We are in an expansion phase, which has opened up many exciting job opportunities. Do you have experience in working for human rights in Latin America? Do you want to use your project management skills to support human rights organizations in Latin America? Do you want to contribute to the security and capacity of human rights defenders? Do you want to be part of a global organization with staff and partners from all over the world. Then you might be the one we are looking for.

About the role

As Programme Officer you will be responsible for building and managing projects at the Latin America department. The position will mainly focus on our work in Central America and Venezuela and have a key role in the implementation of varios projects aiming at improving the security, capacity and impact of human rights defenders. The work is conducted together with various international organisations and aims at having a substantially positive impact on human rights defenders.
The Programme Officer will:

• Manage the Civil Rights Defenders work by writing strategies, organize activities, deliver grants and report results to the organisation as well as to donors
• Be responsible for short and long term planning of the project according to the outcomes and indicators, and take core decisions together with senior staff of the Latin America department.
• Initiate advocacy campaigns or activities that enhance the security of human rights defenders in the region, collaborating closely with senior staff at the Latin America Department to ensure effective implementation.
• Share your experiences, expertise, and information with colleagues in the Latin America Department and other departments at Civil Rights Defenders, while also incorporating insights and best practices from other departments within the organization.
• Contribute to the continuous fundraising work of the Latin America department.

Work tasks (day to day), example:

• Organize trainings and other activities that increase security, capacity and impact of human rights defenders in Latin America.
• Take innovative initiatives that can improve security for human rights defenders at immediate risk.
• Review grant applications from human rights organisations and propose decisions on weather funds should be approved.
• Write draft articles, statements or other materials to the Civil Rights Defenders' advocacy work.
• Contribute with advanced analysis on the security situation for human rights defenders and propose actions to mitigate risks.
• Coordinate activities, reports, applications and other initiatives with partners.
• Participate in long term strategic planning of the work of the Latin America department.

About you

As a person, you prefer to collaborate, lead, motivate, and empower others to reach common goals effectively. You see the long-term significance and further consequences of things and act accordingly. Furthermore, you like to engage in teamwork and contribute constructively, and through clear communication, you ensure that messages are reached and that expectations are clear to all parties involved.

We assume that you share our values.
To be suitable for this role you have:

• Master's degree in Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, Education, Political Science, Law, International Relations, Psychology or similar;
• Five years of working with human rights and/or civil society in Latin America.
• Advanced experience from human rights work together with civil society organisations in Colombia.
• Expertise in the human rights situation in Latin America.
• Experience in working together with people under stress.
• High administrative skills when it comes to project management.
• Skilled trainer of groups and presenter in front of audiences.
• Knows project design and strategic planning.
• Has the capacity to work seamlessly in English and Spanish.

It is a merit if you have:

• Expertise in tools to improve wellbeing and reduce stress
• Expertise in international Human Rights Mechanisms;
• Experience in registering and reporting human rights violations
• Strong network in the human rights world of Latin America;
• Expertise in digital and physical security.

About the employment

This is a nine months temporary employment, that will transform into a permanent position depending on funding. As an organisation, we strive for diversity, and we see your background, experience and personality as a contribution to the organisation. You will be based in Bogotá, Colombia, and you will have a Colombian employee contract.
Please apply as soon as possible as we recruit on an ongoing basis, but no later than 8 of December 2024.
If you have any questions on the recruitment process, please contact CRD legal representative in Bogota, Maria Pia Alvira at pia.alvira@crd.org

About us

Civil Rights Defenders is a politically and religiously independent international human rights organisation. We defend people’s civil and political rights in some of the world’s most repressive regions. We partner with and support human rights defenders in more than 300 organisations in 50 countries on four continents. Together with our partners, we hold those in power accountable when people’s civil or political rights are violated. We also act as Sweden’s civil rights watchdog.
Civil Rights Defenders has around 100 staff members working in various functions towards our vision - a world of democratic societies in which we all enjoy our civil and political rights. Our headquarters is located in Stockholm, and we have eight branch offices around the world. Learn more about our work at crd.org.