Staff or Senior Attorney, Environmental Citizen Suit Enforcement

OPPORTUNITY

Center for Food Safety (CFS), one of the nation’s top food and environmental advocacy nonprofits, seeks a new staff or senior attorney to join our team. The hybrid work position can be based in either the CFS’s Pacific Northwest office (Portland, OR) or the California office (San Francisco Bay Area). Fully remote candidates will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with a preference for those based in the Washington, D.C. area.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The attorney position is primarily a litigation position, working with the rest of CFS’s Legal Team to develop and prosecute cases. While the attorney will become versed in areas of CFS advocacy and litigation and may work on cases in any of those areas, the position primarily will focus on developing and litigating environmental citizen suit enforcement cases addressing the pollution of industrial food facilities.

Beyond that, the attorney will work with the rest of the CFS legal and policy team and participates in all phases of public interest impact litigation and administrative advocacy on an ever-expanding variety of cutting-edge food and environmental issues, in support of CFS’s overall mission and its specific program areas, including but not limited to:

• Consumer Advocacy
• Farmworker and Farmer Protection
• Food and Climate Change
• Food Labeling/Right to Know
• Genetically Engineered Organisms and Monocultures
• Industrial Animal Agriculture
• Industrial Aquaculture
• Pesticides & other Toxins
• Pollinator & Wildlife Protection
• Public Health
• Sustainable Agriculture: Organic & Beyond

Specific responsibilities of the attorney include:

• Work closely with other CFS attorneys, policy and communications staff, scientists, coalition partners and clients to build cases and support policies.
• Participate in a variety of tasks in litigation and administrative advocacy, including factual investigation, legal research and analysis, negotiation, discovery and record review, briefing, and oral advocacy.
• Represent CFS and clients in state and federal rulemaking and agency engagement.
• Maintain and develop organizational partnerships with new clients, allies, and coalition partners.
• Promote and educate the public and media on various CFS issues.
• Assist with hiring and supervision of law clerks.

Desired Qualifications & Skills:

• Law school graduate with at least 3 years of legal experience for Staff Attorney; 6+ years of experience for Senior Attorney (Experience litigating cases under the Clean Water Act and/or other environmental enforcement citizen suit statutes, or clerkship/administrative/environmental law or related areas preferred).
• Ability to independently manage a litigation docket.
• Admission to the California or Oregon bar or a willingness to be licensed in either state within one year (or bar admission in existing remote location).
• A passion for enforcing and strengthening environmental and food/ag laws.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills.
• Self-motivation and willingness to do administrative tasks.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others in small, team-oriented environment.
• Interest or a background in food and agriculture issues is a plus but not required.

CFS is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the position.

Compensation and Benefits:

CFS offers a competitive compensation package, a flexible and hybrid work environment, and a four-day “Flexible Fridays” work week. In addition to salary, we also offer discretionary annual bonus and employer retirement plan contributions. Benefits include medical, vision, and dental insurance, disability insurance, pre-tax medical savings plan, and generous vacation and leave policies. As a 501(c)(3) organization, CFS is a qualifying employer for purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Salary depends on experience and location. Salary range in San Francisco Bay Area (min. 3 years of litigation experience-5+ years of experience): $85,000-$130,000; Pacific Northwest: $75,000-$110,000; Washington D.C.: $80,000-$125,000.

To Apply:

For consideration, apply to Russell Howze, CFS Legal Assistant, jobs@centerforfoodsafety.org. Please state “Staff Attorney” in your email’s subject field. Please include a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and how your experience will contribute to a culture of inclusion within CFS and our broader community, a resume, a legal writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages), and three references. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

ABOUT CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY

For over 25 years, CFS has empowered people, supported farmers, and protected the earth from the adverse impacts of industrial food production. CFS uses legal actions, groundbreaking scientific and policy reports, books and other educational materials, market pressure, and grass roots campaigns through our over one-million supporter network. CFS’s legal work collectively represents a landmark body of case law on food and agricultural issues.

Position: Staff or Senior Attorney, Environmental Citizen Suit Enforcement

Location: Hybrid (Washington, D.C., Portland, Oregon or San Francisco Bay Area preferred; Remote considered case-by-case)

Status: FTE with excellent benefits

Start Date: as soon as possible

Applications accepted on a rolling basis until position filled