Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, an international human rights organization tracking the social & environmental impacts of over 5600 companies worldwide, is seeking a highly-motivated person to be its Middle East & North Africa Researcher & Representative.  The researcher will join our global team, which includes 12 regional researchers based in other regions.

2.5 days (17.5 hours) per week

Based in the Middle East & North Africa region – the country will depend on where successful candidate is based

Applicants must have:

• 5-10+ years’ work in the field of human rights, labour rights, development, environmental or social justice – including in the Middle East & North Africa region
• Fluent Arabic and excellent English-language skills (note: French a plus)
• Commitment to advancing human rights in the business sector
• The right to work in the country in which you are based (within Middle East & North Africa region)

Fees: In the range of US$2200 – 2600 per month (for working 17.5 hours/week): level will be calculated in line with cost of living in the country where the researcher is based.

How to apply: Please send the following by 31 August 2014 to Annabel Short short (at) business-humanrights.org, with “Middle East & North Africa Researcher & Representative” in the subject line:

-       a CV providing full details of current and previous employment and education (and clarifying any gaps in employment)

-       a two-page cover letter describing why you are applying for this position, and why you are a good fit (see the person specification)

The job purpose is below.  Additional information including full job description, person specification, terms & conditions are here [PDF].  Please be sure to read all the material before applying.

Job Purpose:

To provide greater transparency and accountability for companies’ human rights impacts throughout the Middle East & North Africa, and to empower others to act:

Transparency: Collecting & publicizing information from a wide range of sources on our multilingual website and in our Weekly Updates, to bring attention to alleged human rights abuses as well as positive steps by business.  Communicating on pressing business and human rights issues in the region through blog posts, media articles, and briefing notes.

Promoting accountability: By seeking public responses from companies to allegations of abuse.  (The Resource Centre has approached companies over 2000 times for responses to allegations, with a global response rate of 70%).  Identifying strategies to step up the pressure when companies do not respond, or provide weak responses.  Helping to strengthen our regional coverage of legal cases involving companies’ human rights impacts.

Empowering others to act: By ensuring that organizations throughout the region are aware how to use the Resource Centre to obtain the information and guidance they need, and to channel their concerns to an influential audience.  This will be achieved through effective representation, online and in-person networking, missions throughout the region, and the occasional organizing of small civil society workshops.