At TPL, we're a team of outdoor advocates who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. As an ethos, we believe access to the outdoors is a fundamental human need and essential to our health and well-being. ​We're committed to creating more places that bring us outside—parks, trails, playgrounds, and public lands—and making them available and welcoming to everyone, everywhere, regardless of ZIP code. We also understand that land has meaning; it tells the story of our history. That's why, through our Black History and Culture initiative, we're working to preserve sites that more fully represent the Black American experience; and we're an ally and partner to Tribal and Indigenous communities, working in partnership to reconnect them with their ancestral lands.

One hundred million people, including 28 million children, don't have nearby access to a park within ten minutes of their home. We're determined to change this outdoor equity gap–and as a result, nine million people and counting now have access because of our work. We have miles to go and a plan to get there. We're inclusive change-makers who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. We inspire by paving the way forward and strengthening our connection to nature. Join us! 

Position Summary:
The Legal Director is a member of the Legal Management Team and supervises and manages all aspects of the regional legal operations in the Northwest, Northern Rockies, and Southwest and provides direct legal services to State and Area Directors and project and program staff. Primary responsibilities are working with project and program staff to structure, document, and complete land transactions, park and schoolyard development, and other mission related activities that are legally sound and consistent with The Trust for Public Land’s mission, authority, policies and procedures.

Essential Functions:

• Assists project/program staff in designing, negotiating and completing real estate transactions, park developments, and other mission-related activities.
• Drafts and reviews documents for real estate transactions and park construction development projects (acquisition and disposition agreements, due diligence contracts, closing documents, design and construction contracts, contracts with public agencies, etc.), and ensures that these documents are in accordance with applicable laws, existing agreements, public policy, and internal policies and protocols.
• Participates, when necessary or helpful, with project/program staff in landowner negotiations and public agency discussions.
• Oversees real estate closings.
• Advises on property management issues (leases, taxes, insurance).
• Works as part of a team of attorneys and legal assistants.

Other Responsibilities:

• As needed, and as time allows, the Legal Director will assist with additional legal services as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor, admission to state bar. 
• Minimum 10 years of real estate transactional experience is required.
• Familiarity with construction law, federal grants, and working with tax-exempt organizations and public agencies a plus.
• Aptitude for independent work exercising good judgment within broadly defined policies and practices. Assignments are complex and substantially important to organization.
• Experience advising sophisticated clients to meet business objectives and develop practical solutions within defined policies and practices in a manner that appropriately manages legal risk and advances the organization’s mission.
• Ability to draft quality legal documents quickly, and to respond promptly and helpfully to the needs of project/program staff.
• Sense of humor and composure when dealing with project/program staff of diverse personalities and work styles, all of whom are under pressure to meet their programmatic and transactional goals.
• Ability to change the thinking of, or gain acceptance of, others in sensitive situations, both within and outside the organization.
• Ability to anticipate problems and identify probable issues of concern in advance.
• Results-oriented and creative in problem-solving.
• Comfortable working in multiple jurisdictions and managing multiple projects in a decentralized environment.
• Supervisory experience a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• A commitment to The Trust for Public Land’s mission and organizational values of Belonging, Collaboration, Impact, and Hope.

Compensation
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, and this role will ideally be located near a Trust for Public Land office. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $170,000 - $220,000.

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.