Executive Director

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is recruiting an Executive Director.  The deadline for applications is 8 February 2013.

The recruitment material is available for download as a PDF, and also accessible via the links below.

• Letter from Chris Marsden, Chair of the Board
• Terms for the Executive Director position
• Overview of the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
• Job description
• Person specification
• How to apply
• Resource Centre mission, vision and values

Letter from Chris Marsden, Chair of the Board

An exciting opportunity has arisen to lead the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre.  Christopher Avery, who founded the Centre in 2002, will be retiring after eleven years at its helm.

The board and staff are extremely grateful to Chris for his vision, leadership and dedication.  Under his direction the Resource Centre has become a leading international human rights organization with researchers based in all regions.  As “Branded!” author Michael Conroy has said, “The Resource Centre has become the single most effective enforcer of human rights practices by corporations.”  The Resource Centre’s work has been pioneering, not only in its focus on the private sector’s human rights impacts, but also the model it uses.  It brings the voices of victims and civil society groups wherever they are to an influential global audience, seeks responses from companies to allegations, and highlights positive steps as well as abuses by business.  It has a large and loyal following among people in all sectors.

The new Director will join the Resource Centre at an important time.  The need for its work has never been greater.  Corporate impacts are on the rise in all regions, and there is increasing recognition of the human rights responsibilities of business.  The scope of its work is also expanding.  The Centre, with researchers currently based in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Middle East, plans to grow further outside of its London-based headquarters and New York office.  It intends to develop its use of digital technology, making greater use of social and mobile platforms.  And it will expand its work in key areas, among them: corporate legal accountability; business and children; freedom of association; business, conflict and peace; and United Nations activities on business and human rights.

We are looking for a committed and experienced human rights advocate, and an outstanding leader and manager.  The new director will inspire and drive the future development of the Resource Centre, while maintaining the reputation of fairness that is crucial to its success.  Working alongside the international staff and the UK and US-based board, he or she will lead its strategic direction and day-to-day operations, and ensure its financial sustainability.  Further information about the role and the process for applying is available below.  Whether you are a potential applicant or someone who will help us to find the right person, we are grateful for your support in this important process.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher Marsden
Chair of the Board, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

UK board: Chris Marsden (Chair); Ulf Karlberg (Co-Chair); Sumi Dhanarajan; Peter Frankental; Menno Kamminga; Hanna Roberts; Amahl Smith

US board: Ulf Karlberg (Chair); Christine Bader; Heather Grady; Kirsty Jenkinson; Chris Jochnick; Chris Marsden; Ed McKinley; Tanya Peterson; Mila Rosenthal; Ashwini Sukthankar; Anne Travers

Terms for the Executive Director position

Vacancy: Executive Director, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Based in: London, overseeing global staff Reports to: Board Salary: £70,000; 10% pension contribution
Candidates from all regions are encouraged to apply, visa assistance provided

Overview of the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

This is an exciting opportunity to direct the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre.   Never before has the private sector’s influence over people’s lives been so great. 
The Resource Centre has helped define the growing field of corporate accountability and build an international movement of individuals and organizations working for the cause.  It has put companies in all regions on notice that their human rights conduct is being watched: abuses they may be involved in and positive steps they are taking.  It is widely respected for being fair, constructive, and truly global in its perspective; a Financial Times article about its work is headlined, “A Fair Approach to Human Rights.” 

The Resource Centre covers the full range of human rights impacts by business – from environmental pollution to labour rights in the supply chain; from indigenous people’s rights to the right to health.  With a team of 23 now based in 11 countries across all regions of the world, the Resource Centre is in an excellent position to expand its innovative work strengthening transparency, accountability and guidance.

Transparency: The Resource Centre monitors the human rights conduct (positive and negative) of over 5000 companies globally.  It gathers reports from a wide range of sources – ranging from grassroots groups to international organizations – and channels them to a large and influential audience.  It supports the work of local groups in all regions by getting their concerns heard by people who will take action on them.

