Human Rights and Gender Adviser

**Title**:Human Rights and Gender Adviser

**Location**: Geneva

Department: DFAT

**Classification**: LE5

**Contract**:Permanent

**Full-Time**:37 hours and 30 minutes per week

**Salary**:CHF 105,878.34 per annum. 20 days annual leave, 14 days public holiday. 50% employer contribution to health and accident insurance and to a pension fund.

**About The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade**

The role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is to advance the interests of Australia and Australians internationally. This involves strengthening Australia’s security, enhancing Australia’s prosperity, delivering an effective and high quality overseas aid program and helping Australian travellers and Australians overseas.

The department provides foreign, trade and development policy advice to the Australian Government. DFAT also works with other Australian government agencies to drive coordination of Australia’s pursuit of global, regional and bilateral interests.

**About the Mission**

The Australian Permanent Missions to the United Nations and the World Trade Organization in Geneva pursue Australia’s interests in the United Nations and World Trade Organization through international diplomacy. The Australian Consulate-General in Geneva provides services to Australian citizens in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

**About the position**

Under limited supervision, the Human Rights and Gender Adviser contributes to the delivery of Australia’s human rights objectives in the UN Human Rights Council and is the focal point for gender across the UN and Conference on Disarmament Mission in Geneva.

**The key responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to**:

- Assist in the development of policy advice on human rights and gender
- Contribute to strategic planning on the effective prosecution of Australia’s human rights and gender interests across the multilateral system in Geneva
- Proactively drive the UN and Conference on Disarmament Mission’s gender agenda across multilateral institutions in Geneva
- Develop and maintain effective internal and external relationships and networks which can be leveraged to support Australia’s interests
- Represent the Australia Government with an emphasis on human rights and gender issues, and prepare correspondence and reports on outcomes
- Negotiate complex resolutions on behalf of the Australian Government, particularly relating to human rights and gender, and prepare correspondence and reports on outcomes
- Perform objective and systemic research and analysis, and prepare briefing materials, speeches and statements for use by the UN and Conference on Disarmament Mission, primarily relating to human rights and gender
- Assist with the internship recruitment and onboarding process for the UN and Conference on Disarmament Mission and oversee their performance and workflow
- In liaison with Canberra, oversee Australia’s participation in the Universal Periodic Review process
- Provide administrative support to senior members of the UN delegation
- Assist with the organisation of official visits, including Ministerial visits, and provide support to the official party during visits

**Qualifications/Experience**
- University degree in the field of human rights, politics, international relations, law or a related discipline
- Demonstrated experience/expertise working on human rights and related issues in a multilateral setting
- Knowledge of Australian Government policies and processes an advantage
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English. Working knowledge of French is an advantage
- Well-developed negotiation and advocacy skills, including sound judgement and the capacity to exercise discretion and confidentiality
- High level administrative and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines, be flexible and manage competing priorities with limited direction
- Highly developed interpersonal, representational and networking skills, including the ability to develop strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders

**SELECTION CRITERIA**

Please provide a 600-word pitch in which you address each of the following five selection criteria. Please include succinct, high-level relevant examples that support your claims against the role.

A. A strong understanding of Australia’s current goals and challenges with regards to the UN human rights architecture.

B. Demonstrated knowledge, experience and expertise in gender and LGBTQI+ inclusivity issues with respect to current international debate and negotiations.

C. The ability to build relationships for influence; to understand the interests of diverse stakeholders; and, from these, to build networks of influence that deliver results.

D. The ability to manage a demanding workload; prioritise; and use initiative to create efficiencies, manage expectations and deliver high quality results.

E. The ability to communicate effectively, in undertaking advoc