Recruitment

LCHR IS RECRUITING A NEW DIRECTOR / CO-DIRECTORS AND TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS 

 

 

1) DIRECTOR / CO-DIRECTORS

Could you lead the Labour Campaign for Human Rights?

LCHR’s Chair and Executive Director, Matthew Turner, is standing down from the day-to-day running of LCHR. We are therefore looking for one or two people to replace him as the Director or Co-Directors of the organisation. This is an entirely voluntary role, which requires 6-8 hours per week, but is a key position within the Labour Party. The work can be exciting, impactful and extremely rewarding.

About LCHR

LCHR is one of the most active and important campaigns within the Labour Party. We aim to put human rights at the heart of Labour Party policy and practice.

In addition to our Membership, we are comprised of a Board of Directors, a Committee of Volunteers, and an Advisory Group including MPs, peers, academics and human rights experts.

You can learn more here: https://www.lchr.org.uk/about

Our recent campaigns

In recent years, we have run the following highly successful campaigns:

  • Britain and Her Allies – our international human rights campaign, to help Labour develop a human rights-based foreign policy. This looked at Britain’s relationship with specific countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh, as well as thematic issues, such as trade and human rights.
  • Social Rights Campaign – our main domestic human rights campaign, to persuade Labour to commit to a Social Rights Act, which would enshrine our internationally-recognised economic, social and cultural rights – such as to food, housing etc - into domestic law.
  • The Human Rights Act – our campaign to promote and protect the HRA 1998.
  • Legal Aid and Right to Justice – our campaign for Labour to commit to the Bach Commission recommendations on legal aid, including introducing a brand-new legally enforceable right to access to justice.
  • Brexit and Human Rights – our campaign on the human-rights implications of Brexit.

You can learn more here: https://www.lchr.org.uk/campaigns

Role and Responsibilities

The new Director (or Co-Directors) will lead on all aspects of LCHR’s work, including strategy, campaigning, policy development, lobbying MPs and the Shadow Cabinet, as well as administration and fundraising. They will be responsible for recruiting and coordinating a committee of volunteer officers and determining campaign priorities along with members and the Board.  

The Director(s) would report to the Board and would receive support and any mentoring required from board members, including the outgoing Director.

Skills, qualities, experience and capacity

We are looking for the following skills, qualities and experience:

  • Extremely good organisation and time management;
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to inspire, lead and manage a team of volunteers;
  • A good understanding of the internal workings of the Labour Party;
  • A reasonable understanding of human rights (theory, history, law, policy, and practice);
  • Good IT skills (we use NationBuilder for our website and emails);
  • Good research and writing skills (for briefings, articles etc);
  • The ability to develop policy and communicate ideas effectively to Labour MPs, members and other stakeholders;
  • The ability to effectively organise and publicise events (both in person, online and hybrid); and
  • Some experience of fundraising.

We will expect applicants to have a good understanding of LCHR’s past campaigns, as well as interesting ideas for the future of the organisation.

The successful candidate(s) will, of course, have to be a member of the Labour Party and a member of LCHR. They do not, however, need to have an extensive network of contacts within the Party; this is already largely established. 

Please ensure you have the time and capacity to dedicate approximately 6-8 hours per week to the role. While the role is voluntary and the hours are flexible (to fit around a day job), candidates should be able to demonstrate they have the time and energy to dedicate to the role.

It is anticipated that the successful candidate(s) will lead LCHR at least until the next general election in 2024.

How to apply

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to Matthew Turner at [email protected]. If you have any questions about the role prior to applying, please feel free to get in touch.

The deadline for the application is Sunday 21st August 2022. 

 

 

2) BOARD MEMBERS

We are looking for new Board Members

LCHR is looking for at least two new people to join the Board of Directors.

About LCHR

LCHR is one of the most active and important campaigns within the Labour Party. We aim to put human rights at the heart of Labour Party policy and practice.

In addition to our Membership, we are comprised of a Board of Directors, a Committee of Volunteers, and an Advisory Group including MPs, peers, academics and human rights experts.

You can learn more here: https://www.lchr.org.uk/about

About the Board of Directors

The purpose of the Board is to ensure oversight, accountability and good governance. It will set the overall strategy of the organisation and hold the Executive Director to account. For example, the Board will pass resolutions on certain actions and sign off the annual accounts each year.

Please note that LCHR is a private company limited by guarantee (see here: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08647264) and therefore the successful candidates will be formally appointed to the Board and registered with Companies House. 

The Board is separate from the Committee, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the campaign.

You can see the current Board here: https://www.lchr.org.uk/board

Our recent campaigns

In recent years, we have run the following highly successful campaigns:

  • Britain and Her Allies – our international human rights campaign, to help Labour develop a human rights-based foreign policy. This looked at Britain’s relationship with specific countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh, as well as thematic issues, such as trade and human rights.
  • Social Rights Campaign – our main domestic human rights campaign, to persuade Labour to commit to a Social Rights Act, which would enshrine our internationally-recognised economic, social and cultural rights – such as to food, housing etc - into domestic law.
  • The Human Rights Act – our campaign to promote and protect the HRA 1998.
  • Legal Aid and Right to Justice – our campaign for Labour to commit to the Bach Commission recommendations on legal aid, including introducing a brand-new legally enforceable right to access to justice.
  • Brexit and Human Rights – our campaign on the human-rights implications of Brexit.

You can learn more here: https://www.lchr.org.uk/campaigns

Role and Responsibilities

The minimum expectation is for Board Members to attend semi-regular Board meetings, on average four times per year (usually held remotely), as well as to respond by email to any proposed written resolutions e.g., to approve the annual accounts. The Board will set the overall strategy of the campaign, and scrutinise the work of the Director / Co-Directors.

Beyond this, there is the option (although this is certainly not a requirement) to get involved with any of the ongoing campaigns. This could be to help draft policy briefing, writes article, or organise and attend events. However, it should be stressed that this is not mandatory, nor a requirement of the role.

Skills and experience

Whilst there are no set criteria to join the Board, we will generally look for the following:

  • A commitment to the Labour Party and human rights;
  • A clear understanding of the role of a Board of Directors;
  • An interest in our work and previous campaigns;
  • Some experience of working within or managing an organisation.

Again, whilst this is certainly not expected, we would be particularly interested in candidates who have previously served as a non-executive director and / or have particular expertise in the following areas: (1) accounting; (2) communications; (3) fundraising; and (4) IT / software / design.

The successful candidate(s) will, of course, have to be a member of the Labour Party and a member of LCHR.

How to apply

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to Matthew Turner at [email protected]. If you have any questions about the role prior to applying, please feel free to get in touch.

The deadline for the application is Sunday 21st August 2022.