Environmental & Natural Resources Attorney – AYK Salmon Advocacy

Description

Summary Job Goal: The Environmental & Natural Resources Attorney will serve as in-house legal counsel focused on environmental litigation, policy development, research, and advocacy related to the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of salmon populations in the Arctic, Yukon, and Kuskokwim (AYK) river systems, and the Bering Sea. This attorney will represent the corporation’s interests in environmental proceedings, support regulatory engagement, and advance initiatives that protect subsistence rights, Tribal sovereignty, and the cultural and economic well‑being of Alaska Native communities.

• Represent AVCP in administrative, state, federal, or tribal litigation and regulatory proceedings related to environmental and fisheries matters, particularly involving AYK salmon.
• Coordinate legal strategy and filings in cases involving habitat degradation, water quality, bycatch, commercial over harvesting, and climate‑related impacts on salmon populations.
• Support tribal, inter‑tribal, and co‑management legal efforts and partnerships.
• Work alongside AVCP’s General Counsel and with outside counsel in these areas specific to the AYK and Bering Sea Salmon Advocacy.

• Monitor, analyze, and advocate in areas of environmental and fisheries policy and regulations at the federal (e.g., NOAA, NMFS, EPA), state (ADF&G), and local levels.
• Draft formal comments on proposed rules, environmental impact statements, and fisheries management decisions that affect AYK salmon and tribal interests.
• Provide legal guidance on enforcement, treaty protections, and environmental compliance.

• Conduct and synthesize legal and scientific research to support litigation and policy advocacy on salmon issues.
• Prepare position papers, legal memos, and briefings for leadership, tribal partners, and public audiences.
• Support educational initiatives and community outreach to build awareness and inform policy development.

• Collaborate with regional tribal governments, Native organizations, co‑management bodies, and nonprofit allies to coordinate advocacy strategies, including direct collaboration with the Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area Tribal Advisory Council.
• Represent AVCP in regional, state, and national coalitions focused on salmon conservation, tribal sovereignty, and environmental justice.
• Provide legal support for memoranda of understanding (MOUs), resolutions, and cooperative agreements.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Active bar membership in Alaska, or the ability to become licensed within 12 months.
• Minimum of 5 years of legal experience, with a strong background in environmental, natural resources, fisheries, or tribal law.
• Demonstrated experience in litigation and regulatory advocacy.
• Strong knowledge of the legal and cultural issues impacting the AYK salmon crisis and Alaska Native subsistence rights.

• Experience working with or on behalf of tribal governments, Alaska Native Corporations, or Indigenous communities.
• Familiarity with the Magnuson‑Stevens Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, NEPA, and other relevant environmental statutes.
• Understanding of federal Indian law, co‑management structures, and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) as legal tools.
• Excellent writing, communication, and research skills.
• Commitment to environmental justice and Indigenous sovereignty.

• May involve travel to rural communities, tribal hearings, field investigations, and stakeholder meetings.
• Hybrid remote work with in‑person periods in Bethel may be available depending on candidate qualifications and organizational needs.