Front Line Defenders seeks to recruit staff, interns and volunteers in an open and transparent manner. Front Line Defenders is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting cultural diversity within the Front Line Defenders staff. All positions are advertised via this website as well as through other media or networks appropriate to the position being advertised.
Unfortunately, due to the volume of requests we receive, it is not possible to keep general applications or CVs on file. During a recruitment process we do not generally review applications received until after the closing date. Shortlisting can take some time given the volume of applications we receive for some posts.
Front Line Defenders is currently recruiting for the following positions:
Front Line Defenders invites applications for a new Communications & Events Fellowship to support its global work to protect human rights defenders at risk. Reporting to the Head of Communications and Events, the selected candidate will work in close coordination with the Visibility and Communications Coordinator and International Events and Promotions Coordinator. The fellowship will be for nine months and will be based in Front Line Defenders' office in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland (remote working option is not available).
About the team
The purpose of the Communications and Events Team is to provide support to human rights defenders (HRDs) at risk by giving them and their work more visibility – by raising their profile online and in external media as well as by organising events. The team works together with HRDs on publications, developing media capacity and connections, producing communications materials, organising the Front Line Defenders Award and Dublin Platform and providing individual support and advice. The Communications and Events team is also responsible for developing and implementing the multilingual communications strategy for Front Line Defenders, including managing the organisation’s website and social media, research reports and other publications, videos, podcasts and media outreach.
About the role
The Communications and Events Fellowship is designed to provide training and practical work experience in an international non-governmental organisation to recent communications or journalism graduates seeking a career in international human rights. The fellow will support the team on a range of projects linked to the organisation’s communications outreach and coordination of events. In the process they will learn about: human rights defenders; the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders; the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders; the role of Front Line Defenders and other national and international organisations in supporting and protecting HRDs; and how NGOs work with media outlets and use social media to raise awareness and visibility of the risks faced by HRDs. They will interact with a range of colleagues across the organisation and will be expected to participate in induction, periodic reviews, weekly team and case meetings, and relevant out-of-hours events.
Requirements
The successful candidate will have:
- Good oral and excellent written communication skills in English. Computer literacy and good analytical skills.
- A Bachelors’ degree or higher in communications, journalism, international relations or a related field.
- Familiarity with conceptualising and producing narrative-based multimedia content (such as tweets, video, audio, infographics, etc.) for social media communications and campaigning.
- Some background knowledge of the human rights field, international human rights law, and the UN and EU systems.
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
- Flexibility, good interpersonal skills, and good stress management skills. An ability to multitask and prioritise is a must.
The following are also highly desirable and would be an advantage in the role:
- Previous internship and/or work experience in journalism or in a PR/communications role with a human rights or humanitarian organisation.
- Previous experience using a content management system (CMS) and website editing.
- Technical design skills, especially experience working with Canva and the Adobe suite of software.
- Fluency or working knowledge of at least one other language relevant to Front Line Defenders’ work (e.g. Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
Terms of reference
The Communications and Events Fellow will be based in Front Line Defenders’ office in Blackrock for 30 hours per week, and will:
- Provide support to the Visibility and Communications Coordinator, including but not limited to: administrative and substantive tasks around the creation, design, dissemination and monitoring of social media content and multimedia materials (e.g. videos and podcasts).
- Assist with capturing and recording multimedia content at FLD events.
- Provide support to the International Events and Promotions Coordinator, including with the creation and upkeep of guest and supplier lists, tracking visa applications and flights, and drafting of materials for events.
- Upload approved content (Urgent Appeals, Statements, human rights defender profiles, etc.) to the Front Line Defenders website.
- Assist in archiving images related to Front Line Defenders’ field work to protect human rights defenders.
- Assist in drafting and designing, as requested, media materials or content to support Front Line Defenders events.
- Carry out administrative duties as required.
Front Line Defenders is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
In providing protection and support to human rights defenders, Front Line Defenders and its staff, fellows and volunteers are committed to:
- Focus on the primacy and centrality of defenders;
- Demonstrate profound respect and empathy for defenders;
- Meet the needs expressed by the defenders in a fast, flexible and relentless manner;
- Achieve tangible impact;
- Act with independence, impartiality and integrity;
- Perform with dedication, professionalism and accountability;
- Show transparency and openness;
- Develop participative and cooperative relations.
Front Line Defenders is able to provide a stipend of €1651 per month for the fellowship. This is a Dublin-based role based in the Front Line Defenders office for the duration of the fellowship.
If this sounds like the role for you please apply by submitting your CV and cover letter via the ''Apply now'' button. Applications should be addressed to Conor Fortune, Head of Communications and Events.
