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Programme Director - International Law and Policy Programme

Amnesty International - 22 September 2009

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Job Description

job details 

Job Title: Programme Director
Team: PD Office
Programme: International Law and Policy Programme
Reporting to: Senior Director for International Law and Policy
Posts that this job manages: A team of senior legal and policy advisers and staff in the Programme Director’s office.
Other key relationships: with the Secretary General, the Senior Leadership Team, programme directors (international advocacy, global thematic issues, regions, communications, campaigns, research support unit and gender, sexuality and identity), AI sections and structures, key human rights actors outside AI, e.g. within the NGO community, the UN system, the field of international law and policy and academia.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Responsible for managing the budget of the Law and Policy Programme.
Recruit, hire and retain the best possible staff to conduct the work of the programme, including energizing volunteers, the lawyers’ network and the Working Group on Impunity.
Must be available to travel; required to participate in some international AI meetings.

Job purpose

• To provide leadership and vision in the development and application of international law and policy for the Amnesty International Movement and the broader human rights movement.
• To ensure that Amnesty International maintains a prominent role in pushing for the development and implementation of legal standards and norms in order to empower human rights activism globally.
• To ensure the Law and Policy Programme staff are fully integrated into the International Secretariat, are providing expert advice to staff, as well as enabling a smooth and effective approval process for AI documents. 

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE

• To provide leadership in the areas of legal standard setting, developments in international and post conflict justice, human rights jurisprudence, international humanitarian law, effective implementation of the law and the development and application of human rights policy. 
• To provide legal and policy advice and analysis to the IS and the movement to ensure the accuracy of the analysis and application of law and policy and thus maximizing impact.
• Ensure that AI maintains its pre-eminent position in the field of human rights legal and policy analysis.

ORGANIZATION PURPOSE
The International Secretariat, which operates from a number of sites around the world, gathers and communicates accurate and action-oriented human rights information globally. We campaign for meaningful human rights change; enable effective human rights activism and work to persuade governments and other actors to uphold universal human rights standards.  We provide strategic leadership, support and advice to the Amnesty International movement globally, fostering Amnesty International’s contribution, presence and public accountability throughout the world.

Main Responsibilities
Maintain a comprehensive and global overview of law, policy and practice trends and developments, in order that the Programme can ensure the most up-to-date and accurate analysis when addressing both existing and emerging human rights issues.

Contribute to the development and implementation of international human rights and humanitarian law in order to achieve justice for the victims of human rights abuses.

Ensure that legal and policy advisers provide expertise and advice to IS staff and the wider AI movement so that: 1) AI's publications accurately reflect relevant legal standards and are consistent with AI's policies, 2) all AI documents are of the highest quality, and 3) AI’s recommendations and campaigning goals are concise, coherent and consistent with human rights and other relevant legal standards.

As part of the International Cluster Management Team, contribute to the development of an effective strategic cluster plan that will enable the delivery of Amnesty International’s vision.

Develop an effective operational Programme plan, within the wider organizational and cluster strategic plans, to ensure the team delivers consistent and expert legal and policy advice to the wider AI Movement.

Ensure the effective management of staff and resources within the Programme, bearing in mind overarching strategic objectives; and in responding to requests from the Movement and other IS teams, identify which opportunities will enable the best use of scarce resources in developing global policy positions on a specific issue.

Manage the Law and Policy Programme staff in using their expertise to develop litigation strategies, legal analysis, arguments and tactics on specific human rights issues, ensuring effective leadership and management, including development of professional skills and adherence to policy and procedures.

Build strong relationships with external actors who play a key role in promoting international human rights and humanitarian law at intergovernmental fora, enhancing AI’s reputation as an authority on international human rights related legal and policy analysis.

Design and maintain an approach that ensures effective communication and relationship building across departments to provide clear advice and judgment in a timely and expert manner.

Represent Amnesty International at a senior level in high profile key conferences and meetings in order to maintain AI’s reputation as the expert on the thematic issue under discussion, and secure support for AI’s human rights objectives.

