WORKING IN HUMAN RIGHTS?

 

Human rights professionals work in many area including state and local governments, non-governmental agencies, charities, academia and law. There is a huge variety of roles, including research, public relations, investigation, and administration. Whatever role you are interested in and whatever your qualifications, getting into Human Rights work is highly competitive.

Get the relevant training and experience you will need to prepare or propel your career as a human rights professional!  

 


 

TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN HUMAN RIGHTS 
 

OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS MANAGER | CITY OD CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
 

To view full job announcement please click here
 

The City of Charlottesville is seeking a dynamic leader who is deeply committed to protecting people from discrimination, to lead its Office of Human Rights. In May of 2013, the Charlottesville City Council established a Human Rights Ordinance that prohibits discrimination within the City. The ordinance established an Office of Human Rights, along with an appointed commission. The Office and Commission work closely to eradicate discrimination by focusing on the following four areas: community dialogue; training and education; addressing issues of systemic discrimination; and investigation of individual complaints and issuance of findings. The Office of Human Rights is engaged in a wide variety of outreach efforts aimed at educating the public about the Office, the Commission, and the Human Rights Ordinance. Other outreach activities included partnering with public and private groups -- including direct service agencies and the faith community -- and sponsoring community events focused on human rights issues. Additionally, the Dialogue on Race arm of the Office facilitates community dialogues on issues of race, including giving multiple presentations of its well-received "Racial and Ethnic History of Charlottesville." These efforts will continue in the future and expand to include dialogues around issues of institutional racism, privilege, and micro-aggressions. The Office currently has a total of two full-time employees, with a total operating budget of $238,438. For more information about the Office of Human Rights, including the Charlottesville Human Rights Ordinance, visit www.charlottesville.gov/665/Human-Rights.

The City of Charlottesville is underway with a paradigm shift in the way that it provides services to its diverse population. Recent retirements, natural attrition and newly created positions of several key leadership posts have positioned the City to be able to make a major organizational culture change in serving our community and meeting the contemporary needs of our governmental staff. The City of Charlottesville is currently recruiting leaders to fill these positions.
 

The Office of Human Rights Manager will work at an advanced professional and managerial level in planning, organizing, and coordinating the Human Rights Program within the City Manager's Office. Work includes providing staff support for the Human Rights Commission; coordinating and on occasion conducting investigations into allegations of discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, handicap, or age as prohibited by local ordinance in the areas of private sector employment for employers employing 6 to 14 employees, private education, credit and public accommodations. Assigns and evaluates the work of office staff; provides technical guidance and training. Negotiates with respondents, complainants and their representatives; speaks to various civic, faith and private business groups; and performs special projects as assigned. Primarily and most frequently the work is performed independently, with diverse functional areas and more specialization and ability to train others. This position reports to the City Manager with day-to-day operational oversight provided by the Deputy City Manager.
 

The salary will be between $73,474.02 and $80,953.00 annually, dependent on education and experience. The City offers an excellent benefits program, including the option for participation in a Defined Benefits or Defined Contribution Retirement Plan. To be considered, an application must be filled out online at www.charlottesville.gov/jobs prior to the closing date of April 2, 2021 at 5pm EST. Please include with your online application a cover letter, resume, salary history, and at least 5 professional references. 

Essential Responsibilities and Duties

  • Administers and coordinates activities of the Human Rights program.

  • Coordinates, assigns, and evaluates the work of office staff.

  • Develops partnerships that identify and address issues of discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex religion, national origin, marital status.

  • Receives and reviews initial complaints; conducts intake conferences.

  • Investigates allegations of discrimination.

  • Supervises subordinate personnel.

  • Primarily and most frequently the work is performed independently, with diverse functional areas and more specialization and ability to train others.

  • Directs and coordinates efforts to investigate, mediate, and reconcile complaints.

  • Develops and disseminates human rights literature.

  • Provides staff support for the Human Rights Commission:

    • Responds to Human Rights Commission and community inquiries regarding issues, policies, and complaints.

    • Helps to conceptualize, develop, and carry our research projects for the Commission.

    • Provides preliminary data and research for Commission to evaluate feasibility and strategy of possible projects.

    • Works with Commission to develop a strategy when moving forward with a given issue.

  • Administers and implements programs including discrimination prevention, education, voluntary compliance and outreach efforts to citizens, and community and business groups.

  • Recommends amendments and additions to the Charlottesville Human Rights Ordinance.

  • Prepares reports, correspondence and memoranda.

  • Coordinates, assigns, and evaluates the work of office staff.

  • Assigns and reviews investigations performed by office staff.

  • Interprets policy/procedures, and provides technical assistance and guidance to staff and volunteers; recommends alternative solutions to difficult negotiations.

  • Trains staff on new or revised policies and procedures.

  • Prepares and manages the Office's annual budget.

  • Researches and designs program evaluation criteria and methods; collects and reports performance measures for the Human Rights Office's programs.

  • Performs related tasks as required.
     

Education, Experience and Skills
Minimum Requirements: 

  • Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college with major work in Public Administration, Personnel Administration, Sociology, Psychology, Law, Law Enforcement or related field.

  • Three years' experience in civil/human rights compliance, education, investigation, or administration.
     

Preferred Qualifications:

  • A Law degree is not required but preference will be given to applicants with work experience, training, and/or education in the legal field.


Skills: Ability to read and comprehend complex legal materials. Ability to interpret policy/procedures, and provides technical assistance and guidance to staff and volunteers; recommends alternative solutions to difficult negotiations. Ability to supervise the work of others. Assigns and reviews investigations performed by staff. Ability to compose and edit reports, proposals, procedures, policies, recommendations, etc. Ability to develop and disseminates human rights literature. Interpersonal skills to resolve complaints, maintain liaison, and speak in public. Ability to negotiate with involved parties and/or their representatives to resolve complaints; recommends further action. Ability to define problems and collect relevant information to recommend policy solutions. Ability to interpret policy/procedures, and provides technical assistance and guidance to staff and volunteers; recommends alternative solutions to difficult negotiations. Thorough knowledge of federal guidelines and regulations pertaining to human rights issues.
 
Physical Conditions & Work Contacts
Standard work environment.
 

To be considered, an application must be filled out online at www.charlottesville.gov/jobs prior to the closing date of April 2, 2021 at 5pm EST. Please include with your online application a cover letter, resume, salary history, and at least 5 professional references.  

Agency: 
City of Charlottesville

Address:
P. O. Box 911
605 East Main Street
Charlottesville, Virginia, 22902

Phone: (434) 970-3490
Website: http://www.charlottesville.gov/jobs

 

Posted March 4, 2021

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