Environmental Lawyer
ocation: The Netherlands (remote working with occasional travel)
Salary: Up to €95,000 (or equivalent, depending on experience)
Contract: Fixed-term maternity cover (approximately 8 months)
Hours: Full time or part time (4 or 5 days per week, pro rata)
About the role
Our client is an independent organisation working at the intersection of law, climate action and systems change. They are seeking an experienced Lead Lawyer to take on a senior, strategic role focused on addressing carbon emissions, with a particular emphasis on fossil fuels.
This is not a traditional practising lawyer role. Instead, it is a strategy-led position that applies legal expertise to support high-impact legal and regulatory approaches, strengthen collaboration across the ecosystem and help drive systemic change in a complex and evolving legal and political environment.
The role will involve working closely with lawyers, funders, researchers and civil society organisations to identify opportunities for legal intervention related to fossil fuel production, extraction and associated carbon emissions.
Key responsibilities
Legal and strategic development
- Lead the design and development of strategic approaches that support legal action to reduce carbon emissions linked to fossil fuel activities
- Apply legal and regulatory frameworks strategically to support climate, environmental and public interest objectives
- Identify opportunities where coordinated legal strategies can influence policy, regulation and corporate behaviour
Collaboration and ecosystem strengthening
- Convene and coordinate networks and communities of practice focused on legal approaches to carbon emissions and fossil fuels
- Facilitate knowledge-sharing sessions, workshops and cross-sector collaboration across legal, policy and advocacy actors
- Support coordination of legal strategy discussions at relevant climate or sector-focused convenings
Research, learning and funding support
- Produce concise legal and strategic research notes on emerging trends, risks and opportunities related to carbon emissions and fossil fuel regulation
- Engage with academic and research organisations to support evidence-based legal and policy approaches
- Support colleagues responsible for funding or programme portfolios to make informed decisions about partners and initiatives
External and philanthropic engagement
- Act as a trusted legal and strategic thought partner to external stakeholders and funders
- Support structured engagement through bilateral meetings and group discussions
- Help identify opportunities for aligned and complementary approaches across organisations working on fossil fuel and emissions reduction
Key outcomes
- A clear strategic overview of legal opportunities to address carbon emissions from fossil fuels
- Delivery of targeted workshops or convenings bringing together relevant actors
- Ongoing coordination and collaboration across the legal and policy ecosystem
- Strong, well-managed external relationships
- A supported and active community of practice
About you
Our client welcomes applications from candidates with relevant experience gained through a range of professional, lived or learned pathways. You do not need to meet every criterion to apply.
Essential experience and skills
- Strong understanding of legal and regulatory frameworks relating to climate change, carbon emissions or fossil fuels
- Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills, with experience working in complex systems
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and build trust across sectors
- Understanding of the role and responsibilities of funders, intermediaries or programme teams
- Commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in both approach and delivery
- Professional-level written and spoken English
Desirable
- Legal qualifications in a relevant jurisdiction
- Experience relating specifically to fossil fuel regulation, climate litigation or emissions reduction
- Experience building or supporting external networks or communities of practice