Posted on August 22, 2012

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Legal Director

The Center for Food Safety (CFS), a non-profit, membership-based food and environmental advocacy organization, is seeking applications for a Legal Director in its San Francisco office starting immediately. CFS’s mission centers on protecting the public, the environment, and farmers by challenging the impacts of harmful food production systems. CFS also works to strengthen food and environmental laws and enforcement at both federal and state levels as well as promotes organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture. Issues facing the CFS legal staff are ever-changing and currently include: genetic engineering, organic standards, factory farming, pesticides, food labeling, global warming, aquaculture, sewage sludge, nanotechnology, and state and federal legislative initiatives. Among other programs, CFS is the leading public interest organization litigating the impacts of genetically engineered crops and recently had such a case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, the first of its kind.

The Legal Director is responsible for developing and planning litigation strategies, conducting extensive written and oral pleadings, pursuing litigation in federal and state courts, and supervising other staff attorneys. Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to, rule-making and administrative work at the state and federal level; participating in agency, Congressional and other meetings, hearings, and policy events; and other responsibilities relevant to the Legal Director position.

We are looking for a candidate who has:

• ten or more years of litigation experience, preferably in environmental, administrative, toxic torts, food law or other relevant areas,
• the ability to manage and supervise a litigation docket,
• experience in supervising legal staff,
• a demonstrable passion for enforcing and strengthening environmental laws, and
• admission to the California bar.

Application Instructions

CFS is an equal opportunity employer. The California office is located in San Francisco. CFS salaries are competitive and based on experience, and include a strong benefits package. To be considered, please apply by email to Ryan Crumley at rcrumley@icta.org. Please include a cover letter explaining your interest, a resume, a legal writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages) and three references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.