HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 140,639 USD and 184,155 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), New York. The incumbent reports to the Chief of Peace Missions Support Section (PMSS).

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Assists and advises human rights components of UN peace operations and Geographic Branches on staffing and budgetary matters, including recruitment/selection, mobility, deployment, budget submissions/defense and related administrative measures and procedures; Reviews United Nations Volunteer (UNV) candidate profiles for suitability for human rights deployment to peace operations.
• Supports the integration of human rights in UN peace operations. Conducts substantive research and analysis of human rights issues/events and assesses their impact on the human rights situation in assigned region or country peace operations.
• Evaluates requirements, plans and supports established human rights components and supports the conceptualisation and planning of new operations, as well as mandate revisions and mission transitions.
• Facilitate strategic engagement on Human Rights in Peace Operations with various stakeholders.
• Supports Geographic Desk Officers in responding to requests for substantive assistance and operational support to human rights components of peace missions including through there view of public reporting by human rights components and adherence to relevant policies.
• Facilitates information sharing among human rights components of peace operations, including through organising and participating in coordination meetings on developments affecting human rights components in peace operations, the drafting of a monthly bulletin, and the liaising with other UN partners such as the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC) and the Department of Operational Support (DOS). Supports the Department of Operational Support (DOS) management of rosters through coordinating and providing technical expertise on human rights staffing requirements for UN peace operations, including from a gender perspective; Provides input to policy and guidance relevant to human rights component in peace missions, including on protection of civilians, human rights due diligence on UN support to non-UN forces, sexual violence in conflict and peace building and assists in documenting best practices and lessons learned.
• Collects and analyses human rights data and indicators in the peace operations. Collects data and analyses the budgeted human rights workforce, structures and reporting lines approved for human rights components and maintains statistics, including gender specific data and indicators.
• Assists in ensuring the integration of gender perspectives and attention to specific women/girl's rights issues within the work of human rights components of peace operations and the Peace Missions Support Section.
• Assists country military and police to develop and implement a training program in the field of human rights, international humanitarian law, democracy and the rule of law, with attention to gender perspectives.
• Participates in the organization of regular meetings of heads of human rights components.
• Carries out periodic visits and assessment missions to peace operations.
• Contributes to developing and implementing OHCHR strategy for securing adequate levels of human and financial resources for both PMSS and the human rights components of peace operations, preparation of PMSS budget submissions, performance report and annual workplans, and defense of these before budgetary committees and support related political strategy and engagement.
• Keeps abreast of developments in the peace and security agenda.
• Writes a variety of reports, communication, briefings, statements, etc., including to policy making bodies.
• May provide guidance to new/junior staff.

• Performs other related duties as required.

  Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of a wide range of human rights issues. Ability to include approaches and techniques to address sensitive problems. Knowledge of UN recruitment practices, staffing planning and administrative regulations and policies affecting UN peace operations. Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies, guidelines and procedures related to UN peace operations, including those related to the integration of human rights in peace missions. Knowledge of the role of human rights components in peace operations and of other civilian and uniformed components. Ability to identify problems, i.e., political, ethnic, racial, gender and social, economic, etc., causing civil unrest in a country or geographic area; Analytical and research skills, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess the impact on the integration of human rights on UN peace operations. Ability to identify sources for data collection, to research and analyse information and to draft reports. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

PLANNING& ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related field is required.

Out of the five (5) years, a minimum of one (1) year of experience in a peace operation setting is desirable.

Experience with recruitment and deployment of staff for field operations is desirable.

Field experience in a conflict or post-conflict context is desirable.

Experience with budget processes, such as budget preparation, is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this position, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required and knowledge of French is desirable.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 June 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.