Senior Attorney, Harm Reduction Legal Project, Remote, Massachusetts

Third Sector New England


Senior Attorney, Harm Reduction Legal Project

US--Remote

Job ID: 2024-2432
Type: Fiscal Sponsorship Organizations
# of Openings: 1
Category: Health
Network for Public Health Law (Remote)

Overview

The Network for Public Health Law (networkforphl.org), with the support of its fiscal sponsor, TSNE (tsne.org), is a national organization providing leadership, legal technical assistance and educational resources to help public health practitioners, attorneys, policy makers, researchers, advocates, and communities develop, implement, and enforce laws to solve public health challenges. NPHL is a fiscally sponsored organization of TSNE.

The Network and TSNE envision a society grounded in principles of social and economic justice. As such, we strive to achieve excellence through a diverse and inclusive workplace that honors each individual as a whole person. Our vision and values are reflected in all our employment-related decisions, including hiring practices. Accordingly, we actively seek people who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives to join us in our work. We value the unique talents and contributions of each of our employees. Individuals with lived or living experience are particularly encouraged to apply for this position.

Responsibilities

The Network is seeking a senior attorney to support the Network’s Harm Reduction Legal Project. Under the direction of the Project Director, the senior attorney will provide responsive legal technical assistance including research and assessment of laws and policies, consultation on best practices, and strategic guidance to individuals and organizations working to create, expand, and defend syringe access programs, naloxone distribution programs, overdose prevention sites, evidence-based treatment, and related initiatives in furtherance of the creation, continuation, and effective operation of harm reduction programs in the United States. The attorney will also provide actionable information to governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as individuals and private sector partners regarding legal rights, barriers and facilitators, and best practices for the creation and operation of harm reduction programs and practices through the development of written materials, participation in webinars and trainings, and related activities.

Attorneys in good standing of the Bar of a U.S. jurisdiction with 5 or more years of experience in providing either legal counsel or technical legal support in public health law, harm reduction law and policy, and related fields are encouraged to apply. The position is available immediately. The successful candidate will have excellent legal research, writing, and public speaking skills; excellent organizational skills; a strong, demonstrated commitment to social justice and the rights and dignity of people who use drugs; and the ability to create and maintain partnerships and collaborative relationships with a wide variety of individuals and communities.

As this is a full-time remote working position, the successful candidate will be a professional who thrives in a structured independent environment with external supervision (individuals who reside in or are able to relocate to Minnesota have the option to work out of the Network’s office located in the Twin Cities area). This position requires the ability to travel as needed, potentially six or more times per year, and availability for virtual meetings during U.S. working hours.

Essential Functions

Legal Technical Assistance

• Provide timely, high quality, practical, and relevant technical assistance, training, and referrals in the area of harm reduction law and policy in consultation with Project Director and other Network colleagues.
• Enter and track TA information in database.

Resource Development

• Work directly with public health practitioners, attorneys, community-based and governmental organizations, impacted individuals and communities and other relevant stakeholders on an ongoing basis to identify relevant legal issues and evidence-based solutions.
• Develop practical or scholarly Network resources for use by public health practitioners, attorneys, policy advocates, and other interested persons.

Outreach and Relationship Building

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with public health and legal experts, as well as cross-sector partners, community members, advocates, and other relevant parties.
• Generate new TA and partnership opportunities through outreach and resource development
• Represent the Harm Reduction Legal Project at conferences and gatherings.
• Provide opportunities for networking and peer assistance to Network stakeholders.
• Deliver briefings and presentations, which may include in-person presentations and webinars.

Operations and Project Planning

• Participate in strategic project planning, including efforts to identify, obtain, and fulfill grants and contracts.
• Participate on organizational-wide committees and workgroups as appropriate.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• Must hold an earned J.D. or equivalent and be in good standing of the Bar of a U.S. jurisdiction.
• Five or more years of experience in providing either legal counsel or technical legal support in public health law, harm reduction law and policy, or a related field.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and public speaking skills. Exceptional time management and organizational skills with ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and WestLaw.
• Required to use good judgment, integrity, and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Ability to work remotely from home office. (Individuals who reside in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota will have the option to work a hybrid schedule in the Network’s office.)
• Ability to travel up to six or more times a year.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls;
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performed remote.

Schedule: The Network operates as a remote organization. We work to accommodate all time zones. On occasion staff will be required to attend meetings from 9:00 -5:00CT

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $90,000 - $105,000/yr. and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): twelve paid holidays, three weeks of vacation, one week of personal holiday, and ability to accrue up to 487.5 hours of health leave time for benefited staff.
• 80% Employer-paid, offering some $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim along with several low-deductible plans;
• Low-cost Guardian Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care.
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance.
• Employer-paid Pension and Employee-paid 403b plan through TIAA.
• ...and more!

TSNE/NPHL strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/NPHL prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/NPHL celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/NPHL's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.

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