Legal & Financial Researcher: Corporate

This position is for a researcher with two to four years of experience in legal and financial research. The researcher also has a passion for environmental justice, and the ability to use law, financial policy analysis, and research to challenge the financing and support of fossil fuel projects. Examples of research include the Financing Fairly reports produced by CER, utilising the Fair Finance Methodology. An important requirement of this position is the ability to build and nurture relationships with communities impacted by polluting companies and proposed fossil fuel projects, as well as with organisations and individuals that have the relevant scientific and economic expertise to inform our work.

**LOCATION**

Johannesburg or Cape Town

**QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE**
- An LLB or equivalent law degree. An LLM or other postgraduate qualification in business and human rights, environmental and climate law and/or company law would be an advantage.
- At least two-four years’ relevant work experience in a corporate, banking, or finance environment.
- Knowledge and understanding of environmental laws and the legal requirements for corporate governance, disclosure, and reporting; sustainable and responsible investment initiatives and associated environmental, social, and governance factors.
- Excellent legal and other research and writing skills, with a perfectionist eye for detail.
- Good public speaking skills (note that CER supports staff development through specialised public speaking training).
- A sensitivity to social issues and the needs of communities impacted by environmental degradation and injustice.
- Excellent networking skills, and strong capabilities in building support amongst a wide range of stakeholders, in particular within communities and with community organisations.
- A commitment to high-quality client service.
- A passion for social, environmental, and climate justice.
- A commitment to training and development of junior staff members.
- A commitment to diversity, inclusion, and transformation.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**

While we require flexibility from all our staff as our strategic imperatives change and develop over time, key responsibilities of this position currently include the following:

- Programme implementation: Supporting the objectives of the Programme in ensuring delivery against the CER’s strategic objectives; reporting, recording, and sharing learning for systemic change; and supporting strategic and inclusive leadership to the programme team;
- Legal and financial research and advocacy: Providing research and input into the programme’s litigation, advocacy, and engagement with regulators, corporates, and other stakeholders that impact corporate accountability, in order to achieve strategic change and improved practice; researching and drafting evidence-based reports in support of the programme’s strategic objectives; providing input into draft environmental, social, and governance policies and legislation;
- Strategic communications: Conducting research for the development of communications plans for the programme, bearing in mind the objectives of the programme;
- Networking and empowerment: Conducting in-depth stakeholder mapping and research and building and supporting networks of partners and clients, including affected communities and community organisations, and supporting and participating in the training of activists.
- Diversity, inclusion, and transformation: CER aims to build a diverse, inclusive, and transformative culture, and we, therefore, expect all staff to participate in and work towards this goal; and
- General: Generally contributing to the reputation, institutional strength and resilience, strategic development, and wellbeing of the organisation.

**SALARY**

**WORKING FOR THE CER**

The Centre for Environmental Rights is a non-profit organisation and law clinic of activist lawyers who work with communities and civil society organisations in South Africa to realise our Constitutional right to a healthy environment by advocating and litigating for environmental justice. We seek a just, equitable, compassionate society which is resilient, celebrates diversity, and respects the inter-dependence between people and the environment.

As South Africa’s largest public interest environmental law organisation, we use our expertise and commitment to fight for environmental justice and advance the right to a healthy environment for all. We take on the big environmental battles: cases in which we can empower local communities, have an enduring impact, set powerful precedents for other cases, and help improve policy and practice across the country.

Winning the legal case is only part of the battle. CER’s litigation work is strengthened by local training and empowerment, dedicated policy and advocacy work, and strategic communications. In all of our work, we work closely with partners in affected communities, with other civil society org