Job Title:

Senior Global Advocacy Adviser

Department:

Global Legal Programs, Global Advocacy

Center Background:

The Center for Reproductive Rights (the Center) is the global leader in using the power of law to advance reproductive rights as fundamental human rights. Headquartered in New York City, the non-profit, non-partisan organization has regional offices in Bogota, Geneva, Nairobi, and Washington, DC, and a staff of approximately 200 diverse professionals. The Center’s compelling human rights mission and reputation for excellence and cutting-edge legal work has powered its exceptional growth trajectory to an operating budget of over $40 million and won the respect of the world’s leading law firms, as reflected in the additional $29 million annually in donated legal services, representing the work last year of 820 lawyers in 46 countries.

The overarching goal of the Center’s new Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they do today. The Center has a track record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since its founding in 1992, the Center’s game-changing litigation and advocacy, combined with its unparalleled expertise in constitutional, comparative, and international human rights law, have transformed how reproductive rights are understood by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, contraception, abortion, and assisted reproduction. It has won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies, led the development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights, and has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 60 countries and counting.

To learn more about the Center for Reproductive Rights, go to www.reproductiverights.org. To learn more about our DEI Organizational Commitments, go here.

The Role:

Reporting to the Associate Director for Global Advocacy based in Geneva, the Senior Global Advocacy Adviser will conceptualize and implement robust advocacy strategies to advance sexual and reproductive rights at the UN treaty monitoring bodies in Geneva. In collaboration with the Global Advocacy team and key Program staff from around the world, the Senior Global Advocacy Adviser will advance advocacy initiatives to strengthen international human rights norms and prevent retrogression, hold states to account for violations of international human rights law, draw greater attention to sexual and reproductive health and rights under international law, and leverage UN mechanisms to push for law and policy reform globally.

Location:

Geneva preferred; remote possible with willingness to travel frequently to Geneva.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Global Advocacy Adviser’s primary job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support the Senior Director of Global Advocacy and Global Advocacy team with the implementation of the Center’s new Strategic Plan;
• Proactively monitor events, developments and initiatives within the UN Treaty Monitoring Bodies (TMBs), Special Procedures, Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and identify upcoming advocacy opportunities and legal developments on SRHR;
• Identify strategic entry points for the development of international human rights law on SRHR, and together with the Associate Director GA and Senior Director of GA, set priorities, plan and execute advocacy strategies with the TMBs and other relevant mechanisms;
• Draft the Center’s legal and advocacy submissions to UN agency reports and processes, Treaty Monitoring Body General Comments, and other technical documents as needed, as well as conduct related advocacy with international organizations;
• Work closely with the Center’s Programs teams on ensuring effective and timely submissions of shadow letters/reports for TMBs country reviews and UPRs and on supporting effective engagement with relevant Treaty Monitoring Body members and States;
• Amplify Center’s priorities, develop and maintain SRHR norms and standards through working closely with the Special Procedures on their annual reports to the UNHRC and UNGA, country visits, position papers, letters of allegations and Urgent Appeals and any other activity and documents as appropriate and relevant
• Provide technical procedural and substantive support on individual cases and special inquiries filed at the Treaty Monitoring Bodies and engage with relevant UN staff and Treaty Monitoring Body members to ensure effective outcomes and implementation;
• Build and deepen contacts with key stakeholders for advancing international human rights standards, including Treaty Monitoring Body members, UN agency staff; and institutionalize these contacts;
• Promote collaboration on sexual and reproductive health and rights and related issues through outreach and relationship-building with NGOs in Geneva and globally in order to create greater awareness and stimulate positive collective action;
• Oversee the planning and implementation of events in Geneva hosted by the Center, in particular briefings for Treaty Monitoring Bodies, Special Procedures, permanent missions in the context of the UPR and UN agency staff, as well as others as needed;
• Support and provide guidance for the Center’s regional teams and/or partners when they are visiting Geneva for TMB or UPR review sessions, or other events;
• Support the development of communications, materials, and updates of GA activities for press releases, social media and e-mail listservs;
• Draft and review Center publications on key and emerging issues;
• Conduct research and integrate information received from pro bono services on global legal developments related to reproductive rights;
• Liaise and collaborate constructively with other regions and departments in the Center as needed, including Communications, Development, US Human Rights and Advocacy Programs, and Pro Bono Services;
• Represent the Center at meetings and events in Geneva and elsewhere as requested;
• Report regularly and effectively to the Associate Director of Global Advocacy in Geneva and assist with the supervision of fellows, interns, volunteers and pro bono lawyers, as requested;
• Travel to Geneva required at least 20% of the time.

