Representative Human Rights and Head of the Central Asia Multi-country Office

Job Posting Organization:
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is a part of the United Nations system, established to promote and protect human rights globally. The OHCHR works to ensure that human rights are respected and upheld in all countries, providing support and guidance to governments, civil society, and other stakeholders. The organization operates in various regions around the world, focusing on addressing human rights violations and promoting the implementation of international human rights standards. The OHCHR has a significant presence in multiple countries, employing a diverse workforce dedicated to advancing human rights for all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Job Overview:
The Representative Human Rights and Head of the Central Asia Multi-country Office is a senior position within the OHCHR, responsible for overseeing human rights initiatives in the Central Asia region. This role involves monitoring human rights developments, providing strategic advice to the Regional Director, and fostering relationships with UN Country Teams and other stakeholders. The incumbent will be expected to develop and implement programs that address human rights issues, manage the office's operations, and represent the OHCHR in various forums. The position requires a deep understanding of human rights principles and the ability to navigate complex political environments. The Representative will also be responsible for ensuring that human rights considerations are integrated into UN programming and planning processes, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the UN's response to human rights challenges in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Representative Human Rights and Head of the Central Asia Multi-country Office include:

• Monitoring and analyzing human rights developments in the region, providing timely advice to the Regional Director on serious human rights issues.
• Developing strategic relationships with UN Country Teams and other partners to support human rights-based approaches in programming and planning.
• Formulating the office's work program, budget, and medium-term plans, ensuring timely delivery of outputs.
• Advising on strategic interventions in countries without an OHCHR presence, including facilitating country visits by special procedures mandate holders.
• Managing the Multi-Country Office, including staff supervision, development, and performance evaluation.
• Representing the OHCHR in national, regional, and international meetings on human rights matters.
• Designing and implementing policies and programs to address regional human rights issues and assist governments in their advisory needs.
• Promoting the ratification and implementation of international human rights treaties and engaging with the international human rights system.
• Collaborating with regional organizations, governments, civil society, and media to promote human rights. 1
• Performing other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a comprehensive understanding of human rights issues, including the ability to address complex problems with sensitivity to political, ethnic, racial, gender, and socio-economic dimensions. They should have knowledge of the institutional mandates of human rights organizations and prevailing policies and procedures. The ability to evaluate and integrate information from various sources and assess its impact on human rights situations is essential. Candidates should demonstrate professional competence, efficiency, and a commitment to gender equality in all areas of work. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are required, along with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment. Candidates must also exhibit sound judgment and decision-making abilities, particularly in complex situations.

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

Experience:
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the human rights field at both national and international levels is required. Candidates should have experience in developing, implementing, and coordinating human rights strategies and programs. At least five (5) years of experience in managing teams of three or more staff is essential. Experience working in the region of deployment or in comparable regional contexts is desirable, as is experience in field-based human rights work with OHCHR or other international organizations.

Languages:
English is required at UN Level III for reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Russian is desirable at UN Level I for the same skills. Proficiency in these languages is crucial for effective communication and collaboration within the UN system and with external stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is subject to the availability of funds and the extension of the mandate. Applicants from under-represented Member States in the UN Secretariat are strongly encouraged to apply. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and encourages applications from individuals regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, or disabilities. Reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities to support their participation in the recruitment process. The UN Secretariat is a non-smoking environment, and all staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to various activities or offices as needed.