Lawyer, Health and environment programme (Toxics), ClientEarth, ClientEarth

Job summary
ClientEarth is looking to recruit a Lawyer, Health and environment programme (Toxics).

Location: Brussels

Further details

ClientEarth is a non-profit environmental law, science and policy organisation based in London and Brussels and also active in Poland. We provide dedicated public interest legal capacity, working with environmental NGOs and others and acting as legal advocates for the environment. We work at a policy and legislative level to lobby for strong laws and policies that protect the environment, and we pursue litigation that supports our strategic objectives. Our style of work is based on the development of partnerships, to ensure our actions to protect the human right to a clean and healthy environment have maximum impact.

We have an exciting and challenging opportunity for an experienced lawyer to establish the Toxics part of our Health & environment programme. You will work as part of a team with a scientist focusing on European legislation relating to the use of chemicals to promote protection of human health and the environment in the public interest. The position is based in our Brussels office. The main focus of this work will be monitoring the implementation of, and enforcing, the European Regulation known as REACH and bring legal actions concerning non-compliance where necessary against the manufacturers and importers of substances/articles subject to the Regulation. Regulation EC n°1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, is the most ambitious piece of legislation on chemicals at the European level. Few NGOs are monitoring the implementation of the regulation, and none of them have lawyers dedicated to this task. The work would necessarily also consider related legislation on chemicals, plant protection products (PPP) and biocides.

ClientEarth will also have an in-house scientific advisor to provide the necessary scientific information on substances subject to REACH and their uses. Accordingly, the programme will be based on solid scientific knowledge, enabling ClientEarth to pinpoint hazards to prevent and propose possible alternatives.

Job specification

You will be a confident, energetic and dedicated individual with a strong commitment to working for human health and the environment. The role provides considerable scope for initiative and developing strategies and ideas to improve toxics outcomes at the EU level. You will have responsibility for:

monitoring the correct implementation of REACH by certain manufacturers, importers, and downstream users.
developing actions to ensure the appropriate implementation of REACH and EU legislation on PPP
provide legal support to NGOs working on EU toxics and pesticides issues.

You will undertake legal analysis on measures related to the implementation of REACH and of legislation on pesticides and will provide legal advice on proposals for decisions/legislation targeted to reduce the use of toxics in the EU. You will develop specific legal and policy advocacy strategies and positions to influence EU toxics laws and policies. You will have experience working at the interface of science and policy and communicating technical and scientific material to a non-technical audience. You will be able to communicate fluently in English and preferably one other EU language. You will have proven ability to work effectively with a range of external organisations.

You will have at least three years' legal experience with at least two years of proven work in the field of environmental law and policy, ideally on toxics. A thorough working knowledge of European law, institutions and processes is essential (LLM or equivalent in European Law desirable) and experience in EU public affairs and lobbying desirable.

The position will be part of a new team focused on EU chemicals legislation and policy which we anticipate will be based in our Brussels office. Exceptional candidates wishing to be based in our head office in London will also be considered.