Membership And Program Facilitator | Escr-Net

Job Title: Membership and Program Facilitator  
Reports to: Membership and Solidarity Coordinator       
FLSA Status: Full-time, exempt
Prepared Date: 10 September 2015

 
The International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) is the largest network of groups and individuals from around the world working to secure economic and social justice through human rights with over 270 members in 70 countries.  ESCR-Net seeks to strengthen the field of all human rights, with a special focus on economic, social and cultural rights, and further develop the tools for achieving their promotion, protection and fulfillment. By facilitating joint actions, enhancing communications and building solidarity between members, the network seeks to build a global movement to make human rights and social justice a reality for all. The collective work of ESCR-Net members is supported by a secretariat staff, with a primary office in New York City.
 
POSITION SUMMARY:
For an initial 18-month contract, ESCR-Net seeks a full-time membership and program facilitator who is bilingual in Arabic and English and ideally fluent in French, knowledgeable about and strongly connected to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and experienced in human rights advocacy, to:

Support outreach and communication in the MENA region,
Reinforce the capacity of human rights organizations in the region to engage internationally and cross-regionally, and
Facilitate connections between human rights organizations in the region and ESCR-Net’s members in other regions, primarily via the Network’s multiple thematic working groups and campaigns.

 
This position will be central to ESCR-Net’s efforts to:

Build the membership and leadership of organizations from the MENA region, supporting cross-regional dialogue and solidarity and working towards shared analysis and advocacy of common global issues,
Ensure increasingly robust access in the region to information related to ESCR, including key updates from the field, and resources in Arabic on corporate accountability, economic policy and women’s rights, among other issues, and
Facilitate cross-regional learning and the participation of MENA organizations in international strategy meetings and advocacy spaces.

 
Ideally based in the MENA region, this position will work closely with membership, communications and program staff members of the Secretariat and in ongoing conversation with organizations in the region and ESCR-Net’s thematic working groups and campaigns.
 
The Membership and Program Facilitator is an exempt position. Exempt employees are expected to work the appropriate and necessary time in order to complete key assignments and related tasks on schedule.
 
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Conduct a mapping of key ESCR issues and organizations in the region,
Initiate outreach to human rights organizations, and support the active participation of existing ECR-Net members in the MENA region in the Network’s activities,
Coordinate, and ensure the quality of, translation of relevant ESCR-Net resources to Arabic,
Develop, within the Network’s communications strategy, Arabic language content for ESCR-Net’s online presence in MENA, foremost via an Arabic version of ESCR-Net’s website and social media,
Review translations, publications and other documents in Arabic,
Liaise with ESCR-Net’s thematic working groups, foremost facilitating international engagement in relation to corporate accountability, women and ESCR, economic policy and monitoring, as well as the Campaign for the Optional Protocol for the OP-ICESCR, and
Facilitate small regional meetings focused on one or more key ESCR themes emerging from the initial mapping of relevance for existing areas of collective work in the Network.
Represent ESCR-Net in targeted regional meetings and conferences,
Support the provision of interpreting services into Arabic for select international events coordinated by ESCR-Net,
Maintain updated contact records obtained via regional outreach activities in ESCR-Net’s central contacts management database, and
Undertake other duties, as required.
EITHER a graduate degree in the social sciences, law, international affairs or another field relevant to human rights, plus a minimum of two year of work experience in a field relevant to human rights or social justice, OR a bachelor’s degree in the social sciences, law, international affairs or another field relevant to human rights, plus a minimum of three years of experience in a relevant field of human rights or social justice,
Experience working cross-regionally and/or internationally, ideally including the utilization of various human rights mechanisms,
Experience with policy analysis or campaigning and/or access to resource persons in the MENA region able to identify opportunities for human rights advocacy
A demonstrated track-record of public speaking, representing  organizations, institutions or projects externally  or collaborating with members of the media, and
Experience developing or maintaining websites and databases and managing social media.

 
 
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
 
 
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
 
 
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Written and spoken fluency in Arabic and English, as well as proficiency in French,
Strong political, economic and historical knowledge of the MENA region,
Solid knowledge of the human rights framework, including ESCR, and demonstrated ability to apply international standards to particular cases,
Effective political judgment and existing relationships in the human rights and social justice community,
Strong interpersonal skills,
The ability to work in a team from a remote location, and
Working knowledge of MS office, web editing and social media.

 
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
The Membership and Program Facilitator will report to the Membership and Solidarity Coordinator and will coordinate extensively with ESCR-Net’s Communications Coordinator as well as program coordinators in the Network’s secretariat. The Membership and Program Facilitator will work with other ESCR-Net members and allies in the MENA region and beyond and will sustain periodic interaction with UN, government or company officials, diplomatic missions and, at times, members of the Arabic media, among others.
 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The Secretariat is comprised of staff based in the central New York office as well as several smaller overseas offices, who sustain regular communication with one another and share a cooperative and focused environment.  This position will involve extended computer and desk use on a daily basis. The role will also require travel throughout the MENA region, as well as an extended orientation in NYC and periodic travel to other regions.
 
COMPENSATION:
The membership and program facilitator is a full-time, exempt position with benefits.  Pay is commensurate with experience and comparable to similar NGOs.  This position will ideally be based in the MENA region.
 
TO APPLY:
Please send a resume, references and cover letter to ESCR-Net: [email protected], using ‘Membership and Program Facilitator’ in the subject line of the email.  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
  Please note only short-listed candidates will be contacted.  Thank you for your understanding during this process.
 
ESCR-Net, a project of Tides Center, is an “at-will” and equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.  Applicants and employees shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender (including pregnancy and gender expression) identity, color, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance.  Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified applicants with disabilities may participate in the application process.  Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.