Foothills Land Conservancy · 9 hours ago
General Counsel
Rockford, TN
Full-time
Onsite
Director/ExecutiveFoothills Land Conservancy (FLC) is a regional land conservation organization dedicated to protecting the Southern Appalachian region. The General Counsel serves as the chief legal officer, providing legal counsel on conservation easements, nonprofit governance, and risk management while engaging in the organization's mission-driven activities.
Environmental Services
Responsibilities
Serve as primary legal advisor to the Executive Director, senior staff, and Board of Directors
Provide legal oversight for conservation easements, land acquisitions, amendments, stewardship, and enforcement matters
Draft, review, and interpret legal documents including conservation easements, deeds, contracts, policies, resolutions, and memoranda
Advise on nonprofit governance, fiduciary duties, bylaws, and board processes
Ensure compliance with nonprofit law, IRS regulations, Land Trust Alliance Standards & Practices, and accreditation requirements
Identify, assess, and manage legal and organizational risk across programs and operations
Manage and coordinate outside legal counsel to ensure efficient, mission-aligned legal services
Lead or manage special projects and one-off initiatives requiring legal, contractual, or intergovernmental coordination
Lead or support special projects and one-off initiatives that extend beyond traditional legal work, particularly where legal, operational, land stewardship, or partnership considerations intersect
Serve as a flexible, mission-aligned contributor in a small-team environment where roles may shift based on organizational needs, project timelines, or field conditions
Participate, as appropriate, in on-the-ground activities related to conservation, stewardship, or organizational operations, recognizing that FLC staff often work collaboratively across functions to advance mission-critical goals
Coordinate with staff, board members, municipal partners, consultants, and external stakeholders to keep projects on scope and aligned with FLC’s mission
Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting land trusts and conservation organizations
Perform other related duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
Active admission to at least one U.S. state bar (Tennessee preferred but not required)
Significant experience in nonprofit law, real estate, land use, conservation, or environmental law
Experience working directly with boards of directors and senior leadership
Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, practical guidance for non-lawyers
Strong judgment, discretion, communication skills, and collaborative approach
Preferred
Tennessee state bar admission
Benefits
Health insurance support
Simple IRA retirement match
Paid time off
Paid holidays
Other benefits consistent with Foothills Land Conservancy employment policies
Company
Foothills Land Conservancy
Since 1985, we’ve been working with property owners to conserve land in the Southeast.
Founded in 1985
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase