Jobs Vacancies and Employment at Kenya National Commission on Human Rights

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rightsn is inviting applications for the following positions in its various programmes:

Principal Human Rights Officer (Public Education and Training Department)

Ref: HR/PET/10/01

Location: Head Office, with occasional field travel

Duration: Five years contract (renewable)

Key duties and responsibilities

* Providing leadership in the Public Education and Training Department
* Mainstreaming human rights education and training in all Commission’s programmes/projects
* Designing and implementing human rights education and capacity building strategies and programmes for policy makers, law enforcements offices, media, judicial officers etc.
* Developing training manuals for various target groups
* Designing and delivering various training modules for stakeholders
* Designing and implementing strategies for entrenchment of human rights into formal curricula of learning institutions and law enforcement.
* Training of Human Rights networks, including at community level
* Entrenching Human Rights into various training curricula and government policies
* Developing strategies for mainstreaming human rights into government and civil society programmes
* Quality assurance of all the programme outputs and preparation of all programme reports, ensure adequate flow of information and present the department in various commission meetings
* Training and Public Education on Human rights issues
* Managing and supervising programme staff and convening periodic meetings of the programme

Skills, Experience & Academic Qualifications

* Masters Degree in a relevant Social Science field
* Good understanding of human rights and human rights based approaches to programming
* Eight years experience in human rights/social justice work, Public Education experience with at least three years at a supervisory level

Principal Human Rights Officer (Redress Department)

Ref: HR/RED/10/02

Location: Head Office, with occasional field travel

Duration: Five years contract (renewable)

Key Duties and Responsibilities

* Head of the Redress/Legal Services Department.
* Scrutinize, analyze and advise on all petitions referred to the Redress Department for the possibility of legal resolution or other forms of redress.
* Utilize Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) mechanisms for redress of human rights violations.
* Undertake and coordinate identified Public Interest litigation on human rights matters.
* Undertake and/or supervise all of the Commission’s legal requirements, including interpretation of constitutional, legislative and human rights instruments.
* Undertake legal research, drafting and advice on redress options.
* Prepare legal opinions and advice as and when required.
* Draft and/or coordinate preparation of all contracts for the supply of goods and services.
* Maintain and manage a database of external lawyers for the commission.
* Represent the Commission in legal suits and/or supervise the same with external lawyers.
* Undertake and/or coordinate the Commission’s Public Inquiries on identified human rights matters. Draft, develop and implement the strategic work plan for the Redress/Legal Services Department in conjunction with the other programmes of the Commission.
* Quality assurance of all the programme outputs and preparation of all programme reports, ensure adequate flow of information and present the department in various commission meetings.
* Manage and supervise programme staff and convening periodic meetings of the programme.

Skills, Experience & Academic Qualifications

* Masters Degree in Law, preferably with a concentration in International Human Rights Law.
* An Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a current practising certificate.
* Eight years post-admission experience in litigation and human rights/social justice work, with at least three years at a supervisory level in a busy firm or organisation.
* Demonstrable knowledge of and exposure to international, regional and national human rights instruments and jurisprudence including approaches and techniques to address violations.
* Experience in strategic litigation and conducting of public inquiries.
* Working knowledge of Kiswahili highly desirable.

Investigator/ Senior Human Rights Officer
Ref: HR/COM/10/03

Location: Head Office with frequent travels to the regions

Duration: Five years contract (renewable)

Key duties and responsibilities:

* Undertake human rights preliminary and further investigations on violations reported and initiated by the Commission.
* Interview complainants and record comprehensive statements for follow up in investigations.
* Document and report on the human rights violations in 1 above
* Train Commission Staff on investigation of human rights violations
* Undertake ad hoc human rights investigations and document incident mapping and analyses
* Liaise with the Kenya police and other security agents on various investigations
* Supervise and guide investigations by officers of the Commission.

Skills, Experience & Academic Qualifications

* A Masters degree in Social Sciences from any other relevant field
* Training and knowledge in undertaking and documenting human rights violations.
* Six years’ experience with at least two years at a supervisory level in reputable organisations.
* Relevant working experience in human rights investigations

Investigator /Human Rights Officer
Ref HR/COM/10/04

Location: Head Office with frequent travels to the regions

Duration: Five years contract (renewable)

Key duties and responsibilities:

* Assist in undertaking human rights preliminary and further investigations on all violations reported and/or initiated by the Commission.
* Interview complainants and record comprehensive statements for follow up in investigations.
* Document and report on the human rights violations in 1 above
* Undertake ad hoc human rights investigations and document, incident mapping and analyses
* Liaise with the Kenya police and other security agents on various investigations
* Any other duty that may be assigned by the supervisor.

Skills, Experience & Academic Qualifications

* A degree in Social Sciences from any other relevant field
* Training and knowledge in undertaking and documenting human rights violations.
* Four years experience with at least two years at a supervisory level in reputable organisations.
* Relevant working experience in human rights investigations

In addition to the above qualifications, the suitable candidates for all the above positions should possess the following Skills and Attributes;

* Good understanding on human rights issues
* Very good report writing, facilitation and presentation skills
* Good organizational, analytical and research Skills
* Flexibility and adaptability to different scenarios
* Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines
* Excellent computer skills in all computer packages
* Excellent interpersonal, networking skills and communication skills and ability to work as part of an interprogrammatic team.
* Excellent oral advocacy and communication skills.

KNCHR is an equal opportunity employer which offers a competitive remuneration commensurate to qualifications and experience.

If you possess the above qualities for any of the positions, please send your application clearly indicating the position, and the Ref No on both the letter and envelope, together with a detailed CV, a daytime telephone contact, and names and telephone contacts of three referees to reach us by 26th November 2010 to:

The Commission Secretary,
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
Lenana Road, CVS Plaza, 1st Floor
P. O. Box 74359-00200
Nairobi.

Email: recruitments@knchr.org

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.