View Vacancy - Human Rights Officer – BE Caracas
Main purpose of job:
The Human Rights Officer leads on analysing and reporting on the human rights context in Venezuela. They will cover key international events, such as the Human Rights Council, and track developments such as judicially reforms and the UN’s Fact Finding Mission. The UK is an active proponent of human rights in Venezuela and around the world, making this an interesting and important role for the Embassy. The Human Rights Officer will work closely with embassy leadership, including the Head of Mission
The Human Rights Officer will be in charge of developing relationships with civil society organisations working on human rights. They will have to regularly engage with relevant contacts (civil society, State institutions, international human rights agencies, other embassies), including through some regional travel in Venezuela. The Officer will also manage the embassy’s human rights projects, ensuring that they are aligned with the embassy’s longer term goals. The officer will also be in charge of organising events to support our objectives. The Human Rights Officer will keep abreast of the complex humanitarian situation, and ensure our human rights work is compatible with humanitarian needs.
The Human Rights Officer will champion the wider section/Embassy on gender and diversity issues.
Roles and responsibilities:
Research and analysis on human rights context in Venezuela (40%)
- Lead on human rights analysis and reporting requirements, informing the embassy’s human rights strategy.
- Monitor milestone events such as the Human Rights Council
- Support responses to Parliamentary enquiries on human rights.
- Keep abreast of Venezuela’s humanitarian situation and UK humanitarian support.
Human rights policy outreach (30%)
- Develop relationships with human rights defenders/NGOs, State institutions, other Embassies and multilateral agencies including in the regions.
- Attend human rights themed events and meetings.
- Organise human rights themed meetings and events for DHM (Deputy Head of Mission) and HoM (Head of Mission).
- Liaise with colleagues in the UK’s mission in Geneva, London and other UK missions to keep them informed on human rights developments.
- Lead on the Embassy’s gender and diversity external efforts.
- Work with the Communications Team to prepare human rights related content.
Programming support (30%)
- Select, design and manage the Embassy’s human rights project portfolio.
Language requirements:
Language: English/Spanish
Level of language required: Fluent (both written & oral)
Other skills / experience / qualifications:
Essential on arrival:
- Bachelor’s degree in related studies and 2+ years of experience in human rights, or in place of a degree, 4+ years of experience in human rights.
- Excellent command of written and spoken English and Spanish.
- Detail-oriented, self-motivator able to work with limited supervision.
- Good management and team-working skills.
- Intrinsic interest in and knowledge of human rights, gender equality and civil society.
Desirable:
- Master’s degree or equivalent in a field related to human rights.
- Concise, insightful and accurate human rights reporting ability.
- Proven capacity to deliver quality products while managing competing stakeholders’ demands.
- Long-standing motivation to follow the human rights situation in Venezuela.
- Experience successfully managing time-sensitive, public-facing projects.
Learning and development opportunities: All FCDO social media, communications and administrative trainings.
The successful candidate must be eligible to work and live in Venezuela. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package. This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and an enriching learning and development opportunities.
Working Patterns: Monday – Thursday 8:00 – 4:30, Friday 8:00 – 01:15
The Officer can be requested to work flexible hours if a human rights event or emergency demands it.
This opportunity is closed to applications.