Org. Setting and ReportingThe Office of the Victims' Rights Advocate (OVRA) was created as part of the four-pronged strategy set out in the 2017 report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly on special measures on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse: a new approach (A/71/818). The Office supports the mandate of the Victims' Rights Advocate directed to ensuring that the rights and dignity of victims are at the forefront of all elements of the United Nations system-wide response to sexual exploitation and abuse alleged to be perpetrated by United Nations uniformed or civilian personnel and non-United Nations troops serving under a Security Council mandate. This position is located in the Office of the Victim's Rights Advocate. The incumbent reports to the Victims' Rights Advocate/Assistant Secretary-General. ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the Senior Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Supports the Victims’ Rights Advocate in developing a vision or direction for the work of the Office and creates the conditions for implementing the mandate of the Victims’ Rights Advocate. • Represents the Victims’ Rights Advocate at hight-level meetings and official visits. • Supervises the coordination with appropriate governmental institutions, civil society and national legal and human rights organizations in both host countries and the countries of alleged perpetrators to build networks of support. • Engage directly with relevant parties to address immediate challenges while long range solutions to advance victims’ rights are sought. • Proposes policy directives and plan of action to appropriate United Nations bodies for immediate and long-range solutions to assistance and support to victims. • Designs, develops and implements policy and program changes to address issues, related to victims’ rights. • Formulates the programme of work, budget and medium-term plan of the Office and participates in the overall formulation and approval of the programme of work, and administrative matters concerning the Office. • Prepares reports on the activities of the Office of the Victims’ Rights Advocate. • Develops and maintains relations with officials of governments and advises them on issues and policies related to the rights of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN and related personnel. • Coordinates and oversees projects related to victims’ rights. • Manages, coordinates, organizes and supervises other human rights officers or organizational segments as assigned. • Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. • Performs other related duties as required. CompetenciesProfessionalism: Knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues including approaches and techniques to address and advise on highly sensitive and complex problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender and socio-economic dimensions. Knowledge of institutional mandates of human rights organizations, prevailing policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in the region or country of assignment, including the political environment and legal statutes as they pertain to human rights. Ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights problems in specific societies and systems. Ability to relate and advise on human rights issues and perspectives, including their gender equality dimensions, to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes in affected countries and areas. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments;adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently. Judgement/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisionsprior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on othersand on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressedand underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary. Empowering others: Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations, and givesstaff autonomy in important areas of their work. Encourages others to set challenging goals. Holds others accountable for achieving results relatedto their area of responsibility. Genuinely values all staff members' input and expertise. Shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort. Involves others when making decisions that affect them. EducationAn advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science or other disciplines related to human rights. A first-level degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, law, political science, or related area is required. Experience in legal assistance, international human rights law, victims’ protection, victims' rights and criminal justice is required. Experience in managing a team is required. Experience in working with vulnerable groups is desirable. Experience with human rights capacity building is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English and French are required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).