Our client is looking for a senior attorney to head, manage and direct their Pollution and Climate Change programme. Based in Cape Town or Johannesburg, this position is for an admitted attorney or advocate with 5 or more years’ litigation and legal advocacy experience post qualification, to strategically direct and oversee environmental and constitutional rights-based litigation in the programme. The candidate should have a particular interest in advocating for better environmental laws, litigating on behalf of affected communities, civil society organisations; and facilitating networking among relevant stakeholders and supporting activists.
Qualifications and experience
- An LLB or equivalent qualification; an LLM, particularly in environmental or human rights law, will be an advantage.
- Admission as attorney of the High Court of South Africa, with proven track record of at least 5 years’ post-qualification litigation experience, particularly in constitutional and administrative law (experience in environmental litigation at strategic level would be an advantage).
- Sound knowledge of Superior Courts’ procedures and practice.
- Experience in managing and overseeing advocacy campaigns and strategies.
- Experience in managing numerous complex litigation matters, providing strategic advice and direction, and overseeing work of litigation attorneys.
- An understanding of social issues and the needs of communities impacted by environmental degradation and injustice, and a passion for social, environmental and climate justice.
- A broad knowledge and understanding of constitutional law, administrative law, air quality laws, environmental laws and governance, legal and procedural requirements for environmental decision-making, and legal challenges. Experience in the field of energy, public health, and/or climate change law and policy will be an advantage
- Proven experience in developing legal (litigation and advocacy) strategies.
- Aptitude for leadership and managerial competence: at least 5 years’ experience in a management role, including people management and a commitment to the career development of attorneys and candidate attorneys.
- Commitment to and experience in implementing diversity, inclusion, and transformation in all aspects of the work, building a value-driven institutional culture, and promoting staff wellness.
- Competence and experience in strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation.
- Good public speaking skills, and experience and confidence in dealing with the media.
- Excellent networking skills, and strong capabilities in building support amongst a wide range of stakeholders, partners, and networks.
Key Responsibilities
- Programme leadership and implementation: leading the Pollution & Climate Change programme and team of litigation attorneys, providing strategic direction and advice, and ensuring delivery against the Strategic Plan.
- Strategic litigation: providing key strategic advice and direction in litigation, and overseeing the programme’s strategic litigation for communities and civil society organisations in line with the litigation strategy and priorities.
- Legal advocacy: leading and providing oversight over the programme’s advocacy and engagement with regulators, corporates, and other stakeholders that impact pollution and climate change, in order to achieve strategic change and improved practice; drafting evidence-based reports in support of the programme’s strategic objectives; providing expert input into draft environmental, social, governance and related policies and legislation, and making submissions in Parliament and in other key forums.
- Strategic communications: building the profile of the programme by leading a communications plan for the programme, which includes writing editorials and media releases, and giving media interviews.
- Financial management: planning the programme budget; monitoring and controlling expenditure against budget for the programme.
- Human resources and talent management: managing the performance and career development of, and training and overseeing, the work of attorneys, candidate attorneys, and any other staff in the programme team.
