ARMS National Coordinating Attorney

Overview

The Land Trust Alliance is the voice of the land trust community. As the national leader in policy, standards and education, we work passionately to support land trusts across America so they can save more land and better serve their communities.

Our natural places and working lands are a lifeline to clean air, water, food and good health. These lands also bring us together, inspire us and provide opportunities to recreate and recharge. The land trust community is a crucial component in this equation. With important places under continual threat, land trusts need access to the best tools, information and policy advocates. Armed with a diverse network and valuable resources, the Alliance is the land trust community’s source for the knowledge and capabilities they need to reach their goals. From tax and funding policies on Capitol Hill to innovative ideas, partnerships and initiatives, we ensure our land trust members can always be heard and achieve more.

The Alliance is seeking to elevate land conservation as a priority nationwide. We envision a reenergized, more relevant conservation movement in which land trusts join with partners that have not traditionally identified as conservation organizations, including from the for-profit sector, around our shared interest in protecting special places.

Summary of Position

The Conservation Defense Initiative (CDI) provides a coordinated, national strategy to ensure continued defense of conservation lands. The Initiative consists of 1) a Fund for Alliance response to federal and state challenges including litigation, legislation and regulation; 2) a Center that hosts an online legal library and facilitates a national network of expert attorneys and land trust practitioners; 3) a law school curriculum, an Advanced Symposia for experts and conservation defense offerings at Rally all of which provide legal education, risk assessment training and technical assistance; and 4) Alliance Risk Management Services LLC (ARMS), which manages and supports Terrafirma Risk Retention Group LLC (conservation defense liability insurance). The National Coordinating Attorney (NCA) manages all claims for Terrafirma, related contractors, manages the Policy form and has oversight of the ARMS Operations Manager and ARMS Specialist. The NCA also collaborates with the Conservation Defense (CD) Director to ensure the success of CDI. The Conservation Defense and ARMS team of experts collaborate closely on the management of all aspects of the Initiative to ensure continuity, cross-training and central communication of risk management and other learning to advance lasting conservation.

The NCA and Conservation Defense Director will share these responsibilities in a manner that continues full delivery of all services without interruption or reduction in quality and responsiveness with a goal, subject to all contingencies being satisfied.

Specific Responsibilities

Alliance Risk Management Services (90% of time)

• Serve as lead staff of Alliance Risk Management Services LLC contracted to manage Terrafirma Risk Retention Group LLC.
• Serve as National Coordinating Attorney and manage all claims, supervise outside counsel and address all claims issues and inquiries through Terrafirma in collaboration with the ARMS Coordinator.
• Staff and coordinate the Claims Committee including preparation of the twice a month updated report on covered claims, preparation of Delegated Determinations for claims qualifying under the Delegation Policy, review of all related documents, issue spotting, supervising the ARMS Specialist arrangement of meetings and preparation of documents, identifying other issues, cases, trends that might impact Terrafirma, Policy Form revisions, reporting to the Members Committee, managing reserves in collaboration with the Claims Committee, preparation of publications for risk management and education for insureds, and policy development as necessary.
• Coordinate and oversee the annual Terrafirma Policy form review and update.
• Create claims policy and procedures as needed in collaboration with the Claims Committee.
• With the ARMS Operations Manager ensure sound financial, legal and regulatory management.
• With the ARMS Operations Manager ensure transparent, comprehensive communication and service to all insured owners of Terrafirma.
• Collaborate with the ARMS Operations Manager and consultants on the website, the budget, reserves, finances in general, the annual actuary report and audit report, the annual meeting documents and preparation and general information on claims and trends for insured land trusts.
• Collaborate with the ARMS Operations Manager on the provision of loss prevention and risk management services, annual webinars, publications, Rally and state conference presentations and other resources.
• Ensure sound communication of trends with the Alliance and the Commission.
• With the ARMS Operations Manager ensure transparent, comprehensive, appropriate external communications for Terrafirma.
• Manage all internal reporting to ARMS officers as appropriate.
• Manage all reporting to the Claims Committee and the Members Committee regarding claims, reserves, projections, budget implications.
• Ensure the sound and successful operation of Terrafirma overall.
• Ensure the success and soundness of CDI collaborating with the full team and the Director.
• Perform other duties as required by the Vice President of Education.

Conservation Defense Initiative Collaboration (10%)

• Co-lead with the Director on the overall function of the CDI and the CD and ARMS team members including team calendar, fundraising, work planning, communication, outreach, problem solving, forecasting and budget.
• Take the long view on risks and opportunities in collaboration with the CD Director.
• Manage the influx of new issues and immediate urgent problems in collaboration with the Director.
• Collaborate with the Conservation Defense Manager and Director and other Alliance program staff on Standards, accreditation and educational programming regarding policies, procedures and systems to support the defense of conservation permanence and help formulate emerging issues related to conservation policy, legislative reform and regulatory reform at the state and federal levels, including federal tax code compliance issues as implicated by Terrafirma claims management.

Qualifications

• Law degree required.
• Member of the bar in at least one state.
• Minimum fifteen years’ experience in conservation stewardship or conservation law.
• Minimum five years' experience with a land trust handling stewardship matters, day to day stewardship issues, stewardship administration and enforcement disputes whether as internal staff or external close consultant.
• Expert knowledge of land conservation law, nonprofit corporations and federal tax law.
• Experience with litigation support.
• Strong ability to manage contractors, staff, other professionals and partners.
• Strong ability to work effectively independently and as a team to implement programs.
• Exceptional customer service commitment.
• Proven organizational skill at managing multiple complex projects and meetings and delivering quality results on schedule.
• Ability to plan, facilitate and ensure timely, efficient committee meetings, including managing the insured’s appearances at Claims Committee meetings staying within allotted presentation time.
• Technological capability to manage input and output of large amounts of information including proficiency with standard office software (Microsoft Office Suite) and electronic communication.
• Strong public speaking, facilitation and presentation skills.
• Proficient in editing and proofreading.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including a clear, pleasant, helpful demeanor and professional and courteous interactions with all.
• Ability to function as the leader of a successful, energetic and fast-moving team.
• Willingness to pitch in where needed with can-do attitude.
• Ability to manage time effectively and rapidly assess relative priorities.
• Able to work independently and meet strict deadlines.
• Willingness to work with a highly committed staff in a mission-driven organization.
• Contacts with attorneys and/or land trusts across the country.
• Conversant with insurance law and managing insurance companies particularly a risk retention group.
• Ability to manage an ongoing business enterprise.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and collegially in a wide variety of settings.
• Some travel up to 5% of time.

Compensation

The nationwide salary range for this position is $165,000 – $170,000. Actual salary will be commensurate with the skills, years of experience, physical location, and unique background and qualifications of the candidate.

The Land Trust Alliance offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, medical, dental, vision and other health coverage; life and disability insurance; paid time off including vacation, sick and multiple holidays and 403(b) retirement benefits.

Application

Please submit your application for this position, attaching your resume and cover letter, on the following link: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/CF3ADEB4BF06BDCD626EF14936C1FEE5/jobs/201944. If the electronic application is not an option, applications will be accepted by mail to Human Resources, Land Trust Alliance, 1250 H St, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005.

The Land Trust Alliance’s mission is to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Land Trust Alliance is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability or marital status.