SENIOR HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER / COORDINATOR (Temporary Job Opening)

Organizational Context

This position is located within the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, based in Juba. The incumbent works under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Human Rights Inquiries Branch (HRIB) and the direct supervision of the Chief of the Investigations Support Section, within the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Job Purpose

The Senior Human Rights Officer, Coordinator leads and manages the Secretariat of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan. This role is crucial for ensuring the Commission's mandate is fulfilled through effective investigation planning, data processing, and reporting. The incumbent supports Commissioners on substantive, operational, and administrative procedures, facilitating communication with OHCHR and other stakeholders. A key contribution is ensuring investigations adhere to strategic objectives and fact-finding methodologies, including gender perspectives, and overseeing victim and witness protection measures. The role also involves coordinating investigation and reporting tasks, acting as a primary interlocutor with duty bearers and UN agencies, and taking ultimate responsibility for the quality and timely delivery of the Commission’s reports. Furthermore, the Coordinator manages the Commission's budget and finances, ensuring regular operational and financial reporting. This position is vital for upholding human rights standards and accountability in South Sudan.

Responsibilities

The Senior Human Rights Officer, Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the development of investigation plans, methodologies, and tools for data collection and processing. This includes supporting Commissioners on substantive, operational, and administrative procedures, and managing the overall work of the Commission's Secretariat to ensure efficient workflows, information sharing, accountability, and performance. The role involves facilitating communication between Commissioners and OHCHR, and ensuring tasks align with strategic objectives and standard fact-finding methodologies, incorporating gender perspectives. Key duties include coordinating investigation and reporting tasks, and overseeing plans for victim and witness protection, including effective referral pathways. The incumbent acts as the main interlocutor with duty bearers, member states, UN agencies, media, and other stakeholders on operational and substantive matters. They are responsible for integrating gender perspectives into all aspects of investigations and reporting, and ultimately for the quality and timely delivery of the Commission’s reports. Additionally, the role involves liaising with security coordinators, managing the Commission's budget and finances, and ensuring regular operational, financial, and administrative reporting to OHCHR and other UN entities.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, or a combination of human rights, international humanitarian law, or international criminal law, is required. This includes at least five years of team management experience. Desirable experience includes a minimum of two years conducting investigations in human rights, international humanitarian law, or international criminal law, and relevant working experience within or on the region.

Skills

Professionalism: Deep knowledge of human rights issues, institutional mandates, and procedures; ability to evaluate information, conduct in-depth studies, and advise on complex problems, including gender dimensions. Teamwork: Collaborative work, valuing diverse input, and supporting collective goals. Planning and Organizing: Strategic goal setting, effective prioritization, resource allocation, risk management, and efficient time use. Leadership: Empowering others, developing strategies, building relationships, resolving conflicts, driving change, and integrating gender perspectives. Judgement/Decision Making: Identifying key issues, informed decision-making, and considering impacts.

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