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Contracts Attorney
National Wildlife Federation
Legal
Washington, DC, USA
USD 105k-127k / year
Posted on Apr 17, 2025
Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has grown into America’s largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and seven million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of NWF is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.
NWF believes that to save wildlife and ourselves, we need to ensure that everyone in America has clean air and water, safe communities, easy and equitable access to the daily benefits of nature, and protection from the ravages of climate change. These basic needs, equally necessary and urgent for all people, are foundational to bringing the conservation movement and ethos into the 21st century.
To further our mission, NWF is seeking a motivated Contracts Attorney to join the Legal Team. As Contracts Attorney, you will work closely with NWF’s in-house Legal Team and other key staff to provide legal support and assistance on a variety of contracts and transactional matters in furtherance of our mission, including NWF’s federal grants portfolio, and with respect to contracts management and compliance. This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney interested in nonprofit and contracts law and with a commitment to public interest.
Principle Duties (major areas of responsibility):
- Effectively review, draft, and negotiate a wide variety of legal agreements, grants, licenses, and other similar legal documents, including federal contracts and subawards.
- Engage with programs to understand their business needs and help collect and coordinate other necessary information for preparing and reviewing such agreements.
- Provide legal advice and input on proposals, RFPs, and procurement matters.
- Field requests and agreement drafting for new program collaborations (e.g., tailored MOUs).
- Ensure contracts and related forms meet compliance requirements and follow organizational policies and related best practices, closely partnering with colleagues on the Legal and Finance teams around internal controls and compliance.
- Help advise colleagues through transactions on issues related to nonprofit law and tax, including compliance around lobbying and advocacy.
- Collaborate closely with the Contracts Manager to develop and maintain contract templates, checklists, and related training and guidance to further streamline the contracting process and user experience with our contracts management platform (currently Agiloft).
- Advise staff on contract interpretations and identify practical solutions for resolving potential contract disputes, elevating issues as needed for other members of the Team.
- Help field contract-related correspondence with third parties.
- Track relevant legal developments propose updates where needed to contracting policies to account for the same.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor from a nationally recognized, accredited law school.
- Member in good standing with a bar of any U.S. state, and depending on location, able to obtain any required corporate counsel certificate
- 4 years of relevant legal experience, with a focus on contracts law, nonprofit compliance, and grants management.
- Experience reviewing and negotiating contracts, including memoranda of understanding, grants and funding agreements, and vendor contracts. Must have some experience with Federal grants and contracts. Also prefer candidates who understand data privacy and security terms in agreements.
- Excellent attention to detail, demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively work and collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders, including the ability to appreciate, bridge, and leverage differing viewpoints.
- Working knowledge of finance and accounting, and supporting internal controls
- Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion.
- Strong legal research, analytical, and writing skills, including packaging legal concepts for non-legal audiences.
- Knowledge of compliance considerations for independent contractors.
- Knowledge of advocacy rules for related 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organizations.
- Work expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.
Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s required equity competencies at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.
Location and Work Mode:
This position will be based in Washington, DC. The National Wildlife Federation is committed to a flexible and empowered work environment with an authentic community of care for all staff. In this position, the employee may work fully office based, hybrid, or fully remote) to be decided jointly with their supervisor in the final stages of the interview process. For more information on Work Modes, please review the benefits section of our careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.
Travel Requirements:
May include occasional work travel (e.g., meetings, events, other office visits). Expect flexibility and availability when travel is necessary.
Physical Requirements of the Job:
Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about the workspace. The position requires mobility, including moving materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).
Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Please Note:
This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the work “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Compensation and Benefits:
This position pays $105,000 to $127,000, commensurate upon experience.
We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits in 2021! We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling. We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting. We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week.
We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health:
- Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual based on a full-time schedule, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets), and 11 holidays.
- We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
- Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
- Low cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
- Therapist available at no cost
- Pet insurance and discount perk program
- Annual wellbeing allowance
In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:
- Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
- Annual year end retirement contribution
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
- Pet adoption stipend
- Student Loan management
Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.
Application:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. The National Wildlife Federation is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment with regard to any classes or characteristics protected by law.
We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings. Whether you’re new to the field, returning to work after a gap in your employment, or are taking the next step in your career path, if you believe you could excel in this role we encourage you to apply! Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. To be eligible for this role you must be a U.S. citizen or have a valid work authorization to work in the U.S.
Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at hrhelp@nwf.org or 703-438-6244.
If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.