Senior Human Rights Officer / Coordinator

This position is located within the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, based in Vienna, Austria. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Americas, Europe and Central Asia Branch and under the overall supervision of the Director of the Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division (FOTCD), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Human Rights Officer, Coordinator:

• Supervises the development of investigation plans, methodology and tools to collect and process all data;
• Supports the Human Rights Experts of the Commission on substantive, operational and administrative procedures and ensure their implementation;
• Manages the overall work of the Secretariat of the Commission, including by facilitating constructive internal work-flows, information sharing, accountability and performance management;
• Facilitates the communication between the Experts of the Commission and OHCHR as required;
• Ensures that the Secretariat of the Commission carries out its tasks in accordance with agreed strategic objectives and standard fact-finding methodology, including gender perspectives;
• Coordinates the investigating and reporting tasks of the Commission;
• Oversees the development of plans to ensure that all required measures are taken to protect victims and witnesses who will cooperate with the Commission and that effective referrals pathways for survivors are used when possible;
• Accompanies the Experts of the Commission on their field missions;
• Acts as the main interlocutor on operational and substantive matters with duty bearers, member states, UN agencies, media and other stakeholders;
• Ensures the integration of gender perspective, including in the investigation plan, interviewing of victims, evidence gathering, analysis and report writing;
• Takes ultimate responsibility for the quality and timely delivery of the Commission’ s reports;
• Liaises with the security coordinator/UNDSS on aspects related to the security requirements and informs accordingly the Experts of the Commission and staff of the Secretariat;
• Manages the budget and finances of the Secretariat of the Commission and responsible for regular operational, financial and administrative reporting to OHCHR and/or other UN entities as required;
• Performs other duties as required.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree), in law, political science, international relations or another discipline related to human rights is required. 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 ten (10) years of progressively responsible work experience in human rights, or combined experience in human rights and international humanitarian law or international criminal law is required. A minimum of five (5) years of experience in managing teams is required. Experience in international humanitarian law is desirable. Experience in international criminal law is desirable. Experience in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English, (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of Russian or Ukrainian is desirable. Knowledge on another UN official language is an advantage.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/233288?language=en