“An essential guide to the world's companies and their records on human rights.”
Guardian

“No debate can move forward, no positive change can be made, without facts.  The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is the only website to provide such a broad range of balanced information on business and human rights.” Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and President of Ireland; Chair of the Resource Centre’s International Advisory Network

Public accountability: The Resource Centre strengthens public accountability and ensures balanced coverage by seeking responses from companies to allegations of misconduct.  These companies may be well-known multinationals, or small firms being asked to go on the record about a human rights issue for the first time.  It has invited over 1000 companies to respond to concerns, and three quarters have done so.  The Resource Centre also has an information hub on corporate legal accountability for human rights.

"The Resource Centre provides a high-impact dissemination channel for civil society groups around the world, an excellent news source, and an important forum for dialogue because it solicits responses from companies.”
Lisa Misol, Human Rights Watch

“You really have the ear of the companies and play a terrific role in all this.  It’s an enormous step forward.”
Charlie Kernaghan and Barbara Briggs, Institute for Global Labor and Human Rights

Guidance: The Resource Centre provides access to tools, guidance and the most comprehensive database on the subject for everyone working in this field.  It aims to ensure widespread participation in international debates on business and human rights.  It highlights good practice by companies, so that others can follow suit.  

“Without your site to offer a taxonomy of the issues, and organize the materials, companies simply will not move along the learning curve from confusion to action.  I cannot tell you how many times I have met with business folks whose eyes light up when I alert them to your site.”  Elliot Schrage, currently Vice President at Facebook, then Fellow on Business and Foreign Policy at Council on Foreign Relations

Job description

Lead a global staff to work towards the Resource Centre’s vision: “that all companies respect human rights in everything they do”.   

Lead the strategic direction of the Resource Centre and the implementation of its strategic plan (2013-18).  Constantly evaluate the Resource Centre's progress against its strategic goals and identify and lead changes when necessary in order to achieve them.

Ensure the financial sustainability of the organization.

Assume overall responsibility for fundraising, proposals and reports to donors, and maintaining close and effective contact with current and prospective donors (government, institutional and individual) – working with the Resource Centre’s development staff.

Supervise financial matters, including income projections and expenditure budget (currently at £1 million and growing at just over 20% per year).

Ensure the quality, accuracy, breadth and balance of the Resource Centre’s research, information-gathering and publications. 

Maintain high standards in attention to detail, professionalism and fairness, upon which the Resource Centre’s reputation depends.

Continue to strengthen the Resource Centre’s research methods including desktop research, building and maintaining broad networks of contacts who alert staff to material, and regional missions.

Develop the Resource Centre’s publications, including its Weekly Update e-newsletter, its “On the Horizon” bulletin, its regional briefings, its thematic bulletins and its press releases.

Lead the Resource Centre’s communications and outreach.

Develop and manage the Resource Centre’s communication to its diverse constituents, including human rights and environmental activists, companies, governments, investors, regulators, journalists, consumers, and its International Advisory Network and Academic Partners.

Engage effectively with UN mechanisms in their work on business and human rights.

Represent the Resource Centre at selected conferences and events.

Ensure innovative and effective use of rapidly developing digital media, ranging from the website itself to social and mobile platforms, to maximise the Resource Centre’s impact.

Effectively lead and manage the Resource Centre’s dedicated and experienced team.  There are currently 23 people working for the Resource Centre, increasing to 27 in early 2013.

Supervise and line-manage senior staff and ensure regular staff assessments are taking place.

Contribute to staff members’ professional development through assistance in achieving their long-term goals.

Supervise recruitment and training of new staff and contractors.

Work closely with the UK and US boards to leverage board expertise and resources, maintaining high standards of governance.

Sustain and strengthen the Resource Centre’s culture of respect, passion, quality, balance and accuracy.  Maintain its truly global perspective.