Write and publish articles on emerging issues from a human rights perspective – in order to build their reputation and credibility in the human rights sector, and therefore build the reputation of Amnesty International.

WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE IN THIS JOB?

• The Law and Policy Programme deliver timely advice on human rights law and policies which contribute to strategies that promote the rules of law and respect for human rights at the international, regional, state and local level.
• The Law and Policy Programme provide timely, clear and accessible legal and policy advice to IS staff, the AI movement and partners throughout the world to enable AI and its partners to actively shape the global human rights agenda.
• The Law and Policy Programme provide expert analysis and advice to ensure that AI can initiate and lead in responding to crises or emerging opportunities.
• The Law and Policy Programme represent AI effectively externally where a high profile is advantageous, whether in the field, with international organizations or other settings or provide the expertise for other AI staff to represent AI in these venues.
• The Programme Director effectively manages the staff and financial resources of the department, promoting excellence, encouraging flexibility and ensuring the application of AI’s standards and policies across the work of the AI movement.
• The Law and Policy Programme develops and maintains strong relationships within the IS, the AI movement and key external stakeholders who see the programme as a source of expert, timely, accessible and clear advice and judgment.

skills and experience

Significant experience and expertise in the field of human rights law and policy development.

Advanced degree in law or comparable experience working in human rights law.

Demonstrated leadership in the global human rights movement through communication of a vision of the opportunities and threats human rights face in the short and longer term.

Vision and creativity as well as intellectual discipline to lead the human rights movement in developing human rights critiques and arguments that are effective and compelling.

Ability to work well with legal and policy experts, campaigners and advocates, regional experts and researchers, thematic experts and researchers and be able to facilitate communication among different parts of the IS and the AI movement.

Accomplished presentation skills which can be adapted to address diverse audiences and media.

Excellent written skills in English (and additional language is a plus) and published in the area of human rights with a focus on law and policy.

Committed to ensuring effective management and professional development of the staff in the programme.

Ability to lead, inspire, motivate and facilitate their own and other teams to collaborate/support one another to deliver integrated and co-ordinated interventions.

Committed to creating an intellectually challenging and supportive work environment for the staff of the programme and the IS.

EQUALITY STATEMENT

Equality and diversity is at the core of our values and staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Public or other activity, affiliation to or support for any group or organization, personal association or other factor which may generate a real or perceived conflict of interest with Amnesty International’s principles (specifically independence and impartiality), or raise a security concern, or otherwise prevent the candidate from carrying out key functions of the specific post and would therefore disqualify the candidate from being appointed.   

Terms and conditions

Salary: Salary and package offered commensurate to experience
Hours: 35 hours per week
Location: Clerkenwell, Central London
Contract duration: Permanent contract
Holidays: Full time staff receive 27 days per annum plus two Amnesty International grace days and statutory and national public holidays .
Office hours: 09.30 - 17.30 or 10.00 - 18.00 by arrangement.
Relocation: Relocation assistance will be available for staff members (and their dependents) recruited from over 80 km/50 miles from the International Secretariat office in which the post is based.
Life insurance: 4 x gross salary.
Travel loan: Interest free travel loan for bus, underground, or rail travel to work (no qualifying period).
Pension:  After six months of service staff are automatically enrolled in the Amnesty International Superannuation Scheme.  This is a defined contribution to which Amnesty International contributes 7% of gross salary and will match individual employee contributions up to an additional 3%.
Cultural Diversity: All staff will work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.
Health and Safety: All staff are required to comply with Amnesty International's policy and rules relating to Health and Safety and its security regulations at work.
Work Permit: Should it be possible to obtain a UK work permit for this post?  Yes, depending upon individual eligibility under the Home Office's points based system. Individual's should ascertain their eligibility to work in the UK before applying for a London based job with Amnesty International by using the points-based calculator at http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/pointscalculator. Please note that your application would be as a Tier 2 (Skilled worker) in the General category.
Probation: A 6 month probation period will be included in the contract for this position.

how to apply

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