Program Officer, Sexual Violence Conflict Zones

Program Officer, Sexual Violence Conflict Zones

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which shared in the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, is a U.S.-based international advocacy organization working at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. With a global network of thousands of medical, scientific, and legal experts, PHR uses the power of medical and scientific evidence to document violations of human rights and humanitarian law, prevent abuses, protect survivors, and promote justice and universal human rights for all.

Building upon its highly respected place in the field, and supported by a committed and talented team, PHR seeks a Program Officer.

Work Authorization: Applicants must be authorized to work in Kenya.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Reports to: Acting Head of Office, Kenya and Director, Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones

Organizational Overview

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) seeks a Program Officer in Nairobi, Kenya to support our Program on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones (SVCZ), which aims to strengthen forensic documentation of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence to support accountability and justice.

PHR, which shared in the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, is a U.S.-based international advocacy organization working at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. With a global network of thousands of medical, scientific, and legal experts, PHR uses the power of medical and scientific evidence to document violations of human rights and humanitarian law, prevent abuses, protect survivors, and promote justice and universal human rights for all. The SVCZ Program is a global initiative of PHR that undertakes capacity development, network building, research, innovation, advocacy, and litigation to build survivor-centered and trauma-informed justice pathways for sexual and gender-based violence and promote justice. The SVCZ Program has played a leading role in the development and litigation of landmark cases for justice for sexual violence in conflict and crisis settings, including the Kavumu case in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Constitutional Petition 122 in Kenya on election-related sexual violence.

Role Description

The Program Officer will be a key member of the SVCZ Program team, working closely with our global teams to support the Program’s international, regional, and national legal advocacy, research, and capacity development in Kenya, as well as possibly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the DRC) and other priority countries as needed. The Program Officer will work to build multisectoral capacity to support survivors’ access to justice, including supporting the content and development of training modules; engage networks for justice and accountability for sexual violence; conduct legal analysis of research findings and drafting of research reports; and undertake research, drafting, and editing of materials for advocacy and accountability processes.

The ideal candidate has a proven commitment to advancing access to justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence through legal advocacy and is a strong communicator and writer, adept at project management, and proactive in identifying opportunities and solutions to advance our mission. The Program Officer’s responsibilities include effective deployment of resources, time, and funds for PHR projects. These projects involve complex coordination and require effective communication and creative and collaborative problem-solving. Building and maintaining strong, trust-based relationships internally and with external partners across cultures and geographies is an important function of this role. This position is fixed term through January 31, 2026, and subject to renewal dependent on funding.

Responsibilities

• Support management and implementation of the program activities in Kenya, as well as in the DRC and/or additional priority countries as needed;
• Coordinate sexual violence-related advocacy activities at the national, regional, and international levels including supporting development of advocacy strategies, identifying advocacy partners and supporting partner consortia, preparing for advocacy meetings, and drafting advocacy-oriented submissions;
• Support litigation and case management, including communication with local counsel, coordination with partners and petitioners, drafting and editing of legal briefs, and other legal research as needed to promote positive norm-setting as well as to support legal cases;
• Coordinate and implement programmatic efforts to strengthen access to justice for survivors of sexual violence, including execution of capacity development initiatives, support for networks of multisectoral professionals, utilization of PHR innovation such as our mobile application MediCapt, and research;
• Provide overall project management to projects and activities including organizing processes, developing and implementing workplans, managing meetings, facilitating communications across different groups/teams, and updating on project progress as needed;
• Work with SVCZ team to track program progress through management tools, annual work plans, and monitoring and evaluation data relevant to specific program activities;
• Develop and manage detailed budgets; help monitor programmatic and grant-specific expenditures; and assist in budget tracking and reporting to funders/donors, ensuring adherence to timelines and spending guidelines;
• Provide subject matter input and materials necessary to draft grant proposals;
• Assist the team to maintain relationships with key stakeholders and other external parties;
• Monitor human rights and sexual violence issues, keeping SVCZ team informed of real-time developments;
• Travel independently and/or as part of a team internationally as needed, including to the countries where PHR has offices, to support program activities;
• Any other general project-related and programmatic support, as needed

Requirements

• Law degree with at least 5 years’ progressive experience in capacity building, research, policy and/or advocacy utilizing international human rights law, international humanitarian law, or international criminal law to promote justice and accountability for sexual and gender-based violence;
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Swahili, French language ability is an asset;
• Excellent writing, legal research, and editing skills with a strong ability to translate complex, technical issues into accessible language for wider audiences;
• Experience supporting the design and implementation of advocacy strategies at the international, regional, and/or national level;
• Experience conducting capacity development activities or supporting networks;
• Demonstrated project management and budget/expense tracking experience;
• Effective and inclusive advocate comfortable working in cross-cultural settings;
• Adaptable, resourceful, and detailed oriented, with the ability to work both independently and as a member of a team;
• Willingness to travel within Kenya, to DRC, and elsewhere for project implementation

Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate

• Ability to engage colleagues, experts, stakeholders, and partners in a professional manner;
• Strong work ethic with the willingness to take initiative and proactively identify problems and develop solutions;
• Well-organized and able to effectively balance competing priorities and competing deadlines;
• Analytical skills, with an ability to analyze data collected and inform programmatic decision- making. Strong quantitative skills with experience in monitoring and evaluation are a plus;
• Demonstrated passion for PHR’s mission, and commitment to human rights and public interest work;
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, including expertise in using Excel

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time position located in Nairobi, Kenya with a hybrid work model. Salary range is $30,000 – $35,200 USD and is commensurate with experience. PHR offers comprehensive employer-paid benefits, including medical, dental, disability, and life insurance, a retirement savings plan, and generous vacation.