Regional Human Rights Specialist, Africa

• Coordinate and contribute to a standardized approach to human rights protection in Africa across WCS programs
• Provide strategic and technical guidance to country programs and field sites to support human rights integration in conservation law enforcement
• Conduct human rights impact analyses and assist in investigation or fact-finding around human rights issues as requested
• Develop recommendations for country programs or landscapes to address human rights issues and risks
• Oversee the review of rights-respecting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for field operations
• Coordinate closely with regional and country-level human rights, law enforcement, safeguards and communities staff
• Maintain a dotted reporting line to the Senior Human Rights Specialist in Rights & Communities Global for approval and review of substantive human rights products
• Work with diverse teams from different country programs across the Africa Program

Qualifications & Experience:

• Advanced degree in Law or another relevant field with a specialization in human rights; a first degree with relevant experience and certificates can be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in human rights advocacy, research, policy or monitoring and reporting
• Proven experience working directly with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, civil society organizations and/or government stakeholders in the context of Africa
• Fluency in English and ability to work professionally in French

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of international human rights standards and frameworks, and regional African frameworks
• Knowledge of both civil law and common law based systems for law enforcement
• Understanding of human rights-based approaches to conservation and development including institutional due diligence
• Experience in conservation programs or conservation-related issues is desirable
• Fluency in Portuguese or relevant African languages is desirable