FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
COORDINATOR, UN ADVOCACY
Advocacy Department
Geneva Office
Application Deadline: 12 May 2024

The Advocacy Department of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a Coordinator to provide research, advocacy and administrative assistance to the United Nations Advocacy team. This is a full-time position based in the Geneva office that reports to the Geneva Director and supports other members of the Geneva advocacy team.

The successful candidate may have the option to work remotely but will be expected to work in person for an extended period of time. We aim to be as flexible and supportive as possible in both the recruitment for and onboarding of this position.

Responsibilities:

1. Provide day-to-day administrative support to the Geneva Advocacy team, such as scheduling meetings, making travel arrangements for research and advocacy trips, recording and processing departmental finances, preparing for and taking minutes at meetings, uploading materials and updating relevant pages on HRW’s website, and maintaining and expanding databases and filing systems;

2. Coordinate HRW’s Treaty Body, Special Procedures, and UPR advocacy work, including by providing teams with updated information, reviewing and submitting inputs, and participating and reporting on reviews and meetings, as required;

3. Coordinate and support outreach to foreign missions, UN bodies, and other relevant entities;

4. Prepare, draft, edit, format, and/or distribute materials such as news releases, reports, letters, briefing papers, talking points, background research, dispatches, web content, op-eds and other publications, as needed;

5. Conduct desk research on a broad range of topics and occasionally undertake larger research projects;

6. Assist in coordinating, developing and implementing advocacy files as required, including at the HRC, in consultation with the Geneva Director and/or Deputy Director;

7. Monitor and track key developments in UN human rights institutions in Geneva, official statements and events; track key Human Rights Council debates, feed information back to relevant staff and provide an initial analysis;

8. Attend external working-group meetings and represent HRW at advocacy meetings, trainings, and events;

9. Assist with planning and organizing meetings, roundtables, trainings, workshops, and other events;

10. Coordinate Geneva review of HRW World Report chapters;

11. Assist with recruiting division staff, as needed, and;

12. Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Education: A bachelor’s degree in international relations, political science, journalism or a related field, or equivalent work experience, is required.

Experience: A minimum of two years of relevant work experience is required.

Candidates from all nationalities that possess valid Swiss work authorization are encouraged to apply. Candidates who are traditionally underrepresented in the human rights sector are enthusiastically encouraged to apply if they feel they have the ability to succeed in this role, even if they do not have all of the skills and qualifications listed.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Prior office/administration experience and strong organizational skills are required.

2. Knowledge of or experience with the UN bodies is required.

3. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required; proficiency in French or another UN language is a plus.

4. Strong research and analytical skills, including to conduct online research, are required.

5. Strong interpersonal skills and significant level of independent judgment and discretion, as well as tact, diplomacy, and maturity in dealing with external stakeholders and colleagues at all levels of the organization are required.

6. Self-motivation, proactivity and the ability to prioritize with minimal supervision are required.

7. Work independently as well as function as a member of a team with staff in multiple locations globally are required.

8. Ability to work well under pressure while juggling multiple tasks simultaneously is required.

9. Ability to make sound decisions consistent with functions is required.

10. Proficiency in computer packages including MS Office applications is required.

11. Interest in international relations and/or human rights is required, and knowledge of international humanitarian law or international human rights law is preferred.

Other: Applicants for this position must be Swiss or EU/EFTA nationals, or otherwise must possess Swiss work authorization.

Salary and Benefits: Human Rights Watch offers competitive salary and comprehensive employer-paid benefits.

How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by 12 May 2024 by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org attaching a letter of interest, resume or CV, preferably as PDF files. No calls or email inquiries, please. Only complete applications will be reviewed, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, or if you require a disability-related accommodation, please email recruitment@hrw.org. Due to the large response, application submissions via email will not be accepted and inquiries regarding the status of applications will go unanswered.

Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Human Rights Watch does not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of socio-economic backgrounds and perspectives on the world. Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer. 

Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.

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