Legal Counsel I (location flexible)

Montpelier,
Posted on December 20, 2024

At TPL, we're a team of outdoor advocates who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. As an ethos, we believe access to the outdoors is a fundamental human need and essential to our health and well-being. We're committed to creating more places that bring us outside—parks, trails, playgrounds, and public lands—and making them available and welcoming to everyone, everywhere, regardless of ZIP code. We also understand that land has meaning; it tells the story of our history. That's why, through our Black History and Culture initiative, we're working to preserve sites that more fully represent the Black American experience; and we're an ally and partner to Tribal and Indigenous communities, working in partnership to reconnect them with their ancestral lands and renovating tribal schoolyards.

One hundred million people, including 28 million children, don't have nearby access to a park within ten minutes of their home. We're determined to change this outdoor equity gap–and as a result, nine million people and counting now have access because of our work. We have miles to go and a plan to get there. We're inclusive change-makers who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. We inspire by paving the way forward and strengthening our connection to nature. Join us!

Position Summary:
The Counsel provides legal advice and support to advance Trust for Public Land’s mission. Primary responsibilities are working with staff to structure, document, and complete land protection projects that are legally sound and consistent with Trust for Public Land’s mission, authority, policies and procedures. Additional duties may include assisting staff with park, schoolyard and trail projects.

Essential Functions:

Assists project staff in implementing, negotiating and completing land acquisition projects, from negotiation of acquisition documents to the conveyance of the property into the permanent takeout (i.e., Options, Service Agreements, agreements with public agencies grant awards, etc).
Drafts, reviews and advises on contracts with landowners, due diligence providers and takeout partners.
Assists program staff with park, schoolyard and trail projects including, but not limited to community engagement, design and construction activities (i.e., MOUs; RFPs and other procurement packages; design and construction contracts; agreements with public agencies; grant proposals and agreements).
Ensures that legal agreements are in accordance with laws, existing agreements, public policy, and internal policies and protocols.
Works as part of the organization’s team of attorneys and legal assistants.

Other Responsibilities:

As needed, and as time allows, Counsel will assist with additional legal services as assigned.

Qualifications:

Juris Doctor, admission to state bar.
Minimum of 3 years of real estate transactional law and/or municipal law experience is required. Familiarity with design and construction contracts, federal grants, and working with tax-exempt organizations and public agencies a plus.
An understanding of construction documentation to construction implementation to construction close-out a plus.
Experience advising clients to meet business objectives and develop practical solutions within defined policies and practices in a manner that appropriately manages legal risk and advances the organization’s mission.
Ability to draft quality legal documents quickly, and to respond promptly and helpfully to the needs of staff.
Sense of humor and composure when dealing with staff of diverse personalities and work styles, all of whom are under pressure to meet their programmatic goals.
Ability to change the thinking of, or gain acceptance of, others in sensitive situations, both within and outside the organization.
Ability to anticipate problems and identify probable issues of concern in advance.
Results-oriented and creative in problem-solving.
Aptitude for independent work exercising good judgment within broadly defined policies and practices. Assignments are complex and substantially important to organization.
Comfortable working in multiple jurisdictions and managing multiple projects in a decentralized environment.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
A commitment to Trust for Public Land’s mission and organizational values of Belonging, Collaboration, Creativity, Impact, and Hope.

Compensation:
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, and this role will ideally be located near a Trust for Public Land office. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $83,000 to $85,000.

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.