Labour Rights Researcher

BHRRC - Business & Human Rights Resource Center

Multiple Countries

About the Position

The successful candidate will join our high performing Labour Rights Team, to conduct research on labour rights in global supply chains and produce high-quality written research outputs. The Labour Rights Researcher will support efforts to promote decent work, living wages and fairer purchasing practices, as well as to counter more egregious forms of labour rights abuse such as forced labour, as we seek to advance accountability of leading companies for the human rights impacts of their business practices in supply chains. All work will be done in active collaboration with trade unions, labour and women’s organisations, particularly in the Global South, as well as the Resource Centre’s regional teams, and will involve engagement with companies, investors, and policy makers.

The successful candidate will undertake research to keep the labour rights coverage on our website up-to-date, seek responses from companies to human rights allegations, and support strategic research and analysis on labour rights issues and business models to tackle structural causes of injustice and inequality, and enhance workers’ conditions in supply chains.

As Labour Rights Researcher, you will have excellent communication and analysis skills, a strong understanding of and personal commitment to working on labour rights issues, and a track-record of working with networks and building close relationships. You will be able to work both autonomously and collaboratively. You will have an astute analysis of the structural causes of human rights abuses linked to companies and supply chains; be propositional in what needs to change; and have the strategic nous to help make that change happen. Experience of working on apparel supply chains, on forced labour, and/or in the context of workers and the climate emergency/just transition is highly desirable, as is experience working on corporate accountability strategies.

Responsibilities

The Labour Rights Researcher will have a particular focus on the apparel sector, but work will also encompass labour rights work in other sectors. Responsibilities will include: 

Conduct research and media monitoring:  research and monitor labour rights developments by collecting and analysing information from a range of sources, including NGOs, unions, local and international media, companies, government and others; identify trends and thematic research priorities, gather data and conduct data analysis on the drivers for labour abuse, especially in the apparel industry, and emerging practice from by workers’ organisations and leading companies to address abuse, respect rights, and empower workers.
Engage constructively with companies, investors, and policy makers: take up allegations of abuse with company HQs, conduct follow-up outreach for remedy and build relationships to enhance human rights due diligence; engage with policy makers to propose business regulation and incentives that promote workers’ rights and end forced labour and human trafficking.
Build transparency and accountability: work with Resource Centre regional researchers and external partners to strategically identify allegations of labour abuse for deeper-dive investigations and coordinated advocacy for greater impact.
Lead and manage digital platforms: Manage labour rights company dashboards and indicators to promote labour rights.
Outreach: Sustain our active network of contacts on labour rights globally, including trade unions, civil society organisations (local, national & regional), companies & business associations, investors, media, universities and governments.
Contribute to organisational and labour rights strategies:  Build strategies for own areas of responsibility and support the Senior Labour Rights Researcher to implement our labour rights strategy across all our programmes and regions. Present research and labour rights strategies internally and externally as appropriate.
Develop high quality written materials: Write compelling content for our website and outreach, including research outputs, case summaries, blog posts, briefing notes and papers, and articles to be submitted to relevant media outlets.
Travel: There may be occasional international travel for information gathering, communications and/or representation.

Essential skills and experience

Labour rights commitment and expertise: Strong, demonstrable commitment and expertise in labour rights, economic justice or human rights. At least four years’ experience in project delivery, policy research, campaigning or advocacy in this area. A clear understanding, vision, and strategic insight on human rights in business and the global economy. Global South experience is an advantage.
Research & analytical skills:  Proven experience in conceiving of and conducting high quality research and analysis on business and human rights and labour rights. Adept at undertaking systematic data collection to a high level of detail and accuracy, alongside experience in using a range of research methodologies, developing and implementing field and desk-based research plans, and experience of working with statistical and quantitative techniques an asset. A track record of integrating a gender and racial justice lens to research projects is highly desirable and candidates should be able to to synthesize research and policy for effective communication to a broad range of audiences.
Partnership and coalition building: Commitment to, and at least four years’ experience in working with diverse international partners and building coalitions with shared objectives and targeted outcomes. This will range from strategic alliances with workers’ organisations from the Global South to tactical collaborations with allies in the human rights and labour movement.
Strategic thinking: A strong understanding of labour rights and economic justice in a global context is essential.  The ability to grasp, analyse, summarise, and present complex information coherently to external audiences is required. Demonstrated experience thinking critically about impact required.
Values: Strong, demonstrated commitment to labour rights and human rights. Shares the values and ethos of the Resource Centre.
Team player:  Experience of working in high performing multi-cultural and international teams, playing a leadership role working with colleagues to deliver high impact programs. Experience with remote, inter-disciplinary, and culturally diverse teams.
Organisation and initiative: Able to work efficiently and methodically to support achievement of deliverables; strong prioritization skills; self-motivated and comfortable working independently within agreed framework while maintaining communication with a global team in different time zones and geographies.
Communication Skills: Excellent English language skills. Strong speaking skills and experience representing organisations to external audiences. Powerful writing skills and ability to synthesise research and data for effective communication.

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