SENIOR HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER/COORDINATOR (TEMPORARY JOB OPENING)

Organizational Context

This position is within the Commission of Inquiry on the situation in North and South Kivu provinces, DRC, based in Kinshasa. The role reports to the Chief of the Human Rights Inquiries Branch (HRIB) and directly to the Chief of the Investigation Support Section, HRIB, within the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Job Purpose

The Senior Human Rights Officer, Coordinator will lead the development of investigation plans, methodologies, and tools for data collection and processing. This role supports the Commission Members on substantive, operational, and administrative procedures, ensuring adherence to strategic objectives and fact-finding methodologies, including gender perspectives. The incumbent will manage the Secretariat's work, facilitate communication, and oversee victim/witness protection and referral pathways. A key responsibility is acting as the primary interlocutor with various stakeholders and ensuring the quality and timely delivery of commission reports, while also managing the commission's budget and finances.

Responsibilities

Supervise the development of investigation plans, methodology, and tools for data collection and processing. Support Commission Members on substantive, operational, and administrative procedures, ensuring their implementation. Manage the overall work of the Commission's Secretariat, fostering constructive workflows, information sharing, accountability, and performance management. Facilitate communication between Commission Members and OHCHR. Ensure tasks align with strategic objectives and standard fact-finding methodology, integrating gender perspectives. Coordinate investigation and reporting tasks. Oversee plans for victim and witness protection and referral pathways. Accompany Commission Members on field missions. Serve as the main interlocutor on operational and substantive matters with duty bearers, member states, UN agencies, media, and other stakeholders. Ensure the integration of gender perspectives throughout the investigation process. Take ultimate responsibility for the quality and timely delivery of commission reports. Liaise with security coordinators regarding security requirements. Manage the commission's budget and finances, ensuring regular reporting to OHCHR and other UN entities. Perform other duties as required.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressive work experience in human rights, or a combination of human rights and international humanitarian/criminal law, is required. Five years of experience managing teams and two years of experience conducting human rights or international criminal law investigations are also required. Experience in the region or similar contexts is desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Teamwork, Planning and Organizing, Leadership, Judgment/Decision Making, knowledge of human rights issues, data collection and processing, investigation methodology, gender perspectives, stakeholder engagement, budget management, and reporting.

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