in diverse legal subject areas;
• A team orientation that combines strong leadership, congeniality and creativity to drive and motivate others;
• An outstanding work ethic and the ability to drive organizational change;
• Enthusiasm for the mission of The Public Interest Network and its member organizations to effect grassroots social change, and a goal-oriented, activist orientation;
• Comfort working with both the most senior staff (CEO, Executive Directors, other senior management staff) on major organizational strategies, and with training brand new staff on basic relevant legal principles in an understandable way; and
• Prior experience working with or advising nonprofit organizations. Firsthand experience doing organizing, issue advocacy, or political work is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits

The starting compensation range is $60,000-$82,000 and depends on relevant experience, education and location. Candidates on the low end of directly relevant experience should expect to be on the lower end of this range; candidates on the higher end of relevant experience are likely to be on the higher end of this range. Non-legal experience in non-profit operations, advocacy, or organizing may be counted as relevant. The Public Interest Network offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, paid time off, our commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement.

Location

Greater Denver, CO area. 

About The Public Interest Network

The Public Interest Network operates and supports more than a dozen organizations – including PIRG and Environment America and their state affiliates – committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to change.

Our work focuses on the problems that arise from America’s single-minded pursuit of endless economic growth: We’re still burning fossil fuels even though it’s changing the climate. We keep giving antibiotics to healthy livestock, even though it leads to “superbugs” that are antibiotic-resistant. We use plastic products for a few minutes only to throw them away so they pollute the oceans for centuries. 

And our approach is unique: We focus on the big picture, but are relentlessly pragmatic and prioritize making a difference in people’s lives over making a statement. We work with everybody to make change happen, political ideology aside, championing good ideas wherever they come from. And we are serious about the work — we set clear goals, benchmarks and systems to measure our progress, and hold ourselves accountable to making change now and building for the future.

This unique approach gives our staff an opportunity to make a concrete difference for the environment and the public interest — just as hundreds of dedicated staff have done over our 50 year history. If you want to add to this change-making legacy; if you have the passion and the drive that it takes; if you’re looking for a mission, not just a job — then let’s talk.

Our Mission and Values

Why work with The Public Interest Network? Here are ten reasons on our website.

The Public Interest Network operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. Visit our website for things you should know about our network when you apply. 

Fund for the Public Interest is an equal opportunity employer.

COVID-19: We take COVID-19 safety very seriously. Employees must follow our COVID safety protocols and be fully vaccinated and boosted. Accommodations are provided to the extent required by law.