Deputy Director at Amnesty International

Job Purpose

• Supports the Director in the establishment and management of the office and strategic allocation of resources
• Contributes to the implementation of the operational plans for the Nigeria National Office
• Assists in the management of staff and financial resources and ensures integrated working of a multi-functional office
• Ensures the application of AI standards of work in areas of responsibility, including on research strategy and methodology, campaigning activities, publications and the media
• Represents AI, in the field and elsewhere, including with government officials and to the media.
• Contributes to the management of the International Secretariat and deputizes for the Director

AI Purpose:

• The International Secretariat, which operates from a number of sites around the world, gathers and communicates accurate and action-oriented human rights information globally.
• We campaign for meaningful human rights change; enable effective human rights activism and work to persuade governments and other actors to uphold universal human rights standards. 
• We provide strategic leadership, support and advice to the Amnesty International movement globally, fostering Amnesty International’s contribution, presence and public accountability throughout the world.

Working Relationships:
Reporting to: Amnesty International Nigeria Director.

Posts that this job manages: 

• Researchers, volunteers and/or consultants as appropriate

Other key relationships:

• The Deputy Director will support and deputize where required for the Director who represents Amnesty International in Nigeria to the public, government and business leaders, IGOs, media, current and potential donors, partner NGOs and CBOs, and rights-holders and promotes strategic collaboration and partnerships with relevant stakeholders.

Members of the AI Nigeria office work in close collaboration with:

• Africa Regional Advisory Group
• Africa Research and Advocacy Director
• Africa Regional Office Director
• Africa Section Directors

Main Responsibilities
Management and communications:

• Support the Director in their establishment of an organizational vision for AI Nigeria that is aligned with AI’s Strategic Goals and which inspires and motivates internal and external stakeholders
• Use political judgment and expertise to advise and support the Director and broader management group on AI’s substantive human rights work in the country, including emerging issues, trends and crisis situations
• Manage staff and other resources to ensure their most effective use, in line with agreed priorities and policies.
• Promote an organizational culture of integration across programmes and manage the effective integration of relevant staff from the International Secretariat and other offices
• Support the Director in AI external engagements, including to media and government officials on field missions, and in contacts with NGOs, IGOs, and academic and policy research institutes; developing and communicating messages aimed at influencing the appropriate audience
• Support the Director in building and maintaining effective working relationships with the West Africa Regional Office and the wider global International Secretariat in order to identify and exploit opportunities for co-operation, information-sharing and problem solving
• Deputize as agreed, for the Director

Research and advocacy management and strategic oversight:

• Manage the development and implementation of human rights research and advocacy action plans on Nigeria, in line with globally agreed priorities and strategies
• Lead and/or manage field work in order to ensure that political, strategic, technical and security concerns are reviewed and adequately mitigated
• Provides sustained and embedded support to all AI Nigeria researchers through mentoring, training and facilitating trainings on AI’s research standards, embedding transfer of skills, knowledge and networks. Monitors the implementation of these standards and adopts strategies for achieving adherence where gaps are identified.
• Ensure integration of research and action in order to provide an effective, coherent programme of work which delivers tangible outcomes for human rights in conformity with AI’s mission and consistent with its priorities, strategies and standards

Quality Assurance and Reporting:

• Responsible for the quality of research and advocacy outputs, working closely with originators to ensure that   research strategy is sound and focused, key methodology, legal and policy issues are addressed, and that the  evidence, analysis and conclusions make a compelling case for change
• Ensure compliance with globally developed quality assurance and impact assessment methodologies to ensure that activities meet the organizational standards of timeliness, accuracy, consistency, balance, independence and impartiality
• Ensure the identification and sharing of best practice models and timely reporting against key performance indicators of the entity that measure human rights impact in Nigeria
• Ensure that the team report with sufficient clarity and detail on the impact of their work, including to funders
• Ensure the timely delivery of agreed plans
• Ensure all outputs go through appropriate research, law and policy review

Finance and risk management:

• Work closely with the Office and Finance Manager in setting, monitoring, managing and reporting on budget and expenditure for the work undertaken by their team
• Manage risk assessments and oversee the implementation of security procedures for their teams undertaking missions and travel and other instances of high risk
• This is not an exhaustive list of duties.  The need for flexibility is required and the post holder is expected to carry out any other related duties, as part of their responsibility for the collective management of Amnesty International Nigeria, that are within the employee’s skills and capabilities whenever reasonably instructed

Skills and Experience
Knowledge and experience:

• Demonstrated knowledge and direct experience of the human rights and political context in Nigeria and an expertise in international human rights legal framework, and relevant regional and national legal frameworks
• In-depth experience of human rights research for advocacy purposes: conducting research using a range of appropriate methodologies, analysing and presenting findings, identifying advocacy targets, and applying research-based analysis to campaigning for human rights change
• Knowledge and experience of field security issues and the ability to manage them appropriately, ideally gained through work in conflict or other high risk situations
• Ability to represent AI in difficult and high-profile environments
• Ability to develop strategies and plans and review them and adapt them as required, exercising and promoting creative thinking
• Experience in leading start-up of operation and building a successful office, ideally of a civil society organization

Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to understand and align strategic thinking with operational delivery
• Able to identify opportunities and threats and to recommend appropriate mitigating action; ability to make appropriate recommendations in relation to an organization’s interests and priorities
• Excellent political judgement
• Understands and has demonstrated managerial level responsibility
• Demonstrated willingness to be accountable and to receive and give performance related feedback
• Ability to lead and manage staff and financial resources including setting, managing and monitoring plans and budgets for their team
• Experience of working under pressure, managing conflicting demands, meeting deadlines and adjusting priorities
• Written and verbal fluency in English must be demonstrated at interview and through publications or other written materials
• Able to work in a manner that is consistent with the organisation’s core behaviours and competencies

Personal style and attributes:

• Ability to direct and collaborate with others to achieve results
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with a broad range of people across the movement and externally to establish support and garner engagement
• Ability to design and implement effective systems for tracking schedules, work plans, and priorities for top level management
• Takes ownership of own responsibilities, honours commitments, supports staff, provides direction while taking responsibility for delegated assignments
• Challenges and confronts conflict, brokering solutions in order to achieve goals
• Uses new approaches, theory and technologies to develop innovative service solutions
• Ability to engage and influence, utilizing a challenging but respectful approach

How you Work - Competencies:

• The IS Behavior Framework focuses on how we work rather than what our job is designed to do.  It articulates the behaviors that are expected from a group of professionals who are working effectively together.

Competency:

• Delivering results
• Working with others
• Developing oneself and others
• Contributing to a dynamic and effective International Secretariat
• Making decisions
• Taking the initiative
• Communicating and influencing

Equality Statement:

• Equality and diversity is at the core of our values and staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

Conflict Interest:

• Public or other activity, affiliation to or support for any group or organization, personal association or other factor which may generate a real or perceived conflict of interest with Amnesty International’s principles (specifically independence and impartiality), or raise a security concern, or otherwise prevent the candidate from carrying out key functions of the specific post and would therefore disqualify the candidate from being appointed.

Salary
Competitive