Derechos: Human Rights Listings

JOB DESCRIPTION
RESEARCH DIRECTOR at the International Council

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL

The International Council is an independent research institute, registered since 1998 as a not-for-profit foundation in Switzerland; it has consultative status with ECOSOC. The appointed candidates will work in the Council’s Secretariat, based in a Villa in Versoix, just outside the city of Geneva. The Secretariat currently has nine staff, including three Research Directors. Further additions to the staff are foreseen in 2007.

The Council undertakes practical research on problems and dilemmas that face organisations working in the human rights field. It works with international agencies, governments, NGOs, scholars and other institutions that are engaged in issues it studies. The Council focuses on themes; it does not report on the human rights record of particular countries nor does it take up individual cases. To illustrate the variety of its work, the Council has published reports on the legal duties of business in relation to human rights law, the professional obligations of journalists when they report human rights issues, the performance of national human rights institutions, the effectiveness of human rights aid programmes, trends in racial discrimination, and the links between reform of local government and human rights. All the Council's reports may be consulted on its Web Site at www.ichrp.org.

Members of the Council meet annually to recommend subjects for research to the Executive Board, which sets the research programme. The Secretariat designs and implements projects selected by the Board, publishes the results of the research undertaken, and draws findings to the attention of relevant audiences.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Research Directors design, manage and complete research projects for which they are responsible. In most cases, this involves preparing a detailed project design in consultation with experts, recruiting a research team and project advisers, supporting the research team both logistically and in substance, editing draft and final reports, and holding a range of meetings and events during the research and after publication to discuss and publicise the project's findings.

The Council does not take commissioned work nor does it subcontract. Research Directors closely accompany projects for which they are responsible. As a result, though they often begin with no expertise concerning subjects they research, at the point of publication they are expected to be able to articulate the arguments of reports coherently.

The Council is strongly committed to working in ways that are genuinely international, interdisciplinary and consultative. The Research Director will be expected to promote these values in all the research for which he or she will be responsible. Research Directors are required to travel quite frequently. They are also expected to engage fully in the Council’s life and in all the activities that are essential to the proper completion of Council projects: conceptual analysis, consultation and negotiation, management of researchers, budget management, writing and editing, and presentation.

THE POST OF RESEARCH DIRECTOR
RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary responsibilities

To design, manage and promote the Council’s research projects, in association with other Research Directors and the Executive Director. In particular

To maintain and develop the quality and originality of the Council’s research programme, in association with other Research Directors.
To build and maintain the Council’s public reputation for excellent and relevant research among organisations of all kinds working in the field of human rights.
To ensure that projects s/he manages are planned, managed and completed efficiently.
To ensure that project findings are disseminated widely and effectively.

Reports to: The Executive Director

Responsibilities in detail

1. In relation to projects the Research Director
Plans new projects, on the basis of themes approved by the Board.
Prepares Project Designs in consultation with the Executive Director and Board
- Selects advisers and researchers to do the work, and agrees their contracts and fees.
- Manages the research and research team, throughout the project’s life cycle.
- Edits draft and final reports, and prepares Summaries.
- Develops and runs follow-up activities after publication including:
arrangements for release of reports,
meetings to inform relevant audiences about the research findings

2. In addition Research Directors
Represent the Council before the public and media
Actively identify creative and relevant themes of research
Participate in meetings of the Council’s Executive Board and the International Council, as required.
Support colleagues in the Secretariat, including other Research Directors, and
Generally promote the Secretariat’s and the Council’s effectiveness in carrying out the organisation’s mandate.

3. In all their work, Secretariat staff shall have in mind and shall promote the Council’s principal objectives:
to conduct research that is intellectually independent, original, and useful
to be genuinely international and interdisciplinary
to promote an inclusive and consultative approach and engage relevant actors in the process and outcomes of the Council’s research.

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates to this post will need to have the following skills and experience:

Knowledge of human rights and their application. Candidates must demonstrate a high level of expertise in international human rights law and humanitarian law, and their practical application in different institutional environments. A legal qualification, with specialisation in international human rights or humanitarian law, will be a distinct advantage. One of the appointments is likely to have a legal qualification.

Writing skills. Candidates must be able to present complex arguments in clear and accessible English. The chosen candidates will have proven experience of both writing and editing.

Skills in managing research teams. Candidates should have experience of managing research projects and recruiting and managing research teams. Experience of working collaboratively in interdisciplinary and international teams will be an asset. Though financial expertise is not required, experience of designing and managing budgets will be an advantage.

Knowledge of languages. Excellent written and oral English is essential. Knowledge of other languages, as well as experience of living and working in more than one region of the world, will be distinct advantages.

Creativity. The Council's job is to stimulate fresh reflection about difficult human rights issues. Candidates need to have flair and be open-minded in the way they think about issues and the application of human rights methods and principles.

The Council is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all parts of the world.

CONDITIONS

Salary commensurate with experience, supported by a competitive social package.

Assistance is available for candidates who move to Geneva from another country.

For additional information about applying
contact Corinne Baustert on Baustert@ichrp.org

Closing date for applications: 3 January 2007
Interviews will take place in the last week of January 2007.

The Council regrets that it will not be in a position to correspond with candidates who are not shortlisted for interview.