International Legal Associate

Overview

NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet’s wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America’s bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C.

NRDC is seeking an International Legal Associate to work with the Office of General Counsel team in our New York or San Francisco office.

Position Summary  

The Office of General Counsel (“OGC”) is the in-house legal function for NRDC, the NRDC Action Fund, and the Beijing Representative Office.  OGC also advises NRDC’s affiliate, NRDC India Private Limited.  It consists of 11 attorneys and administrators and represents the client organizations noted above in the following areas: corporate governance, operations, and advocacy.  This involves legal practice across numerous subject areas, including nonprofit, corporate, lobbying and political law, and labor and employment.    The International Legal Associate role provides critical support to the OGC attorneys supporting the International team, specifically as related to NRDC’s work in the China and India programs and with NRDC India Private Limited. Working under the supervision of OGC attorneys, the International Legal Associate will administer the contract lifecycle management (“CLM”) platform(s) used by the International team, manage the intake of International team related contracts submitted for legal review, review funding agreements to determine relevant compliance terms, issue spot for legal issues, and triage questions from contract submitters. The International Legal Associate will also revise and update contract templates and alternative language banks, as well as manage communications around year end (US fiscal year and Chinese/Indian fiscal years) contract review procedures and promulgate updates to exemption thresholds. In addition, the International Legal Associate will assist with conceiving of trainings and avenues of outreach between the US based OGC team and internationally based clients. The anticipated split of tasks between assistance to the China program and India program and NRDC India Private Limited is 80% China and 20% India/NRDC India Private Limited, which is subject to change.  

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: 

 

Contract Review (80%) 

Independently, seeking out guidance and supervision from OGC Attorneys as necessary: 

• Review funding agreements between NRDC and its grantors to revise template agreements. 
• Assist with revising and updating templates. 
• Conduct diligence on partners and grantees prior to submission of funding proposals and following subgrantee selection after grants are received. 
• Manage the contract process, including reviewing of contracts and tracking of agreements to completion. 
• Issue spot general diligence issues in contract scopes of work. 
• Assist with technical implementation of the CLM system(s) for China and NRDC India Private Limited, as relevant. 
• Coordinate with the OGC staff responsible for the CLM system for US contracts to ensure consistency of technical implementation and governing policies. 
• Review signature and other signature like requests (i.e. chop stamp) and monitor signature authority and chop request inbox. 
• Participate in and take notes during conference calls and meetings. 
• Basic translation from Mandarin Chinese to English.  
• Manage workflow to/from local counsel in China and India. 

Other (20%)  

• Conduct factual or legal research on Chinese and Indian law, and summarize findings in written memoranda. 
• Assist in policy gap analysis on issues related to operations in China or India for NRDC India Private Limited operations. 
• Assist with compliance processes applicable to India and China operations, including obtaining relevant notarizations and apostilles and other legal certifications of documents NRDC must provide to various US, Indian, and Chinese regulatory agencies. 

 

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.  

Qualifications

Minimum Education & Experience:   

• Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent. 
• 1-3 years of previous experience in legal support and legal research  

  Preferred 

• Experience with legal systems of China and/or India. 

 

Skills, Abilities, Competencies  

• Competence with and commitment to diversity and inclusion; ability to be an effective partner with a diverse range of colleagues, leaders, and partners.  
• Demonstrated ability to perform or quickly learn new tasks, systems, and technology. 
• Skills relating to formatting contracts, producing contract templates, and negotiating contracts. 
• Ability to anticipate and identify upcoming tasks and potential obstacles and take initiative to prepare accordingly.   
• Excellent proofreading skills.   
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.  
• Excellent problem-solving skills.  
• Excellent editing, research, and data synthesis skills.  
• Strong research and analytical skills, including ability to understand technical, scientific, political, economic, and policy issues and synthesize this knowledge in a coherent and non-technical fashion.  
• Commitment to accuracy and rigor.  
• Willingness and flexibility to work extended hours, when needed. 
• Aptitude for working with a broad range of people on different projects.   
• Strict adherence to confidentiality requirements and discretion with sensitive information.  
• Mastery of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and Adobe Acrobat.   
• Strong sense of teamwork, work ethic, and humility; a growth mindset; the ability to maintain composure and sense of humor under deadline pressure.  
• Ability to travel as needed to NRDC U.S. and foreign office locations, up to 10-15% annually.   
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS   

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within the described work environment. 

• Frequently: Perform desk-based computer tasks 
• Frequently: Ability to interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary 
• Frequently:  Attend planned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers 
• Occasionally: Ability to attend events and activities in the office or offsite  

Work is sometimes performed primarily in office.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations.  Hours of employment may sometimes require working flexible and/or longer hours, including nights and weekends, when necessitated by projects. The job includes work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters. 

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet’s most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $65,000 to $80,000.

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws.

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs.

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422.

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.