Job Description

EDO Expressions of Interest

• Location: Australia wide & remote
• Term: All types (permanent, casual, part-time, fixed-term, full-time)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are particularly encouraged to apply

Job title: Expressions of Interest

Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is the leading environmental law practice in the Australia Pacific Region delivering legal solutions for peoples, nature and our climate. We have a big vision which is a world where nature thrives. We’ve got big ambition about the role we can play in delivering that vision and we’ve got an incredible team across the country working to achieve it.

We are dedicated to protecting our climate, communities and shared environment by providing access to justice, running ground-breaking litigation and leading law reform advocacy. Over our 30-year combined history we’ve developed a formidable track record of empowering communities and delivering effective protection of the environment through legal services.

As the region’s legal experts in our field, we aim to be a brave, unified, and focused team, committed to inclusion and excellence in all that we do. We strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace supporting a highly skilled, engaged, and effective team, where everyone can feel that they belong.

The opportunity:

We are always on the lookout for talented, experienced and motivated people to join the EDO. The opportunities include roles in our Legal space including Paralegals, Legal Administrators, Solicitors, Senior Solicitors, Special Counsel, Managing Lawyers and Deputy Directors. In addition to our Legal staff, we are also looking for people to join our Science & Expert Advisory, Philanthropy, Marketing, Fundraising, IT, Finance & Human Resources space.

Candidate Profile:

We are seeking enthusiastic, efficient and highly capable individuals to join our team! The successful candidate will demonstrate strong initiative and have previous experience in their area of interest.

To be suitable for roles at the EDO, you will also demonstrate values and behaviours aligned with our organisational culture and a strong interest in First Nations culture.

You will use your proven ability to build rapport with a wide range of people at all levels, in conjunction with your clear communication skills to help guide and work with staff and managers promptly and sensitively.

You are great at reading the room, and can anticipate issues before they arise, and because you are a natural problem solver, you always bring a solution to any concern. You’re effective in your role, because you build collaborative relationships with people at all levels within and outside of the organisation, you have a reputation for getting things done, and you live the EDO values.

Key selection criteria:

We are looking for someone who is deeply passionate about the environment and climate change.

Core skills

• For Legal roles: demonstrated PAE that is appropriate to the seniority of the role: for Solicitor roles, 0-5 year PAE will be considered, for Senior Solicitor roles, a minimum of 5 years PAE will be considered and for Special Counsel roles, a minimum of 8 years PAE will be considered.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make sound judgements and decisions based on consideration of different views
• Demonstrated ability to promote a culture of continual improvement resulting in positive and best practice outcomes
• Knowledge and passion for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Principles.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively and to deadlines
• Excellent oral and written communication skills suited to a range of audience
• Demonstrated ability to meet multiple deadlines in a fast-based environment

Personal qualities and cultural competency

• A champion of EDO values
• Strong initiative and self-motivation
• Commitment to the protection of human rights and the environment
• A strong sense of ethics and understanding of professional obligations
• Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of First Nations and peoples from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations in both the delivery of our work and our internal culture
• Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative and team-based environment

Our Culture and Benefits: 

• We care deeply about creating a workplace where our team members feel valued, respected, and empowered. We are committed to providing equal opportunity regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or life stage. 
• The chance to be part of the largest environmental legal practice in the Australia-Pacific 
• A very flexible and family-friendly workplace 
• Option to work from home and the office 
• 8 weeks paid parental leave, regardless of gender or carer status
• 15 days personal/carer’s leave  
• 3 days paid cultural leave
• Extra leave over the Christmas period
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Ongoing professional development opportunities 
• EDO proudly has a JEDI (Justice, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion) Committee and a Mental Health Ambassador Committee, and has developed a First Nations Program with the aid of indigenous-led consultancies. 
• Affinity groups for the following: Global Majority*, LGBTQIA+ & People with Disability

*Global Majority is a collective term that first and foremost speaks to and encourages those so-called, to think of themselves as belonging to the majority on planet earth. It refers to people who are Black, African, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or, have been racialised as ‘ethnic minorities’. 

Our Values

Commitment – We are committed to; a united organisation, to each other, to collaboration, to justice, to our communities and to creating a world where nature thrives. 

Diversity – We are respectful of and welcome diversity of staff, volunteers, offices, environmental regions, communities, stakeholders. 

Integrity – We work effectively, efficiently, strategically, professionally, and ethically; “justice is in our nature”. 

Vision – We lead change and environmental empowerment using innovation, creativity, and courage. 

How to Apply

• Click 'Apply here' above
• Expressions of interest must include a CV and a cover letter.

EDO particularly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Pacific Island people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, workers of all ages, people with disabilities and people who identify as LGBTQIA+.

Please note: Your application may be considered for future roles at the EDO within the next 12 months without additional advertising. Please notify us in your application if you would not like to be considered for similar roles beyond this recruitment.

If you have any accessibility needs for the recruitment or interviewing process, please let us know in your application or by emailing recruitment@edo.org.au.

Vaccination Requirements

EDO is not issuing a vaccination mandate. EDO staff have the option to share vaccination details within the EDO HRIS system, EDO will maintain this record of vaccination status of EDO employees, however if staff do not wish to disclose this information, it will not be enforced.

Working with clients face-to-face:

• EDO works with diverse peoples and groups across the Australian and Pacific communities, including people who are considered a high-risk group in terms of COVID-19.
• In order to ensure the safety of all EDO employees and the people we work with and around, staff visiting overburdened communities are required to take a COVID-19 test three (3) days prior and on the day of travel to the overburdened community.

Other Information

All offers of employment may be subject to satisfactory background checks including a National Police Check, disclosure of previous or current disciplinary action, referee checks, proof of eligibility to work in Australia and qualification checks.