EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
This is an exciting opportunity to direct the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. Never before has the private sector’s influence over people’s lives been so great.
The Resource Centre has helped define the growing field of corporate accountability and build an international movement of individuals and organizations working for the cause. It has put companies in all regions on notice that their human rights conduct is being watched: abuses they may be involved in and positive steps they are taking. It is widely respected for being fair, constructive, and truly global in its perspective; a Financial Times article about its work is headlined, “A Fair Approach to Human Rights.”
The Resource Centre covers the full range of human rights impacts by business – from environmental pollution to labour rights in the supply chain; from indigenous people’s rights to the right to health. With a team of 23 now based in 11 countries across all regions of the world, the Resource Centre is in an excellent position to expand its innovative work strengthening transparency, accountability and guidance.
Transparency: The Resource Centre monitors the human rights conduct (positive and negative) of over 5000 companies globally. It gathers reports from a wide range of sources – ranging from grassroots groups to international organizations – and channels them to a large and influential audience. It supports the work of local groups in all regions by getting their concerns heard by people who will take action on them.
Public accountability: The Resource Centre strengthens public accountability and ensures balanced coverage by seeking responses from companies to allegations of misconduct. These companies may be well-known multinationals, or small firms being asked to go on the record about a human rights issue for the first time. It has invited over 1000 companies to respond to concerns, and three quarters have done so. The Resource Centre also has an information hub on corporate legal accountability for human rights.
The Resource Centre covers the full range of human rights impacts by business – from environmental pollution to labour rights in the supply chain; from indigenous people’s rights to the right to health. With a team of 23 now based in 11 countries across all regions of the world, the Resource Centre is in an excellent position to expand its innovative work strengthening transparency, accountability and guidance.
Transparency: The Resource Centre monitors the human rights conduct (positive and negative) of over 5000 companies globally. It gathers reports from a wide range of sources – ranging from grassroots groups to international organizations – and channels them to a large and influential audience. It supports the work of local groups in all regions by getting their concerns heard by people who will take action on them.
Public accountability: The Resource Centre strengthens public accountability and ensures balanced coverage by seeking responses from companies to allegations of misconduct. These companies may be well-known multinationals, or small firms being asked to go on the record about a human rights issue for the first time. It has invited over 1000 companies to respond to concerns, and three quarters have done so. The Resource Centre also has an information hub on corporate legal accountability for human rights.
Guidance: The Resource Centre provides access to tools, guidance and the most comprehensive database on the subject for everyone working in this field. It aims to ensure widespread participation in international debates on business and human rights. It highlights good practice by companies, so that others can follow suit.
Further information about the Resource Centre
Further information about the Resource Centre
Key responsibilities
Lead a global staff to work towards the Resource Centre’s vision: “that all companies respect human rights in everything they do”.
Lead the strategic direction of the Resource Centre and the implementation of its strategic plan (2013-18). Constantly evaluate the Resource Centre's progress against its strategic goals and identify and lead changes when necessary in order to achieve them.
Ensure the financial sustainability of the organization.
- Assume overall responsibility for fundraising, proposals and reports to donors, and maintaining close and effective contact with current and prospective donors (government, institutional and individual) – working with the Resource Centre’s development staff.
- Supervise financial matters, including income projections and expenditure budget (currently at £1 million and growing at just over 20% per year).
Ensure the quality, accuracy, breadth and balance of the Resource Centre’s research, information-gathering and publications.
- Maintain high standards in attention to detail, professionalism and fairness, upon which the Resource Centre’s reputation depends.
- Continue to strengthen the Resource Centre’s research methods including desktop research, building and maintaining broad networks of contacts who alert staff to material, and regional missions.
- Develop the Resource Centre’s publications, including its Weekly Update e-newsletter, its “On the Horizon” bulletin, its regional briefings, its thematic bulletins and its press releases.
Lead the Resource Centre’s communications and outreach.
