U.S. Program Officer for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
Founded in 1968, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights aims to realize Robert Kennedy’s vision of social justice by promoting the full spectrum of human rights throughout the world.
The RFK Center works in a long-term way with grass-roots social movement leaders on a variety of issues in countries all around the world, including indigenous people’s rights, child labor, universal education, discrimination against ethnic groups, land reform, modern day slavery, environmental degradation, and health as a human right. Active RFK partners are from the United States, Chad, Haiti, Brazil, India, Liberia, Colombia, Turkey, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Israel, Palestine, Guatemala, and Kenya.
Central to the RFK Center’s mandate is that it works at the behest of those who know the most about problems on the ground: the leaders of the social movements themselves. With these leaders, the Center develops plans and strategies to expand the reach and impact of their work. These include changing policies and actions of governments, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, and corporations. Specifically, the RFK Center seeks to provide partners with advocacy tools and channels to which they might not otherwise have access.
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT:
The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights is currently seeking one full-time Program Officer for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in the U.S. This position is based in Washington, DC and will begin in the summer of 2006. The application deadline is April 30, 2006.
The Program Officer will work closely with our two US-based grass roots partners: the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and New Orleans Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is a membership-led organization of agricultural workers based in Immokalee, Florida, that seeks justice for farmworkers and promotes their fair treatment in accordance with national and international labor standards. Among its accomplishments, the CIW has aided in the prosecution of five slavery operations by the Department of Justice and the liberation of over 1,000 workers. The CIW uses creative methods to educate consumers about human rights abuses in the U.S. agriculture industry, corporate social responsibility, and how consumers can help workers realize their social change goals.
Following the successful Taco Bell boycott, the CIW is leading a public education campaign against McDonald's and its partner brand, Chipotle.
New Orleans ACORN is part of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, working together for social justice and stronger communities. ACORN's accomplishments include successful campaigns for better housing, schools, neighborhood safety, health care, job conditions, and more. ACORN members participate in local meetings and actively work on campaigns and elect leadership from the neighborhood level up.
New Orleans ACORN is focused on ensuring the respect for the rights of those displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
***
The new Program Officer will lead all RFK work with the CIW. She or he will support another Program Officer in partnering with New Orleans ACORN.
Job activities will include, among other things:
Advocacy to corporate, governmental and non-governmental actors.
Campaign strategy.
Coordination of academic and legal projects.
Research and writing (mainly industry, legal, and legislative)
Rally and tour planning.
Press work.
Additional Qualifications:
The candidate should be:
A dynamic activist with a strong grasp of human rights and corporate accountability.
An exceptional written and oral communicator.
A creative lateral thinker and quick learner.
Flexible and determined.
Comfortable with academics and human rights attorneys.
Knowledgeable about the labor rights as well the human rights framework.
Organized, accountable, and self-motivated.
Experience with human rights activism in the United States, work with grass roots movements, or work on economic, social, and cultural rights is highly desirable.
As is experience with creative activism broadly speaking, student organizing, and/or shareholder activism, time spent in Europe or Central America, knowledge of structural inequality issues and/or US labor and employment law, and/or background in social or political theory.
Proficiency in Spanish or Haitian Creole a plus.
For more information, please contact shanor@rfkmemorial.org
How to Apply:
Send a resume, cover letter, references, and a writing sample to shanor@rfkmemorial.org.
The RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights is an equal opportunity employer committed to developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds. People of color, women, working-class, differently-abled people and LGBT persons are strongly encouraged to apply.