KnowTheChain Researcher

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is seeking to fill a role of a full-time researcher with substantial investor engagement duties, as part of our work on forced labour in global supply chains through our flagship investor benchmark, KnowTheChain. This position will support KnowTheChain’s goal of producing data on corporate efforts to address forced labour in supply chains, and to provide practical resources for investors and companies to understand and address forced labour risks.

Details

• Location: London/Berlin

• Contract duration: 1 year, full time (35 hours/week)

• Salary: GBP 31,000-34,000 (the range is aligned to London cost of living; if based in another location, the range will be adjusted down accordingly)

• Closing date: 16th Oct

• Interview date: First round of interviews will take place w/c24th, there will likely be two rounds of interviews**.**

• Start date: As soon as possible

• Annual leave: 24 days/year

• To Apply: Complete and return this application form via our jobs portal. Kindly note that the application form is required; we will not accept CVs. If you need any additional support, please reach out to Giulia Vinzi at  vinzi@business-humanrights.org.

The Organisation

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre works with diverse allies and partners to put human rights at the core of companies’ business models and end abuse; to empower communities and workers to secure their rights and gain accountability for abuse; and to encourage governments to create the right regulation and incentives to uphold human rights in business. We are a global organisation that is rooted in five continental regions. We have a diverse Global Team of 80, based in 20 locations around the world. The Global Team members work with a rich network of human rights advocates in ten languages. Our work covers the full gamut of human rights in business, with three thematic programmes: accountable digital technologies; workers’ rights in global supply chains; and responsible natural resource use and a just transition. These are complemented by three cross cutting approaches: civic freedoms and human rights defenders; corporate legal accountability; and racial and gender justice.

Responsibilities

The engagement and research responsibilities include:

• Carrying out research of corporate disclosure on supply chain forced labour policies and practices, and other publicly available information on benchmarked companies (g. allegations, sourcing countries, business models, etc). The researcher will be expected to lead the research and engagement with a number of target companies across the ICT, food & beverage and apparel & footwear benchmarks.
• Working with, and analysing large data sets and ensuring consistency in the application of research methodology.
• Leading and developing KnowTheChain’s investor engagement programme with partner organisations on the apparel & footwear sector.
• Drafting reports and briefings for a range of audiences including investors and companies.
• Working closely with our internal communications team to coordinate press and social media around publications.
• Supporting engagement with companies and other stakeholders including civil society organisations and policy makers.
• Assisting with other organisational work as necessary, including administrative support: g. updating contact details for companies and stakeholders, and supporting webinars or events.
• Identifying new developments and trends in the external environment which may provide opportunities for our mission.

Qualifications:

• Experience with Excel, Powerpoint and WordPress
• Knowledge of investment processes and 1+ years experience engaging/ liaising with investors.
• Strong demonstrated commitment to human rights and interest in advancing labour rights in global supply chains. 1+ years’ experience working on forced labour/labour rights and good working knowledge of global normative and legislative context.
• Research and analytical skills: Excellent attention to detail and ability to locate  relevant information online; persistent in seeking out difficult-to-find information (e.g., through desk-based research and phone calls); creative in identifying new sources of information; and comfortable analysing, manipulating, and presenting quantitative information.
• Communications: Excellent writing skills, and strong understanding of how to present complex information in a succinct and balanced way to a range of different stakeholders.

Person specifications

• Self-initiative: Able to plan, manage and deliver own work to agreed objectives and timelines, balancing competing priorities and reprioritising when needed; ablele to use own initiative and work independently within agreed framework.
• Team-work: Able to operate effectively and constructively with colleagues based around the world and willing to adapt work hours to liaise with team members based in other regions.
• Stakeholder engagement: Able to foster productive, professional relationships with a broad range of contacts.
• Languages: Fluency in English required (reading, writing and speaking).

Desirable:

• Experience in researching corporate human rights disclosure and/or supply chains.
• Experience engaging with rightsholders, companies, and governments on issues related to human rights, labour rights and/or forced labour.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is a diverse, global team. We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone and we acknowledge that people from certain backgrounds are under-represented in progressive movements. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, Latinx and other minorities, people with disabilities, and people who identify as LGBTQ+.