Chief Custody Officer-Physicians for Human Rights

Department: (Outside Oxfam)

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) mobilizes health professionals to advance health, dignity, and justice and promote the right to health for all. As one of the original steering committee members of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, PHR shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize

PHR seeks a highly qualified, senior-level leader to head its Custody Program.

Under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Custody Officer (CCO) sets priorities, develops strategic plans and implements research and advocacy to advance PHR’s Custody programs including the Campaign Against Torture, an initiative to end illegal US interrogation policies; the Asylum Network, a consortium of health professionals that provides medical evaluations for asylum seekers and conducts advocacy to end US asylum and detention policies that violate human rights; and the Istanbul Protocol Implementation Project that continues PHR groundbreaking monitoring and documentation of torture internationally. S/he oversees strategies to monitor the role of health professionals and adherence to medical ethics principles in custodial settings. She/he oversees the development and implementation of rigorous research and strong advocacy campaigns, the publication of reliable, comprehensive, insightful and timely reports and the use of those reports and other advocacy material to best defend and advance promotion and protection of human rights in detention centers and prisons and the efforts to hold perpetrators accountable. S/he provides strategic leadership on campaign materials, participates in developing media strategies and policy objectives, including meetings with UN bodies and individual governments, US policymakers and international institutions and representatives of health professional associations. The CCO supports efforts to raise funds, identify and recruit donors and draft funding proposals.

Key Responsibilities include:

Develop, implement and manage dynamic and innovative goals, strategies, and plans for PHR’s Custody program.
Keep abreast of issues in international humanitarian law and anti-torture statutes, as well as Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency policies that affect detainees and detainee health; Department of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services policies that affect asylum seekers, medical ethics, prison conditions and advise PHR on best ways to utilize its skills and leadership globally on relevant issues related to custody and torture.
Commission and supervise rigorous evidence-based research related to Custody.
Write and produce reports and informative briefings and other materials for the program.
Develop funding strategies, cultivate funder/donor relationships.
Represent PHR at related commissions, agencies and committees.
Monitor, evaluate and analyze trends and policy issues relevant to governmental leadership on torture, asylum and detention issues; design and implement strategies to achieve policy objectives.
Develop and conduct advocacy in the United States and with international institutions or foreign governments.
Develop media and online strategies to advance PHR’s work on custody; serve as media spokesperson, conducting interviews and writing opinion pieces.
Meet with key PHR members and stakeholders to further educate and engage PHR’s constituency on Custody issues; form key partnerships with individuals and organizations in both the public and private sector to enhance the implementation of programmatic strategies and tactics; identify opportunities for strategic alliances to further the objectives of the Custody program, with a specific emphasis on major medical associations.
Recruit, train and manage a diverse and high-quality staff that is well prepared to meet the ongoing challenges of a fast-moving organization; ensure seamless coordination of Custody staff with project team members reporting to other staff; foster environment that rewards new ideas and risk-taking, builds confidence, encourages teamwork, and promotes diversity; celebrate current achievements and set clear expectations for future success.
Work with senior management to create and manage program-wide annual budget.
Coordinate and collaborate with other directors, departments and programs.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is a self-motivated, creative, strategic thinker with substantial senior-level experience managing staff and working on violations of international humanitarian law and their impact on health. Advanced degree in international health, law, public health or medicine is preferred.
Knowledge of international humanitarian law and human rights.
Excellent manager and leader.
Experience in the conception, design, and management of strategies, initiatives, campaigns and programs related to motivating government responses to protection of detainees and asylees and a robust policy that is anti-torture.
Experience working with the legislative and administrative processes and structures in the US, regional bodies and the United Nations.
Experience working collaboratively within the community of non-governmental human rights organizations addressing custody issues.
Research design and implementation, including qualitative and population-based methods desirable, familiarity with collecting testimonies from survivors of torture.
Experience working in custodial settings, such as prisons, detention centers, or survivor rehabilitation centers.
Excellent oral and written communications skills in English, keen political judgment, proven initiative and follow-through, the ability to work quickly and well under pressure.
Experiencing managing program budgets.
Ability to be flexible, efficient and work well in a demanding, fast-paced, diverse professional environment, juggle multiple tasks and work collegially.
Commitment to human rights.
Languages and ability to travel internationally desired. Second language (French, or Arabic) a plus.

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter, resume, writing samples and names of three professional references to resumes@phrusa.org, or mail to Resume Coordinator, Physicians for Human Rights, 2 Arrow Street, Suite 301, Cambridge, MA 02138. For more information about PHR, please visit our website www.physiciansforhumanrights.org. No calls please.

Physicians for Human Rights is an equal opportunity employer

Please see our How to Apply page for application information. Oxfam America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.