Legal Counsel (location flexible)

Who We Are:

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 Legal Counsel provides legal advice and support to advance Trust for Public Land’s community-centered parks, trails and schoolyard projects. Primary responsibilities are working with staff to structure and complete park, trails and schoolyard projects that are legally sound and consistent with Trust for Public Land’s mission, authority, policies and procedures.

Essential Functions:
•Support staff in implementing, negotiating and completing park, schoolyard and trails projects, from community engagement to design and construction, and other mission-related activities. 

•Draft, review and advise on memorandums of understanding and similar documents, cooperative agreements with governmental and nonprofit partners, requests for proposals for professional services (design, engineering, environmental, survey) and construction bid packages, design and construction contracts, and public and private funding arrangements.

•Advise on public grant issues, such as compliance and procurement questions.

•Ensure that legal agreements are in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, other project agreements, funding requirements, and internal policies and protocols. 

•Participate as needed in stakeholder and consultant negotiations and public agency discussions.

•Advise and brainstorm with colleagues on array of issues that arise in TPL projects. 

•Assist in post completion project administration. 

•Assist on creation and delivery of internal staff trainings and guidance documents to ensure the best possible delivery of TPL services. 

•Work as part of the organization’s team of attorneys and legal assistants.

Other Responsibilities:

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

Qualifications:

•Juris Doctor, admission to state bar.  

•Minimum of 3 years of experience in a related field of law, namely in the government, construction, tribal, or nonprofit sectors. 

•Strong organizational and project management skills.

•Ability to draft quality legal documents quickly, and to respond promptly and helpfully to the needs of staff.

•A willingness to improve TPL’s delivery of services and mission goals by advising and training staff, and by sharing knowledge with community and agency partners.

•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 and exercising good judgment on complex projects. 

•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 $120,000 -$130,000.

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.