Vacancy position - Director, Asia-Pacific Programme

20.6.2007

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) is a worldwide network of judges and lawyers united in affirming international law and rule of law principles that advance human rights. The ICJ is seeking to recruit a senior international human rights lawyer as Director to expand and manage its Asia-Pacific Programme from the ICJ's regional office in Bangkok. The ICJ already has an established regional presence in Thailand and country office in Nepal.The ideal candidate will be a creative and visionary international human rights lawyer who has held senior positions, including management positions, who has a comprehensive knowledge of international human rights and humanitarian law, with a deep practical experience of human rights legal advocacy and an understanding of the history, politics and legal systems of the region. The ICJ seeks a Director with a well-developed network in the region and access to international organizations, NGO's and governments.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Secretary-General, the Director of the Asia-Pacific Programme has the following responsibilities:

- Provide vision, strategic direction, leadership and management of the ICJ's work in Asia-Pacific;

- Manage the ICJ's Asia-Pacific Programme through its continued phases of development, including the implementation of the full range of innovative ICJ advocacy strategies and legal interventions on countries and themes in the region, including the editing and approval of documents and ensuring the quality of legal and advocacy work;

- Manage and supervise all aspects of the setting up and day-to-day running of the ICJ's regional presence and oversee any additional national presences in the region, including their setting up and winding down;

- Supervise the work of the Asia-Pacific Programme staff, interns and consultants, including recruitment, induction, professional development, managing and evaluating the performance of staff of the programme, building effective teams, defining job descriptions, work-plans and terms of reference, and overseeing the work of the programme's staff;

- Play a leadership role as the ICJ's official spokesperson on issues relating to the region. Represent the ICJ externally, developing and maintaining relations with governments, donors, inter-governmental organizations, NGOs and the judicial, legal and human rights communities, carrying out media work, leading and participating in ICJ missions, delivering public speeches and otherwise raising the public profile of the ICJ;

- Develop and implement strategies to strengthen, inform and mobilize the ICJ Network of Commissioners, National Sections and Affiliated Organizations in the region and engage them in the work of the ICJ. Develop the cross-fertilisation of ideas and information between members of the ICJ Network in Asia-Pacific and other regions;

- Manage the programme's resources and budget, including taking responsibility for budget preparation, monitoring and approval of programme expenditure based on agreed budgets; &

- Contribute significantly to the development and implementation of fundraising strategies for the programme, including taking responsibility for the drafting, editing and approval of proposals, and lead on the cultivation and maintenance of relations with relevant donors.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will have:

Education & Experience

- Minimum 14 years progressive experience as an international human rights lawyer, with at least 10 years experience of working in the region. Minimum eight years of increasingly responsible staff, programme and financial management experience in an international or non-governmental organisation;

- A degree in law. Further academic studies in international and human rights law and international humanitarian law highly desirable;

- Experience of national litigation and litigation before international or regional human rights systems is highly desirable, as is other practical legal and advocacy experience at the national level working for the implementation of international human rights standards and to end and prevent human rights violations; and

- Demonstrated commitment to human rights.

Essential Skills

- Excellent applied knowledge of international human rights and humanitarian law and international and regional human rights jurisprudence essential;

- Political judgment and the proven ability to develop and carry out innovative advocacy and legal work;

-Strong analytical and organisational skills with the ability to excel at the challenge of maintaining and expanding a programme;

- Proven communication skills with significant senior-level media, advocacy and policy experience and working knowledge of international media and national, regional and sub-regional organisations in the Asia-Pacific region;

- Fluency in English with proven legal writing and editing skills. Working knowledge of additional languages from the region an asset;

- Management capacity and the ability to work quickly and efficiently under pressure, in a complex, dynamic and changing work environment, as part of an international multi-cultural team; and

- At ease with fundraising and outreach.

The ICJ is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from the region as well as female candidates.

APPLICATIONS close at 9 am Geneva-time on 6 August 2007 and should be addressed with your resume and the names and contact details of at least two referees to:

Ref: Director, Asia-Pacific Programme.

By email: recruitment@icj.org

Or by post: International Commission of Jurists, P.O. Box 91, 1211 Geneva 8, Switzerland

Please appreciate that due to the volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Short-listed candidates will be contacted by 24 August 2007. No calls please.

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