Senior Attorney

The Network for Public Health Law (networkforphl.org), with the support of its fiscal sponsor, TSNE (tsne.org), is a national organization providing leadership, legal technical assistance and educational resources to help public health practitioners, attorneys, policy makers, researchers, advocates, and communities develop, implement, and enforce laws to solve public health challenges.

At the Network for Public Health Law (Network), we believe in the power of public health law and policy to improve lives and make our communities safer, healthier, stronger and more equitable. We know that understanding, navigating, and using law and policy can transform our communities so we work to help public health leaders, policymakers, researchers, educators, advocates, and health care providers do just that.

The Network is seeking a Public Health Senior Attorney to lead and coordinate work in our Act for Public Health (A4PH) initiative, which helps public health departments preserve their authority and powers to protect the health of communities. This position will track and analyze legislation, provide legal technical assistance, conduct training, develop tools and educational materials, and facilitate opportunities for networking and peer assistance. This position will also be the main point of contact and coordinate with A4PH partner organizations. As a team member, the Senior Attorney will help identify funding opportunities, write grant proposals, manage contracts and project deliverables, and perform other duties as assigned.

Attorneys in good standing of the Bar of a U.S. jurisdiction, with at least five to seven years of experience in providing legal counsel or technical legal support in public health law or health law and legislative tracking, are encouraged to apply. Experience with related areas of law that demonstrate significant knowledge and practical experience regarding the organization and powers of government to protect and promote the public’s health and well-being is preferred. These areas include, but are not limited to, municipal law, tribal law, environmental law, education law, administrative law, poverty law, and civil rights law. The successful candidate will have excellent legal research, writing, and public speaking skills, excellent organizational skills, a demonstrated commitment to health equity and social justice, and the ability to create and maintain partnerships and collaborative relationships with a wide variety of individuals and communities. This position reports to the Northern Region Office Director, with oversight by the Act for Public Health Project Director.

Strategic Planning (10%)

• Work closely with the Project Director, Northern Region Director, and National Co-Director to develop strategies, objectives, and deliverables for the Network’s public health authority practice area, and align priorities with A4PH partners.
• Represent the Network in Public Health Law Partnership meetings (monthly) and at A4PH “Co-Convener” calls (weekly).
• Develop a strategy for provision of targeted technical assistance (TA).

Legal Technical Assistance 60%

• Provide timely, high quality, practical, and relevant TA and training, including referrals in consultation with Network colleagues. This position is focused primarily on legal issues relating to public health legal authority and powers.
• Enter and track TA information in database, provide reports on activities as needed.

Resource Development (20%)

• Conduct tracking of relevant legislation, including determining with A4PH members what tracking should be done for upcoming legislative sessions.
• Work directly with public health practitioners, attorneys, and other stakeholders on an ongoing basis to identify relevant legal issues, best practices, and evidence-based solutions.
• Develop practical or scholarly Network tools and resources for public health practitioners, attorneys, policy advocates, and other interested persons.

Outreach and Relationship-Building (10%)

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with public health and legal experts in related areas of subject matter expertise.
• Represent the Network at conferences and gatherings.
• Provide opportunities for networking and peer assistance to Network stakeholders.
• Deliver a minimum of 3-6 public health law presentations per year, including in-person presentations and webinars.
• Work closely with the Associate Director of Marketing and Communications to develop plans and activities to build awareness of A4PH and the Network’s role in the initiative.

Special requirements

• Domestic travel for conferences, meetings with partners, and internal Network meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• Attorney (JD required, MPH a plus) in good standing of the Bar of a U.S. jurisdiction, with five to seven years of experience providing legal counsel or technical legal support in public health or health law.
• Strong work ethic, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Unquestionable integrity and high ethical standards.
• Support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging practices of the Network.
• Remote work location will be considered.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls.
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards.
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight.
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Regarding COVID-19: TSNE considers the health and safety of our employees of the utmost importance, and due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and subject to your state and local laws, our policy requires that all employees performing in-person work at a TSNE designated office are fully vaccinated. For the purpose of this policy, fully vaccinated indicates that you have received a single dose of the Janssen vaccine, or both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Certain exemptions may be requested and will be considered by Human Resources.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Position is hybrid if attorney resides in Minnesota, and remote if attorney resides out of state.

Compensation: The starting salary for this position is $85,000 - $95,000/year and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): 12 paid holidays, 3 weeks vacation, 1 week personal holiday, and sick time for full-time staff.
• 80% Employer-paid, $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim.
• Low-cost MetLife Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care.
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance.
• Employer-paid Pension through TIAA.
• ...and more!

Position will remain open until filled, but apply by August 24 for best consideration.

TSNE/NPHL strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/NPHL prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/NPHL celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/NPHL's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.