About us

We are Britain’s national equality regulator and a United Nations accredited ‘A status’ national human rights institution.

We uphold people’s rights without fear or favour. We use the full force of our legal powers to defend people from unfair or unequal treatment and to challenge breaches of the law. We advise on developing laws and provide guidance, training and support to enable compliance.

We bring people together to create change. We work with employers, governments and a wide range of organisations, to promote understanding of equality and human rights and we support them to make improvements in practice.

Overview of the role and responsibilities

The work of the EHRC affects everyone and is about making Britain fairer. Whether that's fighting for better rights for disabled people, progress on race or gender equality, or ending discrimination at work, we are the leading voice that makes change happen.

We are looking for someone to join our Human Rights Monitoring team as a Senior Associate.  You will get to work on our world-leading Human Rights Tracker, an innovative tool to improve accountability on human rights obligations. You will also manage the delivery of the Commission’s monitoring, reporting and follow-up in relation to one or more specific United Nations (UN) human rights treaties and/or the Universal Periodic Review process, which are divided across the team according to interest and expertise. Finally, you will support the delivery of our Human Rights Monitoring Strategy, a crucial part of our role as a UN-accredited independent National Human Rights Institution. 

An effective Senior Associate in the Human Rights Monitoring team will have in-depth knowledge of human rights gained through relevant applied experience. The role requires the ability to develop and implement strategies to influence Government, Parliament and other decision-makers. You will be able to identify, engage with and work in partnership with a variety of different organisations and senior stakeholders as well as have an ability to analytically examine information and evidence, identify key points and use it to develop policy positions and recommendations. Strong project and contract management skills are also required.

You will need to fulfil this role in a way that is in keeping with our values of fairness, dignity and respect, and display a high degree of flexibility, accountability and initiative.

You will:

• co-ordinate input from colleagues across the Commission to draft evidence-based reports and policy recommendations assessing UK and Welsh Government compliance with international human rights law

• deliver complex projects to implement our Human Rights Monitoring strategy, including overseeing project planning, budget profiling, contract management, and governance processes

• work with colleagues across the Commission to use the UN human rights framework as a means to influence others and achieve the Commission’s strategic goals

• manage relationships with external stakeholders, including those in Government, Parliament, civil society and other UK National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), to inform and implement the Commission’s Human Rights Monitoring Strategy and strategic goals

• support civil society, Government and Parliaments in using international human rights law in their work

The role may include line management responsibilities.

Occasional travel is required, including potentially overseas.

Team Responsibilities

The Human Rights Monitoring team prepares shadow reports for the United Nations (UN) human rights treaty committees assessing the UK's progress towards implementing its international human rights treaty obligations. The team comprises three other Senior Associates who are responsible for submitting evidence to the committees according to their respective reporting cycles, as well as team members supporting cross-cutting work to deliver our Human Rights Monitoring Strategy.

The key responsibilities for the HRM team are to:

• Ensure that equality and human rights issues it identifies as being a matter of concern and requiring action by UK governments are actively promoted on the international stage, and utilise the UN’s ‘endorsement’ of our priorities as additional leverage with UK governments.

• Capitalise on opportunities to engage with UK governments and parliaments to strengthen their understanding of and compliance with the international human rights framework.

• Support civil society to better understand their rights, equip them with the tools they need to assert them, and ensure the Commission takes account of their key human rights concerns in its work.

• Enable meaningful coordination with colleagues across the Commission, ensuring that international human rights law arguments help advance the case for change under each of our Priority Aims.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Knowledge, Skills and Experience required include:

Essential

• In-depth knowledge of human rights gained through applied experience

• Ability to analytically examine information and evidence, identify key points and use it to develop policy positions and recommendations

• The ability to develop and implement strategies to influence Government, Parliament, and other decision-makers

• An awareness of broader context and strategic environment in which the Commission works, as well as the policy context

• Experience of identifying, engaging with and working in partnership with a variety of different organisations and senior stakeholders

• Experience of managing complex projects

• Experience of writing effective briefings and reports ensuring they are technically and legally compliant

Desirable

• knowledge of international decision-making institutions and processes related to human rights and equality

Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a range of benefits including flexible working patterns, 30 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays (full time FTE), access to the Civil Service Pension Scheme and partnership pension schemes, and enhanced parental leave benefits. More information can be found in the candidate pack.

How to apply

If this sounds like the role for you, please review the attached Candidate Pack for more information and submit your application today!

If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Albinson: Principal Human Rights Monitoring- rachel.albinson@equalityhumanrights.com or 0161 829 8100.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is an accredited Disability Confident Leader and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) for candidates with a disability.

Should you wish to apply under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme or request a reasonable adjustment, please indicate this in your application.  

If you require an alternative accessible version of the application form or wish to discuss your application or reasonable adjustment  – please contact us by email at recruitment@equalityhumanrights.com or by telephone on 0161 829 8100.

Diversity in our workforce

At the Commission, we are proud of our respectful workplace that values the contribution of all our staff, whatever their background.  We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open competition, with appointment on merit. We welcome applications from everyone to ensure we achieve a balanced representation in our workforce in all grades.