Legal Strategy Director

at Earth Island
Published January 31, 2025
Location 2150 Allston Way, Suite 460 Berkeley, California, United States of America
Category Legal  
Job Type Full Time  

Description

Position Overview

The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative is seeking a leader in legal strategy with experience in International law and treaty-making to provide maternity cover for our Legal Strategy Director. This role will oversee the development and implementation of legal strategy for the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, working closely with partner organizations and a wide range of legal experts.

The Legal Strategy Director is a leadership role in the organization, reporting to the Executive Director, and collaborating closely with the political team, key stakeholders and the rest of our International Support Team.

As Legal Strategy Director, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the legal framework for this groundbreaking initiative, strategizing the stages to its development, ensuring its alignment with international law and climate justice principles.

The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative welcomes and values diversity of people, cultural experiences and perspectives. We actively encourage applications from all corners of our global society, especially from people who have experience working with, or identities that reflect, communities who are at the frontlines of the climate crisis, which could be because of their geographic location, economic status, race, ethnicity, first nations identity, immigrant or asylum seeking status, language, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

Key Responsibilities

Oversight and coordination

Oversee the development of options and proposals for the text and negotiations pathway to a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, including through working closely with advisors, partner organisations, commissioned experts and legal or technical officers from country governments
Maintain oversight of a range of projects associated with developing legal proposals for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
Manage and run the Legal Working Group - a community of practice of legal experts providing guidance on the development of the Treaty
Legal analysis and content production

Review, interpret, and develop recommendations based on your own legal expertise and on legal advices by partners and experts
Develop strategic guidance in the form of legal advices, briefs and presentations for the Fossil Fuel Treaty team and governments on:
the treaty text itself, the negotiating mandate for a treaty, resolutions/declarations and other text as relevant
the pathway to negotiating a Fossil Fuel Treaty, with particular emphasis on an Ottawa-process style standalone negotiations (similar to the Landmine Ban Treaty), as well as alternative pathways including relevant UN processes
Produce public facing materials to communicate key strategic elements of the Treaty development with the Treaty Network, partners and broader public, as appropriate
Stakeholder Management

Engage diplomatically with government stakeholders, including providing advice and receiving feedback from governments involved in the Treaty Initiative, in collaboration with the Political Director
Serve as the primary point of contact for legal strategy across the initiative
Coordinate with commissioned legal experts and partner organizations, including overseeing deliverables and contract management
Liaise with research and policy teams to ensure integration of findings into legal strategy
Required Qualifications

Bachelors qualification in Law
10+ years combined experience as legal counsel, negotiator, diplomat, legal advisor or legal researcher
Significant experience in international treaty development or negotiation
Meticulous project management
Excellent stakeholder coordination skills
Excellence in synthesizing complex legal information for diverse audiences
A strong substantive understanding of relevant areas of international law, and international law-making processes
Strong diplomatic and communication skills
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multicultural and international contexts, including navigating diverse legal systems

Desired Qualifications

Experience working both with government representatives and civil society organisations
Post-graduate qualification in law, international law, or related field
Additional languages

Please send your resume/CV

 

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