Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Researcher and Representative

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is seeking a Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Researcher and Representative to join our team.

• Location: Mexico (must already have work authorization)
• Salary: GBP 17,100-19,200 per year (commensurate with experience)
• Contract type: 3 days per week, contractor status
• Closing date: 18 September 2022 at 23:59:59

About the organization

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre works to put human rights at the core of companies’ business models; to empower communities and workers to secure their rights and gain accountability for abuse; and to encourage governments to create the right regulation and incentives to facilitate these outcomes. We are a global organization that is rooted in 20 countries and committed to cooperation with diverse actors in our movement. We have nearly 70 members of our Global Team based around the world who work with a rich network of human rights advocates in eight languages. Our work covers the full gamut of human rights in business, with three priority issues: labour rights; responsible use of natural resources; and technology and human rights.

Our three primary global approaches to deliver this vision are:

• Empower human rights advocates in civil society, business, and governments to stimulate bold leadership for human rights in business;
• Strengthen corporate accountability, due diligence, and effective remedy for abuse;
• Build transparency of the advances, challenges, and abuse of human rights in business.

We generate and share information that is relevant, reliable and up to date, and we work with advocates around the world to use this information to drive positive change that puts human rights at the heart of the business. The Resource Centre’s global coverage and regionally embedded team are a principal source of our expertise, influence, and credibility.

Responsibilities

1. Online research & input/categorisation: Identify news reports, NGO/civil society/trade union statements and reports, company statements and reports, and other materials (on the internet, or from contacts in the countries covered) that should be linked to from the Resource Centre website – about business & human rights issues in the region. For each item, enter data onto an input form, identify relevant subject categories, and compose a brief abstract.
2. Developing contacts and representing the organization: Build contacts, in Latin America, with a broad range of people working on relevant issues in NGOs/civil society/trade unions, companies & business organizations, media, development agencies, investment firms, universities, governments, etc. Introduce the Resource Centre and the website; invite contacts to send information & reports that could be added to the website or Weekly Update. Distribute relevant Resource Centre bulletins and briefings to contacts. Represent the Resource Centre at meetings & conferences. Update contacts database for the countries covered.
3. Company responses: Invite companies to respond to concerns raised by civil society about their conduct, so that the allegations and their responses can be included on our website and in our Weekly Updates, sent to over 17,000 people worldwide.
4. Spreading the word about the Resource Centre: Help inform individuals & organizations in the countries covered about the Resource Centre and its Weekly Updates. Increase sign-ups for Weekly Updates and traffic to our website.
5. Research missions: Prepare and undertake missions to particular localities in order to:

• gain a clearer picture of the business & human rights situation on the ground;
• build contacts with local NGOs, to better understand their concerns and to explain how the Resource Centre can draw global attention to their concerns; and
• build contacts with local business representatives, to introduce the Resource Centre and to encourage them to send information about their positive initiatives that promote human rights.

1. Briefing Papers and Notes: Prepare one or more briefing papers/notes about business & human rights issues in the region, and contribute to others as may be agreed.
2. Thematic projects: Assist with organization-wide projects such as those relating to Resource Centre portals.
3. Fund-raising: Assist with fund-raising and reporting back to donors, particularly in relation to Latin America.
4. Administration: Be self-servicing in terms of administrative tasks, e.g. financial record-keeping, filing, ordering supplies, general correspondence, printing & distribution of materials, taking notes in meetings.

Person specification

• Values: Strong, demonstrated commitment to human rights. Shares values and ethos of the Resource Centre.
• Experience: 3-5 years’ work in the field of social responsibility, labour rights, development, environment or social justice – preferably on Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
• Research & analytical skills: Able to search and identify relevant information online; persistent in seeking out difficult-to-find information; creative in identifying new sources of information.
• Representation skills: Able to represent the organization in the region, including at meetings, conferences, and on regional missions.
• Outreach and networking: Able to foster productive, professional relationships with a broad range of contacts, including advocates, company representatives, and government officials.
• Languages: Fluent Spanish, and strong English skills (reading, writing, speaking)
• Communications: Strong writing skills, including succinct writing for the website and other external facing
• Teamwork: Able to operate effectively and constructively as part of a global team, and ensure smooth communication despite geographical distances between team members.
• Self-initiative and motivation: Able to use own initiative and work independently within agreed framework; motivated by achieving results and completing tasks.
• Organization and prioritization: Strong organizational and prioritization skills, enabling efficient and effective work.

Terms and conditions

Note that this is a part-time consultancy position. Payment will be made on the researcher’s presentation of a monthly invoice showing the number of hours worked. The researcher will be responsible for paying from the fees his/her own taxes, health insurance, pension, etc, and those costs are taken into account in calculating the fees. The Resource Centre will reimburse necessary work-related expenses such as for travel.

3 days (21 hours) per week. The hours worked are flexible, provided that there are effective communications with team members in other regions, and that the hours are spread reasonably throughout a week.

Reports to: Americas Regional Manager, based in Mexico.

The consultant will have the freedom to organize paid days off from doing consulting work for the Resource Centre, in an amount expected to be 14.4 days during the year (100.8 hours) – i.e. equivalent to 24 days per year for full-time work. The consultant will not be expected to work on public holidays of Mexico.

Work location: Mexico (home-based)

Applicants must already have the right to work in Mexico

The consultancy contract will be a twelve-month contract, which can be extended by mutual agreement.