03/11/2021
Do you want to transform our economic system? Are you inspired by fighting inequalities and promoting human rights?
The Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) is seeking a dynamic Program Associate to help fulfil the goals of its 2020-2023 Strategy: Envisioning a Rights-Based Economy. The strategy aims to achieve the following objectives:
1. Increasing alignment around a vision for a rights-based economy in agendas for economic transformation and for a just transition
2. Expanding the toolkit of methods shared among the human rights, economic justice, and environmental justice communities
3. Strengthening the ability of human rights and fiscal justice coalitions to influence how fiscal policymakers act on their human rights obligations
The Program Associate will provide research and advocacy support across several CESR projects, with a particular focus on embedding human rights into agendas for economic transformation at the national and global levels, and strengthening our collaborative work around assessing rights fulfillment.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Director of Program, and working closely with Program Officers leading on particular projects, the specific responsibilities of the Program Associate include:
Research and policy
• Conducting rigorous research to identify and document trends and patterns in relevant policy areas and how they relate to socio-economic rights enjoyment, and inequalities within and between countries;
• Working with the project team – and CESR partners – to adapt, refine and improve CESR’s tools for rights-based analysis of economic policy;
Advocacy and external relationships
• Designing and executing collaborative advocacy strategies to highlight the negative impacts of existing economic/social policies and economic systems, and hold powerful actors (e.g. governments and international financial institutions) accountable for their roles in human rights violations and systemic inequalities within and between countries;
• Maintaining and expanding CESR’s network of allies and partners; building strategic, trusting and mutually strengthening relationships, particularly with actors in the global economic justice and/or environmental justice community;
• Undertaking skill-sharing activities with allies and potential allies in civil society (in a variety of countries) relating to the application of human rights in economic debates, and in monitoring the human rights impacts of economic policies;
Communications
• Drafting articles, blog posts and reports to disseminate CESR’s findings, tools and key messages to target audiences;
Project management
• Leading on specific activities within the relevant project teams, and contributing to monitoring, learning and evaluation efforts to assess and guide their progress;
• Contributing to the reporting of project activities to relevant funders.
• Assist with other day-to-day project management needs, as deemed necessary.
Person specification
• At least 3 years of increasingly responsible professional experience working on human rights, economic justice and/or environmental justice issues (at least two of three);
• Solid research experience, ideally in more than one discipline, and some familiarity with quantitative research methods;
• Ability to apply research findings to construct powerful arguments and advocacy strategies;
• Experience engaging in advocacy on human rights, economic or environmental issues with governments and/or multilateral institutions such as the UN, OECD, IMF, World Bank;
• Experience working in civil society / social movement coalitions and excellent skills at building and maintaining respectful, trusting, dynamic collaborations;
• Familiarity with human rights standards and frameworks is essential, and an understanding of how they relate to economic systems and policies;
• Excellent writing skills, including ability to summarize complex information (including quantitative data and statistical information) in powerful, concise forms;
• Team player, clear communicator and ability to juggle several different projects;
• Commitment to the values of CESR, to equity and inclusion in the workplace and in the wider world;
• Candidates from the Global South are particularly encouraged to apply. Experience of work in Africa is especially desirable.
Qualifications
• Postgraduate qualification in economics, law, political science, development, human rights or similar field;
• Fluency in English is required; working knowledge of other languages is an advantage.
Time Frame
This is a fixed-term contract for one year, ideally beginning in the second quarter of 2021. However, there is a strong likelihood of renewal after the 1-year period is over, depending on funding.
Location
The CESR office is currently based in New York City, USA, with several staff based remotely in different regions. The program associate will work remotely with regular consultation with their supervisor and other staff. Location is flexible, as long as some overlap of working hours with the rest of the team can be ensured.
Compensation
The salary range is USD 52-58,000 per annum for applicants based in New York. If the successful applicant is based elsewhere, the salary will be adjusted to ensure it is fair and comparable, accounting for relative cost of living.
How to apply:
To apply, please fill in this form. When prompted, please also upload a CV and an original writing sample.
The deadline is 4 April 2021 (11:59pm ET), although earlier applications are encouraged. Because of the anticipated volume of applications, we regret that we are unable to answer individual queries in relation to posts or on the progress of individual applications.
CESR is an equal opportunity employer committed to equality and non-discrimination in the workplace and in its hiring practices. It actively seeks to strengthen the diversity of backgrounds and approaches in its staff team. Candidates from the Global South and under-represented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.