Business and Human Rights Specialist (Geneva)

About the role

The UNDP's Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights Team runs the global B+HR initiative, which supports governments, businesses and civil society in respecting human rights in business. The Business and Human Rights Specialist works under the direct supervision of the Global Policy Adviser on BHR, coordinates with the Senior BHR Specialist and supports Regional and Country Office B+HR Focal Points with technical and capacity-building work. The post is advertised under a tiered application process.

Key responsibilities

• Advise on and support donor-funded global, regional and Country Office projects, with emphasis on the 'Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking' initiative, and prepare global events and seminars in Geneva.
• Coordinate UNDP's participation in the UN Annual Forum on BHR and help draft project concept notes and proposals for resource mobilization.
• Help scale up the initiative: coordinate the resource mobilization strategy, promote UNDP's position as a practice setter, and develop new thematic offers and strategies.
• Contribute knowledge products on human rights due diligence, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, modern slavery and the Universal Periodic Review, and peer review internal outputs.
• Coordinate the team work plan and budget, support Country Offices with private sector due diligence and Development Service Agreements, and lead ROAR reporting.

Required profile

• Master's degree in Law, Human Rights, Corporate Responsibility, International Relations, Political Science, Development or a related field, or a bachelor's degree plus two years of qualifying experience.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience (5 years with a master's, 7 with a bachelor's) in human rights and/or BHR, including 5 years with intergovernmental organizations.
• Experience in human rights due diligence, especially in the context of the triple planetary crisis.
• Experience drafting project concept notes and documents, and in resource mobilization and global project management.
• Fluent English; knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Required skills

• Previous experience in global project management, quality assurance, MNEL, partnerships, visibility and reporting.
• Preferred: experience applying the UNGPs to the financial sector, with UNDP or other UN Agencies, and expertise in communications for development/human rights.