Human Rights Officer, P-4

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division (CTMD), Human Rights Treaties Branch (HRTB), Petitions Section, Geneva, Switzerland. Under the general supervision of the Chief of the Human Rights Treaties Branch (HRTB), the incumbent reports to the Chief of the Petitions Section.

Responsibilities

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

• Oversees, plans and coordinates the intake of treaty-based individual communications, including the setting of processing priorities and standardizing approaches to the processing of cases.
• Reviews and clears first level decisions, including analytical registration summaries, correspondence to authors and State Parties and handles a wide range of multi-disciplinary and complex legal matters.
• Develops and updates guidelines and reference materials including on the rules of engagement and registration thresholds and contributes to the development of methodological and digital tools.
• Ensures record keeping of all actions taken, monitors and reports on progress, backlogs and deliverables against established targets.
• Supports the ongoing process of harmonization of methods of work of treaty bodies in the context of the Treaty Body Strengthening Process.
• Serves as team leader with responsibility for carrying out, in consultation with the Chief of the Section, work coordination and administrative functions relating to the staff, planning and budget.
• Trains and supervises new/junior staff and implements measures to promote mental health and well-being in the workplace.
• Collects and analyses data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables, and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Prepares and implements a personal work plan which is coherent with the Section and Branch work plans and the responsibilities assigned.
• Applies standard procedures and methodologies in the implementation of the work plan.
• Monitors progress and reports to the Section Chief, takes action to minimize delays. • Identifies own training requirements and development needs.
• Performs such other duties as may be directed by the Chief of Branch.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of jurisprudence and doctrine of the Treaty Bodies and other entities of the UN human rights machinery, as well as knowledge of procedural standards guiding access to international human rights mechanisms. Knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues including approaches and techniques to address sensitive and complex human rights 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 conduct a legal assessment as pertains 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 to 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management;
• TEAM WORK: 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;
• 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 that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; Makes tough decisions when necessary.

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 work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required. A minimum of two (2) years of experience working with human rights mechanisms at the regional or international levels is required. Experience providing legal advice, analysis and drafting is required. Experience in litigation and/or, case management in human rights system is desirable. Experience in managing a team is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English or French, (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of the other is desirable.

Application instructions

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