United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Assistant Advocate
Closing date: 21 Aug 2013
JOB TITLE: Assistant Advocate
DEPARTMENT: International Advocacy Programme
JOB PURPOSE: The Assistant Advocate contributes to the work of the Programme, including providing advice, implementing strategy on selected international organizations and developing productive relations with AI membership in one or more regions.
DEPARTMENT PURPOSE: The purpose of Amnesty International’s work with intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) is to ensure that AI’s positions, concerns and recommendations are effectively communicated to IGO actors and are reflected in their actions and decisions. This work is led by the International Advocacy Programme, and falls into three main categories: To hold states accountable for the full and effective implementation of their human rights obligations and commitments at the national and international level so that all persons can enjoy the full range of their human rights;to promote the development, adoption and implementation of human rights treaties and other standards of political bodies that will contribute to ending, redressing and preventing human rights violations; and to help build the most effective international bodies and structures to prevent, address and end human rights violations.
AIIS PURPOSE: The International Secretariat, which operates from a number of sites around the world, gathers and communicates accurate and action-oriented human rights information globally. We campaign for meaningful human rights change; enable effective human rights activism and work to persuade governments and other actors to uphold universal human rights standards. We provide strategic leadership, support and advice to the Amnesty International movement globally, fostering Amnesty International’s contribution, presence and public accountability throughout the world.
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
Reporting to: IGO AdviserPosts that this job manages: Interns, volunteers and other contract staff and consultants when required.Other key relationships: Staff in the International Advocacy Programme, other International Secretariat staff, in particular country and thematic teams, Legal and Policy advisers, AI’s European Union Office, NGO partners and coalitions, government officials, UN bodies and secretariats.
USEFUL INFORMATION: In accordance with AI’s family friendly policy, flexible working arrangements can be agreed with line manager. The International Advocacy Programme has staff and volunteers in Geneva, London and New York.
Location: London, international travel may be required.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:Develops and implements campaign strategies and actions for AI movement to further AI’s standard setting, country and thematic work with the UN, regional IGOs and/or international courts to ensure AI’s priorities are met;
Advises on IGOs to advance country and thematic strategies at the national, regional and international level and provides the IS and AI movement with advice on IGOs, or international courts in order to address AI country and thematic concerns;
Engages with the AI movement in the implementation of campaigning strategies, developing and maintaining productive relations with AI networks to ensure effective implementation of AI priorities;
Contributes to providing advice on UN, regional IGOs and /or international courts to ensure consistency and high quality advice;
Contributes to the monitoring of developments in international law, national implementation of international law, IGOs, and/or international courts and contributes to strategies for influencing these developments in order to better protect human rights;
Originates and contributes to documents and submissions to UN and regional IGO’s, including human rights mechanisms, standard setting and courts to facilitate progressive human rights outcomes;
Develops and maintains effective relations with IGO and NGO contacts and represents AI at IGO and NGO meetings and in meetings with government representatives in order to implement AI’s priorities;
Coordinates and delivers with the IGO Adviser training on international law and IGOs to IS staff, and AI movement to improve the competencies of trainees; and
Provides appropriate cover for IGO Adviser and supervises the work of volunteers and interns to ensure effective coordination of the team.
WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE IN THIS JOB? Contributes to the development and implementation of campaign strategies and actions, through work on IGOs;
Provides advice to the movement on IGOs to advance country and thematic strategies;
Engages the AI movement effectively in the implementation of campaigning strategies, developing and maintaining productive relations;
Supports the IGO Adviser in the formulation and provision of IGO advice;
Works effectively on IGOs, contributes significantly to and standard-setting, and thematic and country advocacy;
Assist the monitoring of developments in international law, national implementation of international law, IGOs, international courts and contribute to strategies for influencing these developments;
Originates and contributes to documents and submissions to UN and regional IGO’s, including human rights mechanisms and courts;
Develops and maintains productive relations with IGO and NGO contacts and represents AI at IGO and NGO meetings and in meetings with government representatives;
Provides, with IGO Adviser, focused, appropriate and effective training to, in particular, IS staff, and AI movement, on IGOs;
Effectively supervises the work of volunteers and interns.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:Excellent knowledge of UN human rights system and appropriate regional IGO(s);
Excellent ability to understand and act on opportunities in a variety of settings so as to pursue and achieve specific objectives;
Excellent ability to apply objectivity, impartiality and sensitivity to nuance in carrying out work;
Excellent ability to develop and implement campaign and lobbying strategies for AI movement on UN and regional IGOs;
Ability to work with AI movement and coordinate actions on IGO for across the movement;
Excellent ability to analyze quickly and accurately complex IGO issues and apply techniques of legal reasoning in pursuit of developing a strategic response;
Excellent ability to evaluate situations and issues in the short, medium and long term, with a view towards achieving an objective;
Excellent ability to manage the work of interns and volunteers, including in planning and organization of work and providing feedback and support;
Excellent ability to plan and prioritize work, including when under pressure and to ensure dead lines are met;
Excellent ability to set strategic goals in accordance with organizational priorities, monitor plans, and evaluate outcomes;
Excellent ability to work cooperatively, internally and externally, with others, including with people from diverse backgrounds;
Excellent ability to represent AI externally, including in a diplomatic context, in governmental and IGO discussions, and to the media;
Excellent ability to explain complex IGOs simply and accurately to a variety of audiences;
Ability to write clearly and concisely;
Excellent written and oral English;
Very strong interest in and commitment to human rights;
EQUALITY STATEMENTEquality and diversity is at the core of our values and staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.
CONFLICT OF INTERESTPublic or other activity, affiliation to or support for any group or organization, personal association or other factor which may generate a real or perceived conflict of interest with Amnesty International’s principles (specifically independence and impartiality), or raise a security concern, or otherwise prevent the candidate from carrying out key functions of the specific post and would therefore disqualify the candidate from being appointed.
How to apply:
Please visit our website to register and apply: http://careers.amnesty.org
