Job Opportunities

ESCR-Net – International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) is seeking a Program Coordinator to facilitate its Strategic Litigation Working Group. ESCR-Net connects over 300 NGOs, social movements and advocates across more than 75 countries to build a global movement to make human rights and social justice a reality for all. Through ESCR-Net, members exchange information, build solidarity across regions, develop new tools and strategies, and advance collective actions to secure economic, social and climate justice through the human rights framework, with a special focus on economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR). The member-led, collective work of ESCR-Net is guided by core principles of gender and regional balance in leadership and participation, intersectional analysis, and centrality of grassroots groups and social movements.

ESCR-Net is excited to seek a new member of our programs team, primarily responsible for coordinating ESCR-Net’s Strategic Litigation Working Group (SLWG) as well as supporting related cross-working group and networkwide actions. This working group uses legal advocacy as a tool to address systemic ESCER violations, taking advantage of strategic litigation openings at domestic and global levels; strengthens access to justice often in dialogue with relevant human rights mechanisms; and pushes for the implementation of positive case decisions, looking to the leadership of impacted social movement and Indigenous members and allies. The Working Group also seeks to facilitate mutual learning and knowledge sharing among members, particularly around progressive ESCR jurisprudence, through online and in-person spaces, as well as through maintaining a database and newsletter. Lastly, together with ESCR-Net’s System of Solidarity, the SLWG facilitates collective legal strategies for the protection of human rights and environmental defenders at risk.

The Strategic Litigation Working Group connects some 100 members across all regions, including organizations, social movements, and individuals, and is guided by a Steering Committee of nine members representing different regions. For a complete overview of ESCR-Net’s work, please visit our website at www.escr-net.org.

Specific Responsibilities

• Coordinate and strategically develop the projects and future advocacy of the Strategic Litigation Working Group and support Network-wide collaborations. Guided by members and in partnership with other secretariat team members, the Program Coordinator will have primary responsibility for:
  • Regular coordination and communication with Working Group members to advance projects and activities, and relevant communication with other members and allies;  
  • Organization and facilitation of online and in-person workshops and strategy meetings, creating spaces for member-led analysis, planning and evaluation;
  • Managing and continuing to update the ESCR-Net caselaw database and ESCR-Justice newsletter; and
  • Staying informed about key developments and supporting identification of/guiding strategic opportunities for collective action by the Working Group and across working groups.
• Facilitate a diverse and member-led working group, in line with ESCR-Net’s core principles, including outreach to ensure regional balance, intersectional analysis and the centrality of social movements in working group membership, active engagement and governance structures, as well as supporting membership recruitment in collaboration with the secretariat’s campaign and membership team.
• Act as an important source of legal advice within the Secretariat, undertaking legal review of advocacy documents and interventions from across working groups, in collaboration with the Program Director as well as the Solidarity Coordinator.
• Facilitate the development and maintenance clear internal and external communication strategies for the SLWG, including maintenance of the SLWG webpage, newsletters and social media, in collaboration with the secretariat’s communications team.
• Build and maintain strategic alliances, in particular with the UN and regional human rights systems, environmental groups and academics, etc.
• Travel internationally during the year in connection with SLWG activities and to represent ESCR-Net’s work, mission and principles in a range of forums.
• Support fundraising activities, including engaging with funders and drafting or reviewing proposals, in collaboration with the secretariat’s development team.
• Contribute to the effective work of the wider secretariat, including via periodic facilitation of staff meetings, peer review of documents, input into evolving policies and practices within the secretariat, and/or support for staff transitions.
• Perform necessary budgetary, administrative and logistical tasks in collaboration with the secretariat’s finance and administration team.
• Recruit, orient and supervise interns and/or consultants as relevant.
• Engage constructively and consistently with other colleagues, based in multiple locations and time-zones, and report to the Program Director.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate for this role is someone with substantial litigation experience and knowledge of the human rights field (particularly ESCER), and significant experience in facilitating collective work to achieve change using the human rights framework and legal strategies in close partnership with resisting communities and grassroots groups. The candidate should have strong analytical and interpersonal skills, work well in collaborative processes with a diverse range of organizations and advocates, and be eager to learn and engage with a wide range of issues.

Required qualifications:

• A relevant graduate degree, with a strong preference for law and international human rights, and at least four years of experience working to advance human rights using legal strategies;
• A license to practice law in at least one domestic jurisdiction;
• Strong understanding of international human rights law, institutions, strategic litigation and implementation practices, including an understanding of the application of the human rights framework in domestic systems;
• Experience litigating ESCER cases and/or incorporating legal strategies into wider campaigning and advocacy on ESCER issues;
• Strong understanding of movement lawyering and/or experience working with social movements and grassroots groups;
• Good political judgment and strong facilitation skills to work with a wide range of, including the capacity to creatively and strategically outreach and facilitate collective advocacy with, diverse human rights organizations, grassroots groups, social movements, labor organizations, environmental organizations, activists, academics and government officials;
• Project management and organization skills, with experience managing competing deadlines and planning and implementing online and in-person workshops and strategy meetings
• Experience applying a feminist intersectional analysis, attentive to overlapping issues of exploitation and oppression;
• Ability to represent ESCR-Net and liaise with people at all levels, including effective public speaking skills and clear written communications; and
• Fluency in oral and written English; and proficiency, both oral and written, in a second languages (with preference for Spanish, Arabic or French, as ESCR-Net’s other working languages).

Desired qualifications

In addition to the required qualifications for this role, as noted above, the following skills and experiences are highly desirable and would support a successful performance in this role:

• Experience at the intersection of human rights and corporate accountability, economic policy, substantive equality, climate and environmental justice, and/or protection of human rights defenders;
• Experience engaging with UN and/or other intergovernmental bodies, including experience practicing law before international and regional human rights complaint mechanisms;
• Experience managing caselaw databases, and other online tools for communication, research and collaboration;
• Experience living and working in multiple regions, or strong network of connections in one or more regions with diverse civil society organizations; and
• Experience with fundraising.

Compensation and Location

This position is a full-time, exempt position with benefits, including medical coverage and vacation and paid leave. Starting salary will be discussed during first interviews, as it is based on location, calculated using a cost-of-living index. The primary location of the ESCR-Net secretariat is in New York City; however, this position is open to candidates from any region who are willing to work remotely.

Start Date

The preferred start date is 17 November 2025. However, there is flexibility to agree on a date that best suits the candidate.

 Inclusive Hiring and Workplace

ESCR-Net is committed to inclusive hiring practices and strives for a secretariat staff that represents the diversity of its members. ESCR-Net is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, persons with disabilities and people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, ethnicity, gender identity, medical condition (cancer-related), the conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS Related Conditions or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified persons with disabilities may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

 To Apply

Please send a curriculum vitae, a letter of interest and contact information for three references to ESCR-Net by email to apply@escr-net.org, using “SL Program Coordinator Search” and your initials, as the subject of your email. We encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible; applications will be reviewed beginning the week of 15 September. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Thank you for your understanding during this process.