Senior Counsel, Assistant General Counsel, Environmental and Sustainability Policy & Strategy

Korn Ferry has partnered with a renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company on a confidential search for a senior environmental policy attorney.

About the Company

The company sits at the intersection of renewable fuels, carbon, and agriculture. They value inquisitive questions, innovation, and achieving the impossible.

About the Role

Reporting to the General Counsel, this senior environmental policy attorney will lead legal and policy strategy across environmental regulation, sustainability, low-carbon fuels, and carbon markets. This role serves as a key advisor to Commercial, Carbon Business, Government Relations, Compliance, executive leadership, and the Board. The role is designed for an attorney who can connect policy, law, commercial strategy, and market opportunity.

The successful candidate will help translate complex regulatory and carbon market developments into clear business guidance on product positioning, customer strategy, deal structure, pricing, sustainability claims, and market entry. A major focus of the position is protecting and growing the company’s carbon abatement and sustainability value.

Responsibilities

• Advise on policy frameworks and market mechanisms tied to sustainable aviation fuel, carbon removal, renewable natural gas, ethanol, specialty fuels, low-carbon fuel standards, voluntary and compliance carbon markets, sustainability certifications, and related registry standards.
• Play an external-facing advocacy role, tracking and influencing federal, state, and international environmental and sustainability policy.
• Lead technical comments, advocacy papers, and white papers.
• Represent the company in industry associations, working groups, and standards bodies focused on renewable fuels, sustainable aviation fuel, carbon markets, sustainability certification, and carbon removal.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; active bar membership in good standing (Colorado bar or eligibility to waive in).
• Minimum 15 years of progressively senior experience in environmental policy, with substantive experience in carbon markets and/or carbon market policy (compliance and voluntary).
• Demonstrated experience advising commercial or business teams on how policy and carbon markets shape market opportunity, product design, and contract structure.
• Working knowledge of U.S. and international low-carbon fuels frameworks (e.g., RFS, LCFS, 45Z, CORSIA, EU RED, ETS) and voluntary carbon market standards (e.g., Verra, Gold Standard, Puro, Isometric, ICVCM).
• Track record of influencing policy outcomes through technical comments, coalition leadership, and direct regulator engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in SAF, biofuels, CCS/BECCS, RNG, or carbon dioxide removal sectors.
• Prior engagement with EPA, CARB, USDA, DOE, FAA, ICAO, or the European Commission.
• Familiarity with LCA frameworks (GREET, CA-GREET, CORSIA methodologies) sufficient to engage credibly with the technical team.
• Experience with sustainability certification standards.

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid premiums for health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance for employee and family.
• Paid time off.
• Annual bonus(es).
• 401K.

Pay

Base compensation range of $225,000 - $250,000 annually, with a 10% bonus and equity eligibility.

Schedule

Hybrid work environment.

Location: Denver, Colorado