Staff Attorney

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT:

Elevate is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Chicago. We design and implement programs that reduce costs, protect people and the environment, and ensure the benefits of clean and efficient energy reach those who need them most. We're pursuing our mission of a just and equitable world where everyone has affordable heat, power, and water in their homes and communities. We are growing nationally – expanding the reach of our programs, services, and research in collaboration with partner organizations.

OUR PEOPLE AND CULTURE:

At Elevate, our organization's greatest asset is the people we attract. Elevate employees co-create our energetic and collaborative environment, where constant learning and service to others take priority. We want our team to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of innovation. We seek dynamic, hardworking individuals inspired to work with people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Every day we make a difference by placing our team, clients, and community partners first.

From our mission to our focus on staff well-being and career development opportunities, there's no better place to grow your career than Elevate.

Staff Attorney

The Staff Attorney serves as the Legal, Risk, and Compliance Team point person for various Elevate programs, including federally funded programs, fee-for-service engagements, and matters involving federal and state laws’ intersection with American Indian Tribal law. The Staff Attorney is responsible for assisting program teams with understanding and complying with contractual requirements, including federal acquisition regulations (FARs) related to procurement and prevailing wage requirements, reviewing, drafting, and negotiating contracts, and reviewing and advising on enacted laws.

The Staff Attorney reports to the General Counsel, and works closely with senior management, program managers, and the other members of the Legal, Risk, and Compliance Team. This position is currently fully remote; however, the Staff Attorney must be licensed to practice law in Illinois.

Responsibilities

• Support Elevate’s National Strategic Engagement Team (NSET), which operates programs in multiple states including Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Staff Attorney will also support other teams and projects as needed.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of contracts including, but not limited to, public sector contracts with different governmental agencies for funding of Elevate-administered programs, grant agreements, contracts for construction services, and various vendor contracts, including technology-related contracts. Additionally, draft program terms, which will serve as the legal terms for participation in new programs.
• Support funding opportunities and other programs as needed, including assisting with responses to federal opportunities, requests for proposals (RFPs), requests for quotes (RFQs), and requests for information (RFIs); reviewing and negotiating grants and contracts and related teaming agreements, subcontracts and vendor agreements; and consulting on compliance matters.
• Lead government contract formation, including detailed reviews of solicitation and evaluation documents for source selections. This includes providing accurate and timely legal advice to all levels of the organization’s management in connection with obtaining and performing contracts and subcontracts (as either a subrecipient or contractor) on U.S. governmental programs and advising program teams on contract performance. This includes providing legal advice on procurement requirements for public sector-funded programs.
• Support Elevate’s line of credit program, which extends a line of credit to contractors working in the clean energy sector, and other lending products that Elevate may offer directly or through its administration of governmental programs. This may include assisting with applications for licensing of Elevate as a lender in states where required.
• Work on special projects as needed, including assisting with governance matters related to nonprofit organizations, advising on…