The deadline for sending applications is 29 November 2024. Interviews will be held in person in Front Line Defenders’ office in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, and the Communications & Events Fellowship is expected to start in December 2024.
Front Line Defenders is recruiting a Digital Protection Coordinator for Francophone Africa.
Front Line Defenders (FLD) is working to expand its capacity to support Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and Human Rights Organisations (HROs) in managing risks associated with the use of digital information and communications. We offer direct on the ground support to HRDs/HROs with the help of a team of Digital Protection Coordinators and Consultants (DPC). FLD is headquarted in Ireland but we are seeking to hire a candidate for a staff role who is based in the francophone Africa region (fAfrica), to deliver direct digital protection support to HRDs/HROs at risk in fAfrica.
Team Purpose: Holistic support, mentorship and protection for the members of the digital protection team in their work according to their roles purpose.
The primary purpose of this role is improving protection of digital communication and information storage, and digital identity protection to increase the state of protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) and human rights organisations (HROs) at risk.
Essential Knowledge and Skills:
- Minimum 3 years experience in digital protection support.
- Minimum 1 year of experience of working with HRD/HRO in the respective region.
- Provided digital protection support and training for individual, group and organisations.
- IT problem solving in all major operating system (Windows, Mac, Android and iOS).
- Participation in national and international IT conferences.
The primary purpose of this role is improving protection of digital communication and information storage, and digital identity protection to increase the state of protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) and human rights organisations (HROs) at risk.
Desirable:
- Active and trusted member of the human rights community.
- IT systems administrator, IT support experience.
- Creating websites and programming.
- Servers administration experience.Linux operating systems administration experience.
- Holistic security in context of digital protection experience, support, training, etc.
Other requirements:
- be based in the region DPC work in
- be able to travel in the region
Full role profile available at: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/sites/default/files/jd.dpc_.francoafr...
Remuneration and Benefits:
Salary: €37,430 - €42,776 per annum (Points 1 – 4 of Grade 6)
The role holder is responsible for complying with relevant tax and other legal requirements in their country of residence.
26 days of annual leave per year, pension scheme, healthcare contributions, life insurance, income protection scheme, employee assistance programme, employee well-being initiatives.
Selection and Appointment:
- To apply, candidates need to submit a copy of their application - CV and cover letter – written in English via the ‘Apply now’ button;
- Cover letters should be addressed to Roberto Soriano, Digital Protection Manager
- Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend for interview;
- It is anticipated interviews will be held during the first week of December 2024
- The appointment is expected to be effective from January 2025;
- Closing date; midnight (local Irish time) on 30 November 2024 as per FLD vacancies page: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/recruitment-volunteering
East Asia Protection Coordinator
Front Line Defenders annually recruits for two positions that are part of the organisation's commitment to strengthening international mechanisms supporting human rights defenders:
Internship at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (Banjul)
The purpose of the Internship is to support the work of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR). It is a 12 month position based in Banjul. Candidates should be able to work in English and French. Front Line Defenders will prioritise candidates who have experience as a human rights defender in Africa.
Frank Jennings Fellowship (Dublin & Geneva)
The Frank Jennings Fellowship was set up to give an opportunity for dedicated and talented individuals to gain experience working for the protection of human rights defenders in an international NGO and at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It is named after Front Line Defenders former Head of Research who died after a long illness in 2005. Frank made a huge contribution to the development of human rights activism in Ireland and candidates who have some experience of human rights work in Ireland will be given priority.
The Frank Jennings Fellow spends three months at Front Line Defenders where he/she will be trained in relation to Human Rights Defenders; the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders; the Mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur; the procedures and methodology of the mandate; the role of Front Line Defenders and other national and international organisations in the support and protection of Human Rights Defenders. The Fellow will then move to Geneva for a period six months before returning to Front Line Defenders for a further three months.
Volunteering at Front Line Defenders
We greatly appreciate the valuable contribution of volunteers who support the work of Front Line Defenders.
The best way to get involved is to help Front Line Defenders raise awareness about the risks faced by human rights defenders around the world and to help raise much needed funds to increase their security and protection.
When human rights defenders visit Ireland on rest & respite, it is important to provide a network of support to them. This community of support includes volunteers interested in accompanying the human rights defender sightseeing, to music and cultural activities, sharing about Irish history and current affairs or other hobbies/activities that may be of interest. Language support is especially useful to visiting human rights defenders. The working languages of Front Line Defenders are English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian but sometimes we also need support with other languages.
If specific additional volunteering opportunities arise, they will be posted here.