Person specification

Applicants must be able to demonstrate the following credentials:

• Passionate commitment to and knowledge of human rights, including work within organizations working on human rights-related issues.  
• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of the Resource Centre (see below).
• Significant high-level experience in non-profit management, including supervision of senior staff.
• Strong non-profit fundraising skills and an ability to generate new revenue from a variety of funding sources.
• Experience in financial management and a thorough understanding of budgets.
• An outstanding communicator, with excellent writing and public speaking skills, able to represent the organization to a wide range of constituents and to reach new and influential audiences.
• Track record of working effectively in a complex and contentious multi-stakeholder environment.
• A team-worker as well as leader: with an ability to motivate staff, harness expertise and commitment of Board members, and forge productive relationships with other organizations and experts in the field.
• A collaborative, supportive mindset, recognizing that the Resource Centre’s role is to amplify others’ voices, and experience in dealing with people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds in a sensitive and understanding manner.
• High standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism.
• Willingness to travel.
• No activities or membership/affiliation with organizations in conflict with the aims and objectives of the Resource Centre or which may jeopardise its image, impartiality and independence.

We prefer but do not require the following characteristics:

• Experience in using the internet and new media for human rights outreach.
• Knowledge of / experience working on the intersection of the private sector and human rights.
• Language proficiency beyond English.

How to apply

Please send a cover letter and a CV/résumé before the end of 8 February 2013 to EDrecruitment@business-humanrights.org with “Executive Director application” in the subject line. 
The cover letter is part of your application.  It should describe any special qualifications you may have which address criteria in the person specification.  It should also summarise your views about the Resource Centre’s role, potential challenges and opportunities.  
Please also provide the names, positions, organizations and telephone contact numbers of three referees who are familiar with your work, one of whom should be your current/most recent employer.  Indicate if you do not wish us to contact a referee without seeking your permission first.
We will contact candidates who have been shortlisted by 8 March 2013.

Note: Please do not contact us if you are a recruitment agency.  We are managing this recruitment process independently, and we will not accept unsolicited applications via third parties.

Resource Centre mission, vision and values

Our vision

• That all companies respect human rights in everything they do.

Our mission

To encourage companies to respect human rights and avoid harm to people.  We do this by:

• pursuing, collecting and disseminating to a global audience information about company conduct – positive and negative;
• getting companies to address concerns about their conduct, drawing attention to their response or failure to respond; and 
• providing the global one-stop information hub for news, resources and guidance tools on business & human rights.

Our values

1)     human rights framework

• we focus on the full range of human rights: based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant international standards
  

2)     focus on facts & victims

3)     ahead of the curve

• we draw attention to emerging issues and debates, in addition to more established subjects

4)     beyond the headlines

• we draw attention to under-the-radar cases, issues and countries, and forgotten victims, in addition to those already in the public eye
  

5)     global presence

• we base our regional researchers across the world, enabling close contact with local NGOs, companies, journalists & victims
  

6)     fairness & impartiality

• we give companies the opportunity to respond to allegations, and post both sides of the debate
• we provide recognition to firms taking positive steps; public accountability for misconduct
• we are independent of any company, government, political ideology, economic interest or religion.
  

7)     speed

• we seek to get information out quickly to those who need it
• we move particularly quickly when there is a risk of continuing abuses
  

8)     communicating globally

• we communicate our information in a multiplicity of ways and languages, to make information as accessible as possible and to reach diverse audiences
• using all platforms including website, Weekly Updates, social media, press releases

9)     outward-focused, aim of assisting others

• we highlight the work, concerns & initiatives of others
• we provide information and tools others need in their work & decision-making -- including NGOs, companies, governments, UN, journalists, academics, consumers, investors & procurement officers
  

10)  financial independence

• we do not accept donations from companies, company foundations, or senior executives at major corporations, in order to ensure independence and avoid any possible perception of conflict of interest 

Moreinfo:  http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/ExecutiveDirectorRecruitment