Senior Counsel, Climate

About the Fund:

The Rockefeller Family Fund is a U.S.-based, family-led public charity that initiates, cultivates, and funds strategic efforts to promote a sustainable, just, free, and participatory society.

Since 1967, RFF has worked at the cutting edge of advocacy in such areas as environmental protection, advancing the economic rights of women, and protecting and sustaining democracy. RFF is known for its creative grantmaking, its role as a catalyst in the nonprofit and funding communities, and its record of policy innovation.

RFF staff can work either in its New York office, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, New York, or remotely.

Position Summary:

The Rockefeller Family Fund (RFF) is seeking a Senior Counsel, Climate, to provide strategic guidance and legal advice to climate staff, develop and manage program initiatives, make grantmaking recommendations, and provide programmatic and administrative oversight for projects related to limiting the use of fossil fuels in the U.S., holding climate polluters responsible for the climate damages they have caused, and helping communities adapt to the existing climate reality.

RFF’s Climate Accountability Initiative has developed and supported state policies and litigation strategies in furtherance of its goals: to provide the resources necessary for communities and states to better protect their citizens & infrastructure from a changing climate; and to force industry to internalize a greater percentage of the true cost of their harmful products. RFF’s Funder Collaborative on Oil & Gas works with community groups and helps organize legal, technical, and financial capacities to better protect citizens’ health and wellbeing from the consequences of the fossil fuel industry.

Working with existing staff, the Senior Counsel, Climate, will use her/his legal and programmatic expertise to improve RFF climate initiatives, and work with the director and associate director to better integrate the two initiatives. The person will report to RFF’s director.

This position is exempt from overtime.

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Strategy Execution

• Be a strategic and policy thought leader for the climate funder & advocacy community in the United States in both areas of RFF focus. Actively participate in the community of activists and thinkers in this area to stay abreast of key learnings, developments, and players.
• Provide day-to-day strategic guidance to, and brainstorm with, the Director, FCOG staff and the climate funder and NGO communities.
• Working with the Director, establish a vision that will drive strategy for the next three-to-five years of what RFF can accomplish in this program area and, with the Director & associate director for FCOG, help develop and execute the fundraising plan to accomplish these goals.
• Help lead the development of an advocacy strategy for this program area, and then execute and manage grants to advance the strategy. Develop partnerships and manage grant investments that advance program goals.
• Collaborate with other NGOs and consultants to execute the program’s strategy.
• Partner in fundraising and development activities for this program area via informal networking, donor collaboration, and on-going relationships. Cultivate funder relationships and help raise resources for RFF based on the annual objectives that are identified by Family Fund. Draft proposals and reports as is necessary.
• Represent RFF at, and travel to, convenings and meetings with potential partners including funders, researchers, and grantees.
• Conceptualize, develop, and execute convenings and meetings of activists and other donors.
• Lead special projects and conduct discrete research projects as needed.
• Collaborate with and better integrate RFF’s Funder Collaborative on Oil & Gas and its Climate Accountability Initiative.

Program Management

• Manage relationships with grantees; track progress of grants as is necessary. Regularly check in with partners and grantees to share information, hear updates, and suggest strategic direction.
• Work closely with Director, associate director of FCOG, external contractors, and strategic partners to develop, execute and manage program strategy.
• Draft and edit communications with RFF board, funder colleagues, and grantees, as necessary to update and advance program goals.
• Develop, manage and oversee the budget for the program area, as is necessary.

Institutional Integration

• Participate in all-staff meetings, and write content and communications for RFF board meetings and internal blog.
• Collaborate with the administrative team to update website information as necessary.
• Perform duties assigned by director related to program area.

Position Qualifications:

Skills and Abilities

• Advanced interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. Ability to collaborate with others with a cooperative and collegial spirit, humility, and a willingness to learn and help others learn.
• Exceptional ability to understand newly emerging policy & legal opportunities, and to develop strategic ideas for addressing these opportunities. Proven ability to work with a variety of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Superior ability to navigate complicated relationships within the funder and NGO communities.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in teams.
• Excellent project management skills and attention to detail, and ability to multi-task in a sometimes fast-paced environment with competing deadlines.
• Willingness to perform other duties as assigned or as associate director recognizes as necessary.
• An ability to work with discretion and confidentiality.

Education and Experience

• 15+ years of related work experience
• Exceptional leadership skills and knowledge of the legal and policy terrain of efforts to hold climate polluters accountable.
• JD required.
• Relevant experience in philanthropic, political and/or non-profit sectors is important.
• Familiarity and experience with both 501c3 and 501c4 program is a plus, including distinctions between the two.
• Understanding of (or ability to quickly learn about) the foundation community and grantmaking.
• Significant experience with budgeting.

Expectations of All Positions

Each employee is expected to:

• Commit to RFF’s mission and core values of equity, learning, humility, and collaboration.
• Commit to the work to promote social justice and democracy.
• Understand and support the philanthropic mission of the RFF.
• Respect and value those who partner with or request assistance from the RFF.
• Manage the resources of the RFF in a manner that maximizes the funds available for charitable activity.
• Appreciate the value of diversity and equal opportunity in all work relationships.
• Respect the contribution of each employee of the RFF and support colleagues in fulfilling their individual responsibilities.
• Have a demonstrated ability to be a productive member of a community of people at work who respect differences while working toward shared goals, are comfortable with periods of ambiguity, and constructively participate in ongoing organizational development.
• Appreciate differences in perspectives and points of view and work collaboratively with colleagues toward shared goals and objectives.
• Commit time to RFF activities and conversations that strengthen the Fund’s culture and improve its effectiveness.
• Be flexible and exhibit good judgment and discretion.

Other Requirements RFF is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its programs, and operations. As part of this commitment, RFF will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation.

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity The Rockefeller Family Fund provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

RFF is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its programs, and operations. As part of this commitment, RFF will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.