Campaigner - Eurasia at Amnesty International, London _Deadline:5-Feb-2012

Auto req ID: 606BR
Title: Campaigner - Eurasia
Team: Eurasia
Programme: Europe and Central Asia
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ABOUT THE ROLE:
We are looking for a campaigner to contribute to our campaigning work primarily in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (with a special focus on Belarus) and to help develop strategies and actions to mobilize the organization's worldwide membership to campaign effectively against human rights violations.  With particular focus on torture and ill-treatment, criminal justice system abuses, the death penalty and restrictions on the freedom of expression, you will act as a focal point providing advice and support to our worldwide membership, including devising campaigning strategies and preparing written and other campaigning materials, along with research support.

ABOUT YOU:
Drawing on your track record of successful planning and co-ordination of campaign strategies, you will develop campaigning materials for the membership, and help organize other campaigning events. Joining a supportive and experienced team of researchers and campaigners with a deep knowledge of the region, you will have proven campaigning exposure, first hand working experience or campaign knowledge along with an interest and understanding of human rights and political judgement. Travelling to the region on a regular basis, you will interact with local NGOs, lawyers and activists as well as other parts of Amnesty International. You will also need to have the sensitivity to the cultures and peoples of the region, effective writing and communication skills and an understanding of membership organizations. Excellent spoken and written Russian is essential.

ABOUT US:
Our aim is simple: an end to human rights abuses. Independent, international and influential, we campaign for justice, freedom and truth wherever they’re denied. Already our network of over three million members and supporters is making a difference in 150 countries. And whether we’re applying pressure through powerful research or direct lobbying, mass demonstrations or online campaigning, we’re all inspired by hope for a better world. One where human rights are respected and protected by everyone, everywhere.

This is a part time maternity cover post of up to one year within the Eurasia team. This post will be 2.5 days per week.

Job Summary
JOB PURPOSE:
To develop and implement campaigning strategies, managing and coordinating actions on human rights concerns by using and developing knowledge on specific countries or other geographical and thematic areas, and supporting and liaising with the Amnesty International movement and outside networks to ensure maximum impact.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
Reporting to - Programme Director / Deputy Programme Director Posts that this job manages - This post has no line management responsibility. However, the campaigner participates in the coordination of the work of the team, other participants in campaigning projects, temporary staff and team volunteers.
Other key relationships - The campaigner works in close collaboration with the researcher, the research and campaign assistant and the regional campaign coordinator and, where relevant, other posts in the International Secretariat and in the Amnesty International movement.

Job Description   

1. To contribute to the development of overarching research and campaigning strategies to deliver impact, and to lead on the development and implementation of specific campaigning strategies
2. To support them, managing and coordinating actions on human rights concerns in specific countries and other geographical or thematic areas aimed at effecting change in the human rights situation
3. To support and liaise with Amnesty International membership structures and maintain and develop networks of national and international NGOs and other external partners in the development and implementation of campaigning strategies and plans
4. To write or otherwise devise campaigning and other materials for external and internal use, such as reports, annual report entries, public statements, web features, audio-visual materials and government correspondence
5. To research the most effective ways to campaign on human rights concerns and monitor and conduct evaluations of campaigning strategies and plans
6. To monitor and analyze political and human rights developments and conduct research as appropriate into human rights contexts and individual cases, including by participating in field research and through contact with partners on the ground
7. To communicate Amnesty International’s concerns, positions and key messages to Amnesty International’s membership, civil society organizations and at other forums, including through lobbying at relevant public forums in relation to campaigning priorities; and, in addition, as appropriate, represent Amnesty International in governmental, inter-governmental and various public forums, as well as with the news media and others
8. To contribute to the development of programme-wide strategies and plans for research and campaigning and provide input into internal discussions on the Amnesty International mission, policy, organizational and other issues in order to increase the effectiveness of Amnesty International's work
9. To participate in the coordination of the work of the team and contribute to the overall flexibility of resource use, including through setting priorities, preparing work plans, monitoring their progress and maintaining basic budgets
10. To perform all necessary administrative tasks to ensure effective self-servicing, participate in the recruitment and induction of new staff and consultants and perform other corporate tasks as appropriate.

