Who We Are

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is a global membership-based feminist peacebuilding organisation that works to create a world of permanent peace built on feminist foundations of freedom, justice, nonviolence, human rights, and equality for all. WILPF is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) with National Sections in over 40 countries, an International Secretariat based in Geneva, and a New York office. Since our establishment in 1915, we have brought together feminist activists from around the world who are united in working for peace by non-violent means and promoting political, economic and social justice for all. 

WILPF’s vision is reflected and embedded in our Constitution, our 2015 Manifesto, and WILPF International Programme (2022–2025), which guides the work, values, and actions of the key bodies of the organisation, including the International Secretariat (IS). 

Main Responsibilities

Advance WILPF’s Human Rights Work 

• Lead the design and implementation of WILPF’s advocacy with UN human rights mechanisms in Geneva. 
• Oversee and implement human rights advocacy activities, including research reports, advocacy submissions and statements to UN human rights mechanisms, in collaboration with the other HRP members and other relevant WILPF teams. 
• Contribute to crisis response work, advising on advocacy opportunities within the UN human rights system and reviewing WILPF statements and policy documents. 
• Support the programme’s human rights-based approach to WILPF’s thematic areas, such as disarmament, Women, Peace and Security, feminist political economy, and environment, through policy papers, reports, and statements. 
• Identify strategic advocacy entry points within the UN human rights system to enhance the implementation of international law obligations and policy commitments relevant to WILPF’s priorities. 
• Collaborate across WILPF IS, coordinating with and updating other IS teams on relevant human rights developments, participating in Communication Coordination meetings, Membership meetings, and other working groups. 
• Represent WILPF externally at meetings of the Human Rights Council, treaty monitoring bodies, and other UN human rights mechanisms; engage in advocacy with diplomats and UN experts in Geneva. 
• Manage WILPF’s accreditation process for participation in the Human Rights Council, ensuring compliance with ECOSOC status requirements. 
• Establish relationships with NGOs to foster collective action on WILPF’s advocacy priorities, representing WILPF in relevant coalitions. 
• Contribute to knowledge-sharing on human rights within and outside WILPF, including talks, presentations, and reviewing materials. 

Support to WILPF’s Sections, Groups and Partners 

• Provide strategic advice to WILPF Sections, Groups, and partners enabling timely, safe and effective use of human rights advocacy opportunities in their work.  
• Collaborate with WILPF’s MENA Advocacy Coordinator in Geneva to provide strategy advice to WILPF partners in the MENA region wishing to engage with UN human rights advocacy .   
• Lead or contribute to organising advocacy missions to Geneva by WILPF Sections and Groups, as well as partners as relevant.  This includes, but is not limited to, setting up meetings and private briefings with state representatives and UN actors.   
• Provide technical support to country-based and thematic desk research, or carry out research as needed, for the drafting of WILPF Sections and Groups’ documents for human rights advocacy and contribute to training activities carried out by the HRP.  

Human Rights Programme Management 

• Lead recruitment, coaching, and mentoring of HRP staff, interns, and consultants, fostering empathy and building strong relationships within the team and across the IS. 
• Support the team’s growth by providing guidance, mentorship, and feedback, and help manage workloads effectively. 
• Coordinate HRP’s implementation of the International Programme (IP), including the development of annual workplans and strategies aligned with the IP. 
• Contribute to WILPF fundraising, including drafting proposals, reporting to donors, and participating in the Fundraising Working Group. 
• Support the review of the International Programme and its Implementation Plan. 
• Oversee and contribute to Monitoring, Evaluation Learning (MEL) processes, including attending MEL meetings and submitting reports. 
• Manage HRP’s budget and grants, ensuring accurate reporting and compliance with contractual commitments. 
• Lead or coordinate small grants to WILPF Sections and Groups, assessing narrative and financial reports. 
• Ensure administrative compliance, supporting the Finance Team with accurate documentation and recordkeeping, and provide logistical support as needed. 
• As necessary, carry out administrative and organisational support, such as but not limited to event planning and logistical preparation; travel logistics, and/or data management. 

Interdependencies and Reporting

The HRP Director reports to the  Secretary General and provides guidance and mentoring to two permanent HRP staff (HRP Senior Advisor and HRP Associate) as well as to HRP’s interns or consultants, as relevant.  The HRP Director works closely with the Secretary General, Director of Global Programmes, and other IS program staff across functions and programmes. The HRP Director maintains key relationships with WILPF national Sections and Groups; WILPF partners; diplomats; academics; UN experts and/or UN staff in Geneva. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies

• A keen interest and commitment to WILPF’s values and mission, with a demonstrated commitment to human rights, feminist values and intersectional feminism.
• Demonstrated understanding of diverse forms and realities of feminist movement organising locally and globally, especially in a diverse membership-based and volunteer-based organisations.
• Excellent practical knowledge of international human rights frameworks and mechanisms, especially the UN Human Rights Council, the treaty monitoring bodies, the Universal Periodic Review, and UN Special Procedures.
• Knowledge and experience of advocacy work at the intersection of human rights, gender issues, and the Women, Peace and Security agenda is desirable.
• Experience in designing and implementing training for local activists is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate, mentor, and supervise staff and consultants.
• Substantial advocacy experience and demonstrated ability to think strategically and identify new advocacy opportunities to further organisational priorities.
• Excellent active listening and interpersonal skills, with the ability to form and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multicultural environment, across locations, with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Sound political judgment, integrity and professional discretion, with a demonstrated capacity to network and build strategic alliances internationally with feminist or other civil society organisations and/or other external stakeholder groups, diplomats, and UN staff.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise work, take initiative, and quickly pivot based on fluid programmatic contexts.
• Excellent analytical, research and writing skills. Ability to critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise a large amount of information from different sources with attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, project management, MEL processes, writing donor proposals, reports, and managing grant requirements.
• Demonstrated experience maintaining a creative, yet practical and efficient, problem-solving approach.  Willingness to learn, remain open minded, and flexible.
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in French or Spanish is required; fluency in both is a plus. Knowledge of other languages is a plus.

Qualifications and Experience

• A graduate-level degree in gender studies, human rights, international law, international relations, or a related field is preferred.
• A minimum of ten years of relevant work experience, of which at least seven are in advocacy with UN human rights mechanisms, ideally with a focus on gender, non-discrimination, and/or peace and security issues.

Compensation

WILPF will provide the Human Rights Programme Director with compensation commensurate with experience. The annual gross salary range for this position is 85,000 – 98,000 CHF.  

This is a full-time position but an 80% contract may be considered.  

This is a one-year contract pending renewal of funding. 

Start Date

June 2025 preferred.  

Location

This position is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Only candidates from Switzerland, from an EU/EFTA country, or candidates already having a valid Swiss working permit will be considered as we  are not able to obtain a work permit for non-EU/EFTA candidates at this time. The candidate will be expected to work from the WILPF Geneva office, with telework options available on an ad hoc basis.  

Application Submission

Please send the following application package to jobs@wilpf.org with “Human Rights Programme Director” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until 27 April 2025. Please submit in English in Word or PDF format only:  

• Your CV  
• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages) explaining: 
  • how you meet the requirements of the role, why you want to work for WILPF, and how you would further WILPF’s human rights work.   
  • a short explanation of how you have the right to work in Geneva. 
  • what language(s) you speak and write, including the level(s) of fluency.   
  • years of work experience on human rights and gender issues.  
• An unedited writing sample, accurately representing your international human rights law analysis and writing skills. 

Please note that any incomplete applications will not be considered. WILPF thanks all applicants for your interest; however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.  

WILPF is an Equal Opportunity Employer

As an equal opportunity employer, WILPF welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, ethnic or social origin, disability, religion, or belief. During the different stages of the recruitment process, specific measures may be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities.