Senior Human Rights Officer, Coordinator

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located within the Group of Independent Experts on the situation of human rights in Belarus, established pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution A/HRC/RES/58/1

• The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) oversees this group, which aims to address human rights violations and promote accountability in Belarus. The OHCHR is committed to ensuring the protection and promotion of human rights globally, working with various stakeholders to uphold international human rights standards.

Job Overview:
The Senior Human Rights Officer, Coordinator will play a pivotal role in supervising and coordinating the activities of the Group of Independent Experts. This position requires a deep understanding of human rights issues, particularly in the context of Belarus, and the ability to manage complex investigations and reporting processes. The incumbent will be responsible for developing investigation plans, methodologies, and tools for data collection and processing. They will support the Group's members in operational and administrative procedures, ensuring that all tasks align with strategic objectives and standard methodologies, including gender perspectives. The role also involves managing the Secretariat's overall work, facilitating communication between experts and the OHCHR, and ensuring the protection of victims and witnesses involved in investigations. The Senior Human Rights Officer will be expected to deliver high-quality reports and manage the budget and finances of the Group, while also liaising with various stakeholders, including member states and UN agencies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Senior Human Rights Officer, Coordinator include:

• Supervising the development of investigation plans and methodologies for data collection.
• Supporting the Group of Independent Experts in operational and administrative procedures.
• Managing the Secretariat's work, ensuring effective workflows and accountability.
• Facilitating communication between experts and the OHCHR.
• Ensuring compliance with strategic objectives and methodologies, including gender perspectives.
• Coordinating investigation and reporting tasks.
• Overseeing measures to protect victims and witnesses.
• Accompanying experts on field missions.
• Acting as the main contact for operational and substantive matters with various stakeholders. 1
• Ensuring timely delivery of reports and managing the Group's budget and finances. 1
• Performing other duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong background in human rights, with knowledge of institutional mandates and policies. They should demonstrate the ability to evaluate and integrate information from various sources, assess impacts on human rights situations, and provide insights into complex issues. Professionalism, teamwork, planning, organizing, leadership, and judgment are essential competencies for this role. The candidate should show a commitment to gender equality and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, or a related discipline is required. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible work experience in human rights or a combination of human rights and international humanitarian law or international criminal law is required. Additionally, at least five years of experience in managing teams is necessary, along with two years of experience in conducting human rights or international criminal law investigations. Relevant experience in or on the region is desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of French is also required. Knowledge of Russian is desirable, and proficiency in another UN official language is considered an advantage.

Additional Notes:
This position is temporarily available until 31 March 2026, subject to extension based on the mandate and availability of funds. The role may be limited to internal candidates and is open to staff members of the United Nations Secretariat. The United Nations is committed to diversity and encourages female candidates to apply. Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities may be provided upon request.