The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), a leading international human rights non-governmental organisation now celebrating its 28th anniversary, is seeking a new Director to lead its secretariat.
ISHR is an international non-governmental organisation based in Geneva, at the heart of the United Nations (UN) human rights system, with a small branch office in New York. Its mission is to support the engagement of human rights defenders with the UN and regional human rights systems. It aims to make these systems more effective, more accessible to human rights defenders, and more responsive to their concerns. ISHR provides information, training, strategic advice, and support to human rights organisations, defenders, and national and international human rights institutions in relation to UN, regional, and national human rights developments, procedures and mechanisms. It conducts its programmes in Geneva and New York, and in its identified priority regions.
The Director leads and manages the organisation on behalf of the Board. The position requires a very high level of knowledge of and experience in the international human rights system, a proven commitment to human rights, the ability to lead and nurture a team of talented, committed human rights professionals, and strategic and visionary thinking to identify and respond to emerging needs in the field of international human rights promotion and protection.
The Director will:
Lead a strong organisation with a well-defined and acknowledged role in the field of promotion and protection of human rights internationally; guide the development of ISHR’s strategic and policy framework and promote ISHR's vision and mission;
Direct the planning, coordination and implementation of ISHR's work in Geneva and New York and at regional and national levels, resulting in an integrated and coherent programme of work;
Promote partnerships, networking and cooperation among the United Nations, non-governmental organisations and regional stakeholders to help ensure that ISHR and its partners maximize their contribution to achieving human rights objectives;
Strengthen ISHR’s role in developing relationships between human rights defenders, national and regional networks and the community of Geneva- and New York-based human rights organisations;
Lead the development and implementation of a fundraising strategy to ensure ISHR’s long-term financial sustainability;
Ensure the efficient planning and deployment of financial resources and the effective administration of an organisation with an annual budget of 2.0 million Swiss francs, and
Build the professional culture of ISHR by managing, developing and motivating the organisation’s team of experienced and committed human rights professionals in the Geneva headquarters and New York office.
Qualifications and Experience
The Director should have:
Proven experience (at least 5 years) in the management at senior level of an organisation with a complex and sensitive mission and with a mandate for action both at headquarters and field levels;
Experience of leading strategy development, organisational learning and change processes intended to enable an established organisation to position itself in a challenging and rapidly-changing environment;
Extensive experience ( at least ten years) and advanced conceptual knowledge of human rights issues, systems and processes at national and international levels; a thorough understanding of the international human rights system, especially in relation to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the human rights treaty monitoring bodies, the OHCHR field presences and regional human rights bodies and mechanisms;
Knowledge, understanding, and experience of the various approaches needed to work with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including human rights defenders, non-governmental organisations, intergovernmental organisations, and governments;
Proven ability to provide innovative leadership to a dynamic team, improving organisational performance through team-building, staff motivation, and the promotion of professional development and a learning culture;
Highly developed analytical, inter-personal and communications skills; experience of public and private advocacy for sensitive and /or controversial causes;
Proven financial, administrative and organisational abilities, including the development of successful fund-raising strategies and the continuous improvement of budgetary design and financial management to respond to changing circumstances;
Fluency in English (both spoken and written), a sound knowledge of French and preferably a working knowledge of a second UN language (Arabic or Spanish).
Deadline for applications: 14 August 2012.
Interviews: September 2012.
Starting date: January 2013.
ISHR is an equal opportunity employer. As an international organisation with a global mandate, it welcomes applications from people in all regions.
ISHR offers a salary that is competitive in the Geneva human rights non-governmental sector. All applications (cover letter + CV) should be sent to: director@ishr.ch. For further information see www.ishr.ch/vacancies.
No phone calls please. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
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