Job Title: Senior Human Rights Officer
Organisation: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Job Opening Number: 22-Human Rights Affairs-OHCHR-190071-J-Kampala (X)
Reports to: Chief of the Africa Branch
About US:
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) represents the world’s commitment to universal ideals of human dignity. We have a unique mandate from the international community to promote and protect all human rights. The High Commissioner for Human Rights is the principal human rights official of the United Nations. The High Commissioner heads OHCHR and spearheads the United Nations’ human rights efforts. We offer leadership, work objectively, educate and take action to empower individuals and assist States in upholding human rights.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: Within delegated authority, the Senior Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
- Formulates human rights strategies, including from a gender equality perspective; develops a vision or direction for the work of the human rights office and creates the conditions for implementing that vision or direction.
- Represents the High Commissioner on matters of human rights.
- Proposes policy directives and plan of action to appropriate United Nations bodies for immediate and long- range solutions to human rights problems in general and specific geographical areas.
- Designs, develops and implements significant policy and program changes to address human rights issues, including their gender dimensions.
- Formulates the programme of work, budget and medium-term plan of the office and participates in the overall formulation and approval of the programme of work, and administrative matters.
- Prepares human rights reports on key sectors or key regional developments.
- Develops and maintains relations with officials at the highest levels of governments and advises them on human rights issues and policies.
- Coordinates and oversees human rights research initiatives.
- Manages, coordinates, organizes and supervises the human rights office.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The applicant for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Senior Human Rights Officer job must hold an 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 work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in human rights political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required.
- Out of the ten (10) years, at least two (2) years of experience in managing teams is desirable.
- Field experience is desirable.
- Languages: fluency in English, (both oral and written) is required; Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Competencies
- Professionalism: Knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues including approaches and techniques to address and advise on highly sensitive and complex problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender and socio-economic dimensions. Knowledge of institutional mandates of human rights organizations, prevailing policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in the region or country of assignment, including the political environment and legal statutes as they pertain to human rights. Ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights problems in specific societies and systems. Ability to relate and advise on human rights issues and perspectives, including their gender equality dimensions, to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes in affected countries and areas. 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.
- 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.
- Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
- Judgement/Decision-Making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
How to Apply:
All interested candidates who wish to join the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the aforementioned capacity are encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions after reviewing the job details.
Deadline: 19th September 2022
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