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Program Coordinator, Corporate Accountability / Economic Policy and Human Rights

ESCR-NET PROGRAM COORDINATOR

CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY / ECONOMIC POLICY AND HUMAN RIGHTS



The International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) is a collaborative initiative of groups and individuals from around the world working to secure economic and social justice through human rights. ESCR-Net seeks to strengthen the field of all human rights, with a special focus on economic, social and cultural rights, and further develop the tools for achieving their promotion, protection and fulfillment. Through ESCR-Net, groups and individuals exchange information, develop a collective voice, amplify their actions, develop new tools and strategies. By facilitating joint actions, enhancing communications and building solidarity across regions, the Network seeks to build a global movement to make human rights and social justice a reality for all.

ESCR-Net is seeking a new staff member to serve as a key part of a small program staff in the Network Secretariat providing support and coordination to ESCR-Net’s thematic working groups and initiatives as well as supporting ESCR-Net’s fundraising efforts, amongst other functions. The candidate will be primarily responsible for coordinating and managing thematic work related to ESCR-Net’s Corporate Accountability Working Group as well as the Economic Policy and Human Rights group.

The ESCR-Net Corporate Accountability Working Group advocates for international corporate accountability through its international network of human rights organizations, including: supporting the development of international standards; strengthening the voice of communities and grassroots groups challenging abuses of human rights by corporations; and building the capacity of its participants, by connecting groups to one another, providing resources for advocacy, and creating space for the exchange of information.

The area of international trade, investment and finance has become of increasing interest and concern to many human rights groups and advocates as the impact of the global economy on the protection as well as progressive realization of human rights for many people around the world has been felt. ESCR-Net’s work on Economic Policy and Human Rights aims to prevent the negative impacts of the global economy on human rights and to develop alternative human rights-centered economic policies through research, joint advocacy, mutual-learning and alliance-building.

For a list of current areas of work, please visit our website at www.escr-net.org

Specific Responsibilities include:
• Coordinate the functioning of ESCR-Net’s Corporate Accountability Working Group (CAWG), and group on Economic Policy and Human Rights (EPHR), acting as a key liaison with working group coordinators, member organizations and other participants in the Network to facilitate joint actions, projects and information-sharing;

• Provide coordination for CAWG and EPHR projects as well as other cross-cutting projects related to membership, outreach and new advocacy or capacity-building initiatives;

• Organize and facilitate international meetings, as well as conference calls;

• Coordinate the development and implementation of capacity-building workshops for ESCR-Net members related to corporate accountability and economic policy;

• Facilitate and contribute to development of materials related to business and human rights in partnership with other organizations, including through the development of workshops and training materials;

• Serve as ESCR-Net point-person and co-coordinator of the Business and Human Rights Documentation Project (B-HRD), coordinated in conjunction with the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHRGJ) at NYU School of Law;

• Research and draft reports and advocacy tools related to ESCR and corporate accountability, often based on the contributions of and in collaboration with ESCR-Net members;

• Develop and update ESCR-net’s resource page on economic policy and human rights;

• Work with ESCR-Net members to develop and implement a clearly articulated advocacy and research agenda on a human rights approach to financial and economic crisis, impacts of trade and investment and macroeconomic policy more broadly;

• Moderate discussion groups through ESCR-Net’s thematic listservs, facilitate information exchange, engage groups to participate and identify strategic opportunities for collaborative work or capacity building;

• Travel internationally in relationship to ESCR-Net activities and areas of work on a periodic basis as necessary;

• Present ESCR-Net’s work on corporate accountability and economic policy in public events, workshops, and conferences;

• Identify key partners and conduct organizational outreach to increase the reach of the ESCR-Net’s work in the area;

• Perform all necessary administrative tasks to ensure effective self-servicing, participate in the recruitment and induction of new staff and consultants, supervise interns and perform other corporate tasks as requested;

• Undertake fundraising activities, including drafting proposals, reports and identifying funders; and

• Report to Director and Deputy Director.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is someone who has substantive knowledge of the field of human rights, including ESC rights and issues relating to corporate accountability. The candidate should have strong interpersonal and coordination skills; work well in collaborative processes, especially between international organizations and grassroots groups; and should be energized by and comfortable with a wide range of organizations, working styles, and issues.

Candidates should have the following qualifications (required):
• In-depth knowledge of economic, social and cultural rights, with 4 years experience working in the field of human rights;
• Strong knowledge of international human rights law and mechanisms, and an understanding of the application of human rights law in domestic systems;
• Knowledge of human rights issues related to corporate accountability and economic policy;
• Solid planning and organizational skills, experience of managing competing deadlines and prioritizing own workload in a busy environment, proven capacity to plan ahead taking into account a number of factors and using own initiative;
• Creativity to support and facilitate collaborative projects and advocacy work amongst Network members;
• Good political judgment and strong facilitation skills to work with a wide range of civil society groups and interests internationally; capacity to do outreach and to work effectively and comfortably with diverse human rights organizations, activists and government officials;
• Strong facilitation skills to work with a wide range of civil society groups and interests internationally; capacity to do outreach and to work effectively and comfortably with diverse human rights organizations, activists and government officials;
• Capacity to plan, prioritize and to juggle multiple demands, and to work comfortably in a small, collegial office environment; openness and flexibility to take on different administrative and support tasks;
• Experience planning and implementing collaborative workshops, meetings and other activities;
• Cultural sensitivity and an ability to work comfortably in diverse countries/cultural settings;
• Ability to build support for and represent ESCR-Net within the movement and liaise with people at all levels of the organization;
• Strong research and writing skills;
• Effective public speaking skills;
• Ability to quickly grasp new issues through research and in dialogue with members; and
• Fluency in oral and written English, with excellent writing skills.

In addition to the qualifications noted above, the following skills and experiences are highly desirable:
• Fluency in Spanish, French or Arabic, including drafting and reviewing documents and oral communication;
• A Master’s level degree in human rights, law, political science, public policy, international development or another related field;
• Significant working experience on corporate accountability and/or economic policy and human rights;
• Experience working with frontline advocates challenging human rights abuses perpetrated by business and other non-state actors;
• Experience managing new online tools for communication and collaboration, including web databases, online dialogues, podcasts/radio interviews, data aggregation techniques, SMS/text, real-time online forums, etc.;
• Experience as a trainer/facilitator in capacity-building projects;
• Experience living and working in the global South; and
• Experience with fundraising.

Salary and Benefits
ESCR-Net, a project of the Tides Center, offers competitive compensation and generous employer-paid benefits including medical, dental and vision, and generous vacation and paid leave. The position is based in New York City, however, in certain circumstances we may consider a remote working arrangement. ESCR-Net will consider assisting in obtaining necessary work authorization for this position.

Start Date: October 1, 2011

To Apply
Please send a curriculum vitae, a letter of interest and contact information for 3 references by 2 September 2011 to ESCR-Net by email (escr-net at escr-net.org) using “Corporate Accountability Working Group Search” and your initials, as the subject of your email. It is preferred that all materials be submitted by email, but if that is not possible then please send your application by fax to +1 (212) 681-1241. No calls please. We encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Due to the high volume of responses we have received in the past, we will not be able to confirm receipt of applications or answer queries. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Thank you for your understanding during this process.

ESCR-Net, a Project of the Tides Center, is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, and people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, medical condition (cancer-related) or the conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS Related Conditions (ARC). Applicants with Disabilities: Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application