Senior Paralegal (Remote or Hybrid within the U.S.)

Arlington, Virginia, USA

Remote or Hybrid Location with the United States

#LI-REMOTE

#LI-POST

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there are lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube on Glassdoor.

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

The Senior Paralegal, with minimal supervision from a TNC attorney, will provide an advanced level of expertise to support and coordinate legal services on complex and/or high value matters for assigned business units or projects, ensuring that transactions and activities are legally sound and consistent with TNC’s mission, authority, policies, and procedures. They will apply advanced knowledge and skills to serve organizational needs in a highly efficient and effective manner. The Senior Paralegal will effectively articulate relevant legal concepts and internal policies and procedures to others and have a solid understanding of the concept of legal liability and risk management.

We are a global conservation organization looking for someone with experience to support and grow with a dynamic Global Legal Team consisting of 59 attorneys and 42 legal professionals who are integral to the operations and risk management of a complex and dynamic conservation organization. You’ll have exceptional communication and organizational skills, be self-motivated, detail oriented, able to multi-task and ability to track and complete many items simultaneously and have great customer service skills! Analytical experience with accounting and finance is a plus too.

The primary function of this role will be to support a Global HR Legal Team consisting of three attorneys who are based in metro-D.C. and Atlanta. The Senior Paralegal will also support the Litigation Practice Group as needed. The Litigation Practice Group consists of seven attorneys and manages and tracks global litigation matters across the organization.

The Senior Paralegal’s responsibilities include:

• Assisting TNC’s HR attorneys with planning, organizing, and managing complex projects involving the labor and employment laws throughout the United States and the more than 70 countries and territories in which TNC operates.
• Working with TNC attorneys, HR professionals, auditors, and investigators on such matters as TNC’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, flexible work arrangements, COVID-19 and return to work, employee classification, pay studies, hiring and global mobility issues, leave and benefits, performance management, separations, and internal investigations.
• Researching U.S. domestic and international employment law.
• Issuing, tracking, and closing legal holds and performing general litigation document management.
• Maintaining and updating global HR policies and standard operating procedures, including improving templates, trainings, and guidance documents, on Sharepoint and other intra-TNC platforms.
• Organizing meetings and trainings, which may include leading discussions, on employment law and litigation issues for TNC attorneys, paralegals, and HR professionals.
• Drafting memoranda and correspondence in response to attorney and internal client requests.
• Working with in-house, HR professionals, and outside counsel on regional and country-specific labor law changes and TNC policy updates.
• Participating in the Litigation Practice Group.
• Keeping the litigation database up-to-date, running periodic reports, maintaining reminder systems, and being the front line for legal staff with litigation database needs and questions.
• Manage service process for litigation notices.
• Providing administrative support to the HR attorneys, including maintaining calendars, file systems, and legal research materials; planning and scheduling meetings, conferences, and travel; preparing check requests and expense reports; processing outside counsel invoices and assisting with pro bono tracking and reporting.
• Other duties as may be assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in paralegal or legal assistant studies plus 4 years of combined legal and administrative experience OR equivalent qualifications acquired through coursework and/or related job experience that demonstrates assumption of significant responsibilities for supporting and coordinating complex or specialized legal work.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to handle complex and sensitive matters with compassion, thoughtfulness, and discretion.
• Experience conducting online legal research.
• Experience with Box.com and the MS Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, OneNote, Planner, and SharePoint.
• Experience with and openness to working among diverse people, cultures, countries, languages, beliefs, and backgrounds.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Employment litigation or general commercial litigation experience.
• Demonstrated organizational and project management skills, including database management with the ability to clearly present data and produce reports.
• Prior experience reviewing HR-related contracts and policies/procedures.
• Multi-lingual skills appreciated, especially in core TNC languages like Bahasa, Chinese, Spanish, or Portuguese.

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan including employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.

To apply for job ID 52002, submit your materials (COVER LETTER and RESUME) online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/ by 11:59 PM EST on September 14, 2022. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

Where legally permissible, TNC requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated and willing to keep up to date with vaccines that protect against COVID-19. By accepting an offer of employment, you agree to comply with this requirement, unless you are entitled to a legally mandated exemption.