What does success look like in this job?   

• A successful campaigner will have developed and implemented effective and deliverable campaigning strategies within the overall strategy on the countries or other geographical areas or themes in her/his brief; communicated clear and effective messages to government, media, civil society, national and international NGOs and partners on the ground, having an impact on the human rights issues.
• S/he will have produced, implemented, monitored and evaluated related action plans to set deadlines in conjunction with the researcher and the research and campaign assistant; generated external awareness and activities on the countries and/or themes in her/his brief including by mobilizing and supporting the membership, and expanded networks of influence in relation to key concerns and priority areas in the regional strategy and plans; and written high quality materials for publication and other outputs. S/he will have contributed to the effective functioning of the team, and to the implementation of Amnesty International's mission, upholding Amnesty International's values at all times.

Skills & Experience   

1. Experience of strategic campaigning, including knowledge of the steps required to devise campaigning strategy and awareness of the need for actions and campaigning techniques to be based on strategies and be adapted to effect changes in a given situation;
2. Knowledge of the sub-region in general and a specialist knowledge in relation to specific countries or other geographical areas or thematic issues in your brief;
3. Ability to understand and express ideas in English and, where applicable, other relevant languages in a fluent, clear and concise way, both orally and in writing, and to communicate complex information and institutional positions;
4. Ability to motivate and inspire others towards activism for change, including through creative and dynamic approaches to encourage campaigning in the face of obstacles;
5. Ability to represent Amnesty International in a variety of forums, particularly with civil society and the Amnesty International membership;
6. Experience of working in a team and understanding of the importance of efficient communications for the coordination and effective functioning of teams;
7. Demonstrated commitment to human rights, e.g. through previous work, membership of an organization, involvement in advocacy of human rights, etc.;
8. Experience of managing conflicting demands, meeting deadlines and adjusting priorities;
9. Ability and willingness to undertake personal administrative tasks in accordance with Amnesty International's guidelines on self-servicing;
10. Understanding of equal opportunities, cultural diversity and gender issues as well as a commitment to apply relevant policies.

Terms and Conditions
Salary: Full time salary of £34,032 per annum (pro rata for part time staff)
Hours: 17.5 hours per week
Location: London
Contract duration: Fixed term maternity contract of up to one year in duration
Holidays: Full time staff receive 27 days per annum plus two Amnesty International grace day and statutory and national public holidays.
Office hours: 09.30 - 17.30 or 10.00 - 18.00 by arrangement
Life insurance: Amnesty International provide a Death in Service benefit of 4 x gross salary.
Pension: After six consecutive months of service staff are automatically enrolled in the Amnesty International Superannuation Scheme. This is a defined contribution to which Amnesty International contributes 7.5% of gross salary and will match individual employee contributions up to an additional 3%.
Probation: A six month probation period will be included in the contract for this position.
Relocation: A relocation assistance package will be available for staff members (and their dependents) recruited from over 80km/50 miles from the International Secretariat office in which the post is based.
Work Permit: Should it be possible to obtain a UK work permit for this post? Possibly, depending upon individual eligibility under the Home Office's points based system. Individuals should ascertain their eligibility to work in the UK in this post before applying for a London based job with Amnesty International by using the points based calculator at http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/pointscalculator.
Health and Safety: All staff are required to comply with Amnesty International's policy and rules relating to Health and Safety and its security regulations at work.

Equality Statement
Equality and diversity is at the core of our values and staff, volunteers and interns are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

Conflict of Interest
Public or other activity, affiliation to or support for any group or organization, personal association or other factor which may generate a real or perceived conflict of interest with AI's principles (specifically independence and impartiality), or raise a security concern, or otherwise prevent the candidate from carrying out key functions of the specific post and would therefore disqualify the candidate from being appointed.
External Advert Closing Date: 05-Feb-2012
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