Qualifications:

• Degree in law (Juris Doctor or LLM) required, preferably with a focus in human rights;
• 10+ years related professional experience;
• Knowledge of and documented commitment to international human rights, women’s rights and UN human rights systems. Experience on SRHR is a plus;
• Experience working with international and/or regional human rights mechanisms, such as through international litigation and other legal submissions. Experience designing and/or implementing strategies to strengthen human rights norm development preferred;
• Advocacy experience and relationships relevant to advocacy regarding human rights in Geneva or in regional human rights mechanisms, including as part of NGO coalitions;
• Experience working collaboratively within an organization and externally; Exceptional legal writing, editing, research, oral advocacy and interpersonal skills;
• Experience in project management and strategic planning;
• Fluency in written and spoken English required, Spanish or French language ability preferred;
• Proactive, self-motivated, strong work ethic and attention to detail;
• The ability to organize and drive projects to a timely completion;
• Must be outstanding in analytical, problem-solving, and creative thinking abilities;
• Must have the ability to work well independently as well as effectively collaborate in a team setting;
• Positive outlook and constructive working style is a must;
• Must be willing to be flexible in role as needed to meet the needs of the team and the organization;
• Ability to work collaboratively, to multi-task, and to work under pressure.

Critical Competencies:

• Strategic thinking: Applies big-picture thinking while also focusing on the details of implementation.
• Decisiveness: Consistently makes sound decisions in a timely manner supportive of the Center's mission, core values, and strategic objectives. Blends vision and judgment.
• Collaboration: Brings a track record of working effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups, and a willingness to actively listen and invite different views and opinions across all levels of the institution to build alignment in support of a common goal.
• Receives and Provides Direct Feedback: Actively gives and requests feedback to and from peers, supervisors and direct reports (if applicable) about work products, behaviors, values, style and approaches with a view on how this impacts self, other individuals and teams.
• Transparency: Consistently applies openness and honesty in communicating decisions and plans to team members.
• Commitment to learn: Applies a growth mentality to their own and their team’s (if applicable) development. Promotes a culture of learning by modeling inquisitiveness and an openness to viewing mistakes as an opportunity to learn and improve.
• Passion for Coaching, and Mentoring Staff: Empowers and motivates employees and creates opportunities for learning, development, and leadership, with a focus on harnessing skills for the future development of team members. (if applicable)
• Accountability: Follows through on each commitment made to individual contributors, teams and partners and proactively informs others of any delays that occur along the way. Holds team members accountable.
• Integrity: Possesses impeccable integrity and personal and professional values that are consistent with the Center’s high standards and mission.
• Empathy: Serves as an empathetic, approachable leader who engenders trust and confidence. (if applicable)
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Demonstrates comfort with ambiguity and calculated risk.

Compensation:

The Center offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience as well as a generous benefits and PTO offering.

How to Apply:

Please complete the application below to apply. A cover letter and resume must be included in your application. Please include these application materials as attachments.

Deadline for applications:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

To learn more about our DEI Organizational Commitments, go here. The Center for Reproductive Rights is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring, and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all groups and communities to apply.

Please note that all genuine Center openings must be applied through the Center website. The Center does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process (application, interviews, or selection). Nor does it request any medical examinations or bank account inform as part of this process. If someone contacts you on behalf of the Center requesting payment for your application please notify talent@reprorights.org before taking any further action.