- Develop and manage the Resource Centre’s communication to its diverse constituents, including human rights and environmental activists, companies, governments, investors, regulators, journalists, consumers, and its International Advisory Network and Academic Partners.
- Engage effectively with UN mechanisms in their work on business and human rights.
- Represent the Resource Centre at selected conferences and events.
Ensure innovative and effective use of rapidly developing digital media, ranging from the website itself to social and mobile platforms, to maximise the Resource Centre’s impact.
Effectively lead and manage the Resource Centre’s dedicated and experienced team. There are currently 23 people working for the Resource Centre, increasing to 27 in early 2013.
Supervise and line-manage senior staff and ensure regular staff assessments are taking place.
Effectively lead and manage the Resource Centre’s dedicated and experienced team. There are currently 23 people working for the Resource Centre, increasing to 27 in early 2013.
Supervise and line-manage senior staff and ensure regular staff assessments are taking place.
- Contribute to staff members’ professional development through assistance in achieving their long-term goals.
- Supervise recruitment and training of new staff and contractors.
- Work closely with the UK and US boards to leverage board expertise and resources, maintaining high standards of governance.
Sustain and strengthen the Resource Centre’s culture of respect, passion, quality, balance and accuracy. Maintain its truly global perspective.
Qualifications
Applicants must be able to demonstrate the following credentials:
- Passionate commitment to and knowledge of human rights, including work within organizations working on human rights-related issues.
- Commitment to the vision, mission and values of the Resource Centre (see below).
- Significant high-level experience in non-profit management, including supervision of senior staff.
- Strong non-profit fundraising skills and an ability to generate new revenue from a variety of funding sources.
- Experience in financial management and a thorough understanding of budgets.
- An outstanding communicator, with excellent writing and public speaking skills, able to represent the organization to a wide range of constituents and to reach new and influential audiences.
- Track record of working effectively in a complex and contentious multi-stakeholder environment.
- A team-worker as well as leader: with an ability to motivate staff, harness expertise and commitment of Board members, and forge productive relationships with other organizations and experts in the field.
- A collaborative, supportive mindset, recognizing that the Resource Centre’s role is to amplify others’ voices, and experience in dealing with people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds in a sensitive and understanding manner.
- High standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism.
- Willingness to travel.
- No activities or membership/affiliation with organizations in conflict with the aims and objectives of the Resource Centre or which may jeopardise its image, impartiality and independence.
We prefer but do not require the following characteristics:
- Experience in using the internet and new media for human rights outreach.
- Knowledge of / experience working on the intersection of the private sector and human rights.
- Language proficiency beyond English.
Contact Details
- Contact:
- Daniel Vince-Archer
- Telephone:
- 212 564 9160
- Email:
- EDrecruitment@business-humanrights.org
Application Instructions
Please send a cover letter and a CV/résumé before the end of 8 February 2013 to EDrecruitment@business-humanrights.org with “Executive Director application” in the subject line.
The cover letter is part of your application. It should describe any special qualifications you may have which address criteria in the person specification. It should also summarise your views about the Resource Centre’s role, potential challenges and opportunities.
Please also provide the names, positions, organizations and telephone contact numbers of three referees who are familiar with your work, one of whom should be your current/most recent employer. Indicate if you do not wish us to contact a referee without seeking your permission first.
The cover letter is part of your application. It should describe any special qualifications you may have which address criteria in the person specification. It should also summarise your views about the Resource Centre’s role, potential challenges and opportunities.
Please also provide the names, positions, organizations and telephone contact numbers of three referees who are familiar with your work, one of whom should be your current/most recent employer. Indicate if you do not wish us to contact a referee without seeking your permission first.
We will contact candidates who have been shortlisted by 8 March 2013.
Note: Please do not contact us if you are a recruitment agency. We are managing this recruitment process independently, and we will not accept unsolicited applications via third parties.
Note: Please do not contact us if you are a recruitment agency. We are managing this recruitment process independently, and we will not accept unsolicited applications via third parties.
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