Job vacancy: Director | Full-time, permanent contract

Two women and a man use their mobile phones to take photos of a dam

©Anastasia Taylor-Lind

About eyeWitness

eyeWitness, an initiative of the International Bar Association, seeks to bring the perpetrators of atrocities to justice by providing legal and technical expertise in building photo and video dossiers that can be authenticated for use in criminal investigations or trials.

eyeWitness achieves its goals by developing close partnerships with organisations on the frontlines documenting human rights violations and other abuses that can amount to core international crimes (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity). By providing these organisations with our technology, capacity strengthening, and legal expertise, we ensure that the images can be authenticated for use in criminal investigations, trials, or other accountability efforts.

eyeWitness is registered in the UK and governed by a Board of Trustees, with additional expertise provided by an Advisory Board. For further information, visit www.eyewitness.global.

Role purpose

The Director oversees all operations of eyeWitness. This intersectional role combines civil society organisation governance, technology product development, fundraising, capacity strengthening of civil society actors, and promotion of legal and non-legal accountability for gross violations of international criminal law and human rights law.

Ours is a diverse team with expertise in human rights investigations, case building, and technology with strong networks in countries where human rights abuses are recent or ongoing. Our work is at the forefront of law and technology. It is varied, multifaceted, and creative but also highly technical. We operate in a flexible, responsive way, constantly liaising with activists and human rights defenders who are often in high-risk locations.

Responsibilities

Lead the strategic development of the organisation to ensure eyeWitness remains at the forefront of digital photo and video investigation and documentation

Conduct budget forecasting and financial monitoring of eyeWitness expenditures

Develop organisational policies and systems to ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and human rights standards for technology development and civil society documentation

Identify and pursue funding opportunities & conduct budget forecasting and financial monitoring of eyeWitness expenditures

Maintain relations with the Trustee and Advisory Boards & build, manage, and develop the 6-person eyeWitness team

Oversee updates to and new developments of the eyeWitness to Atrocities App and the bespoke evidence management database

Liaise with the internal tech lead and external developers on use cases, product specifications, build progress, testing, security reviews, and bug reporting

Determine the direction of in-country programming and partnerships to ensure eyeWitness best supports the needs of human rights defenders

Identify and pursue available accountability options using information collected with the eyeWitness to Atrocities App, including judicial and non-judicial approaches

Monitor developments in evidentiary standards related to technology and evidence and new tech tools for human rights actors

Ensure eyeWitness activities are partner-led, culturally aware, objective, and in line with best practices in human rights data collection

About you

We are seeking an enthusiastic, highly organised, forward-thinking team player. You will be able to work with professionals of various cultures and disciplines, including local activists, victims' lawyers, litigation NGOs, law enforcement and international institutions such as the UN and the ICC.

You will have a vision for advancing the organisation's mission and experience in developing and implementing strategic objectives, leading and growing a team, and managing technology product development.

You will have an interest and passion for international justice for the most egregious crimes and will commit to improving the standard of evidence presented in human rights cases, both in judicial and non-judicial settings.

Requirements

Advanced degree in criminal law, international criminal law, international humanitarian law, or international human rights law (desirable) with a good background in atrocity crimes and familiarity with national, regional, or international justice mechanisms

Experience in non-profit management and applying for and managing grant or contract funding

Experience working with digital evidence, particularly photo and video, user-generated content, and open-source materials in legal proceedings

Experience working with local activists, victims’ lawyers, litigation NGOs, and/or law enforcement or international mechanisms (such as the UN and the ICC)

Experience managing people, including coordinating dispersed teams

Experience working with coders, developers and technologists on technology product development

Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to represent the organisation externally in diplomatic and law enforcement contexts and to explain complex legal and technical concepts to a variety of audiences

Candidates applying should be aware that there will be a requirement to review graphic content of atrocities and to travel internationally, including to countries where the security situation may not be stable.

Location:The role will be based in London, combining remote and in-office work.

Conditions of contract: Full-time and permanent contract.

How to apply

SRI Executive is exclusively retained by eyeWitness to undertake this assignment.

If you wish to be considered for this position, please complete the Application Form on SRI’s websiteby 25 November 2022.

All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

If you have an initial query rather than an application, kindly email the SRI team at eyewitness@sri-executive.com.